nCUBE To Demonstrate Server-Side PVR Functionality

nCUBE Corporation (www.ncube.com) said that its network-based personal video recorder (nPVR) solution is available. nCUBE states that the solution uses the company's n4 streaming media appliance to enable cable operators to store a week's worth of programming for up to 200 digital channels and gives cable subscribers full VCR control over their programming.

Currently, PVR solutions are "client-side'' models with a hard-disk drive and MPEG encoders built into a customized set-top box. Network PVR is "server-side,'' with encoders and disk drives stored at the network head-end, creating no need for consumers to purchase expensive in-home devices or tangle with complicated installation processes in order to have the ability to pause, rewind, fast forward programming or call up shows from earlier in the week.

nCUBE states that its PVR solution gives cable operators the ability to control what channels or programs they wish to store and how long that storage should last.

nPVR has much higher storage needs than VOD. To store one week of 100 channels of programming a server will need to be able ingest 16,800 hours. The n4's scalability allows it to stream up to 60,000 streams per server. In addition the n4 requires only a single content copy for serving hundreds or thousands of homes, which nCUBE says greatly reducing costs for operators.

nCUBE will be demonstrating its solution at Cable 2001 in Chicago in mid-June.