DivX has announced the corporate acquisition of the Internet TV-streaming company AnySource Media, a move that should allow the digital company to bring movies and TV shows in DivX format to Internet-connected devices such as phones, TVs and Blu-ray players.
DivX CEO Kevin Hell says the move is a “key step of delivering on the vision of the Internet TV experience.”
The deal is for $7.5 million in cash upfront, with another $7.5 million in incentive based payments until 2012.
DivX is a company that distributes and licenses digital-video technologies. The company says there have been over over 100 million DivX Certified devices purchased, including the PS3 among many devices.
AnySource created the Internet Video Navigator software found in many HDTVs, software which allows users to navigate their TVs for music, photos, and videos from online sites such as CinemaNow, Amazon VOD and others. AnySource can handle up to 1080p.
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Verismo Networks announced this week that their new VN100SD media hub device will allow users to “watch YouTube videos and other online video content directly on their TVs without having to connect to a computer first.”
The device will connect to the TV through an HDMI and will require a wired Internet connection.
Electronista explains that “users will be able to sign into their YouTube accounts and search for videos using the interface and a soft keypad. The Verismo VuNow PoD is available for purchase online now, priced at $99. It can be upgraded to support Bit Torrents and live global Internet TV channels for a $29 fee, and Verismo promises CinemaNow support is coming soon. A high-definition capable version (up to 720p) of the product, the VN1000HD retails for $149 and swaps the standard definition version’s S-video output for an HDMI output.”
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According to a few reports and earnings from UK based ISPs, there has been a sharp increase in bandwidth costs thanks to the BBC iPlayer.
The BBC announced that in its first month of operation, January 2008, 2.2 million people watched at least one program using the service which led to almost a tripling in streaming costs for at least one ISP, PlusNet.
The actual cost per user per month for PlusNet rose from 6.1p to 18.3p, meaning the internet TV service is costing the ISP a hefty sum.
Ashley Highfield however, the BBC’s director of future media and technology, has said that the iPlayer has “negligible impact on the UK internet infrastructure”.
