CALGARY – While remaining mum on just who the manufacturer is, Shaw Communications says it will launch a new residential media hub/gateway in May.
The new customer premises device (which would replace existing set top boxes) is meant to compete with Telus’ Microsoft Mediaroom-driven Optik TV.
Telus’ TV service offers customers options cable doesn’t, like the ability to remote-program their DVR and multi-room DVR ability – meaning customers can watch shows on any room there is an Optik-connected television. Its more-flexible search functionality lets customers find shows or movies by the name of the actors or directors instead of just the name of the program. Both Bell and Telus are near to launching social media integration with their fibre-driven TV platforms, too.
Shaw Communications president Peter Bissonnette told financial analysts on Thursday and then again in an interview with Cartt.ca that its new solution will go beyond what Telus is offering. For example, it will allow up to six programs to be recorded and will be able to be played on any TV in the house. He said company executives saw the gateway and its software in action at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month and “it was like candy to our eyes.”
Bissonnette said Shaw’s new in-home device will “leap-frog” its competitors. It will “allow customers to really find movies and sports… with a guide we’ve only kind of dreamed about,” and the new gateway will also help the company move “into an IP based home networking over Ethernet, wifi and MoCa,” he added.
But which company is the manufacturer? Bissonnette wouldn’t say, but it doesn’t appear that it’s one of the giants in CE or RF technology (in fact, Bissonnette told it is not Motorola, which is the company’s primary digital cable box supplier right now).
(Ed Note: However, the industry rumour mill tells Cartt.ca that the product will be the next-generation Moxi box, manufactured by Arris.)
“We’ve known them for several years,” he said. “They do manufacture equipment for the industry… And it’s going to be unique for Shaw. The software is being fine tuned and tailored.”
When pressed though, he wouldn’t name the manufacturer. “I don’t want Telus going into the back rooms and trying to scoop us on this, even though it wouldn’t work in their environment,” he said.
The gateway will launch in May, Bissonnette explained. “I’d like it to be April 1st, but it’s probably a month after that.”
