Samsung licenses Reference Design Kit (RDK)

Samsung Brings Reference Design Kit Technology to Set-Top Box Line to Support Multiplatform Cable Entertainment

• RDK to enable accelerated development of next generation video services

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. — At The TV of Tomorrow Show 2013, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced that it has licensed the Reference Design Kit (RDK) from RDK Management LLC in order to significantly accelerate the Set-Top Box (STB) and Gateway development cycle, and deliver a rich, multiplatform home entertainment experience.

The Reference Design Kit (RDK) is a pre-integrated software bundle developed and licensed to create a common framework for powering IP or hybrid Set-Top Boxes and gateway devices for CE manufacturers, system-on-a-chip (SoC) vendors, and other software developers, system integrators and TV service providers. The RDK was developed to accelerate the deployment of next-generation video services and prevent software fragmentation by providing speed-to-market, collaboration and standardization. Supported by more than 100 licensees, RDK Management, LLC was formed as a joint venture between Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable to administer the RDK.

“As a leading provider of Pay TV CPE worldwide, Samsung recognizes the value of a common platform,” said Stephen Goldstein, Vice President and General Manager, STB at Samsung Electronics America’s Enterprise Business Division. “The RDK allows Samsung to deliver devices to operators faster and with broader scale. Samsung has already begun deploying Set-Top Boxes based on the RDK and we look forward to more RDK-based projects in the United States and abroad.”

“One of our goals with the RDK program is to accelerate development of an advanced software solution throughout the industry, which allows MVPD’s the opportunity to provide enhanced user experiences across a broad set of STB, gateway, and SoC platforms,” said Steve Heeb, President and General Manager of RDK Management, LLC. “Samsung’s support of the RDK helps expand it as a global platform available to operators around the world.”