Broadcom introduces HEVC Ultra HD chipsets at IBC 2013

Broadcom Proliferates UltraHD Set-top Box Availability with New HEVC Chipsets; New IP Client, Cable and Satellite SoCs Add Support for Latest Video Compression Standard

• Enables more efficient operator content delivery for increased footprint, higher resolution or additional channels
• Enhances quality and quantity of over-the-top services deliverable through existing high-speed data pipes
• Drives new opportunities for introduction and expansion of multi-screen and multi-headed services

AMSTERDAM — IBC 2013 — Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced new industry-leading chipsets that enable operators and OEMs to rapidly introduce UltraHD subscriber hardware and content. These new set-top box (STB) devices for satellite, cable and IP integrate support for the advanced high-efficiency video codec (HEVC) standard H.265 that will allow existing high-speed data networks to better utilize the higher throughput required by UltraHD content.

As UltraHD TV prices continue to fall, Broadcom’s new family of devices also provides OEMs and operators more options for end-point delivery of UltraHD/4k content. The HEVC chip offerings have been architected to support UltraHD/4k up to Main10 profile and up to 60 frames per second, and are designed to rapidly incorporate the latest HDMI 2.0 digital TV interface standard. By leveraging Broadcom’s advanced Trellis set-top box multi-application software framework with secure hardware sandboxing, platforms based on these new devices can facilitate rapid integration of new services through intelligent system partitioning and management.(1)

Broadcom’s new series of systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) includes the BCM7251 for multi-HD/UltraHD IP set-top boxes and the BCM7366 with a direct broadcast satellite Full Band Capture front-end receiver, as well as two corresponding MoCA 2.0-enabled STB SoCs for cable and satellite video gateways, the BCM7439 and BCM7376. The BCM7438 is also offered as an HEVC MoCA 2.0 companion IP client solution for use with MoCA 2.0 video gateways. When combined with Broadcom’s previously announced flagship UltraHD SoC, the BCM7445, this new series of leading-edge 28 nanometer (nm) process technology chips spans a full range of device capabilities, from a quad-core ARMv7 Brahma15-powered transcoding gateway to dual-core MoCA clients.

With Broadcom’s complete portfolio of HEVC-enabled devices, operators can now substantially cut the bandwidth required for video transmission, offer additional channels on IP, cable or satellite networks, and deliver these services to more locations throughout the home on managed or unmanaged devices. Service providers with limited broadband capacity, such as telecommunications companies deploying video over ADSL, or over-the-top providers, may also choose to leverage the higher bandwidth efficiency of the technology to expand their video subscriber footprint by deploying HEVC enabled set-top box gateways and/or clients.(2)

“Broadcom first pioneered UltraHD technology with the introduction of the BCM7445, the world’s first 4Kx2K TV home gateway chip, in January of this year,” said Rich Nelson, Broadcom Senior Vice President of Marketing, Broadband Communications Group. “With the launch of today’s HEVC chipset series, Broadcom continues to demonstrate its commitment to proliferating HEVC across the broadest possible product range and to support our customer requirements to drive this technology quickly into the market, particularly as lower-cost UltraHD TVs drive consumer awareness.”

Featuring high-performance dual-core Brahma15 10000 DMIPs ARMv7 processors, 2180p60 or dual 1080p60 decode and transcode capabilities, Broadcom’s new portfolio of HEVC chipsets also integrate high-performance connectivity peripherals, such as USB 3.0, PCIe, Gigabit Ethernet and MoCA 2.0. Broadcom’s latest generation security core is included in all devices offering the highest level of platform security, content protection and DRM robustness. Industry-leading support for high speed DDR3 and DDR4 devices is included as well as dedicated interfaces to a range of Broadcom companion front end cable, DOCSIS, satellite and 802.11ac Wi-Fi devices. The BCM7251 and BCM7439 also incorporate a new feature called Dual Display, which enables presentation of two simultaneous video channels from the same set-top box via independent HDMI outputs and remote control devices.

Broadcom will demonstrate the BCM7251, BCM7438, BCM7439, and BCM7366 SoCs at IBC 2013 from September 12-16, 2013 in RAI Amsterdam, booth #2.C36. Broadcom’s BCM7445 and BCM3461 will also be demonstrated in DVB’s live transmission of UltraHD content at booth #1.D81.

Availability

Broadcom’s portfolio of HEVC chipsets are currently sampling.

1. When used in multiscreen configurations, phones, tablets and legacy STB devices are supported with integrated hardware transcoding on the BCM7251, BCM7366, BCM7376, BCM7438 and BCM7439. This enables H.265 content to be transcoded to legacy H.264 and consumed on legacy managed clients or unmanaged devices such as tablets.
2. DVB.org reports up to 50 percent efficiency improvement when comparing H.265 to H.264 compression.