Sony Signs Up for Cable's Tru2Way

In a major breakthrough, Sony has agreed to include the cable industry's Tru2Way platform in some of their new digital televisions.

Multichannel News yesterday reported,

The binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached by Sony and the six operators addresses how two-way, cable-ready products will be brought to market with interactive services like video-on-demand, digital video recording and interactive programming guides.

The deal also provides new ways for content providers, consumer-electronics manufacturers, information-technology companies and cable operators to cooperate in “evolving the tru2way technology” at CableLabs, the cable industry's research and development arm.

According to NCTA and Sony, key elements of the agreement relate to the deployment of a platform for "write once, run anywhere" applications and to the incorporation of secure digital interfaces that protect consumers' home recording rights along with copyright owners' rights to secure their digital content.

This is very good news for cable operators, customers and software developers.  It resolves a long-standing disagreement between Sony and the cable industry and paves the way for an open development environment. 

Leslie Ellis wrote one of her amazingly understandable articles (as usual) about what this technology really means.

In a nutshell, consumers will be able to purchase televisions equipped with a slot for a 2-way "cable card" which will eliminate the need for a set-top box need to receive cable's interactive digital services.  For developers, Tru2Way will open cable's digital video platform to innovative new products allowing developers to write a single application for all Tru2Way devices, regardless of the equipment manufacturer or which cable system it's attached to. 

Although only the top six cable operators have signed the agreement, the intention is to make the same agreement available to all operators.

Comments

[Carina]

Mr.Wilner,
Would it be possible for you to explain why there has been an ongoing issue between sony and cable companys?

[UKMA99]

Mr Willner

Thanks for writing this blog. I do appreciate the fact that you are keeping contact with customers every day. There are not many CEOs out there that would do the same.

As for Tru2Way, how will Insight handle the the lost revenue from set top box rental? I currently have a cablecard in my Sony DHG DVR with Insight Digital Standard. Basically we're talking about a price difference of $1.99 per month compared to $15.00 per month.

Add to that the fact that techs are not trained well on this technology. I've had 4 cards put into my dvr and it is still not working correctly.

Just wanted to know where Insight stands on these issues.

Thanks again for your thoughts.