FVD Format Emerges Based On Sigma Media Processors; New Format Uses WMV9 To Support Cost-Effective High Definition Content

23-Nov-04

Sigma Designs today announced that Sigma's EM8620L media processor is currently being used as the basis for first generation FVD players. Several manufacturers are gearing up for production of players, which are expected to be sold at retail prices of about $149 (NT$5,000) in Taiwan and about $121 (1,000 yuan) in China. The FVD (forward versatile disc) is Taiwan's red-laser based high definition DVD-like format which was driven by Taiwan's Advanced Optical Storage Research Alliance (AOSRA) in conjunction with the government-sponsored Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). FVD based products are being launched in China and Taiwan with plans for expansion into other worldwide markets in the future, including an unveiling at the coming Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2005) taking place in January at Las Vegas. FVD has also attracted the support of Taiwan providers of digital content and several movie publishers in China. Currently, over 20 FVD titles are planned for introduction next month and over 500 titles are expected to be made available during 2005. The FVD format differs technologically from the DVD standard in physical format, compression (encoding) and decoding, and content protection and therefore is not subject to normal DVD royalty charges. First generation FVD discs will have a storage capacity of 5.4-6GB for single-sided discs and 9.8-11GB for double-sided discs and will support resolutions of up to 1280x720. Second-generation FVD discs are expected to have a capacity of over 15GB and will support resolutions up to 1920x1080i. Under the FVD format, content will be encoded using Microsoft's Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9) and WMA9 compression algorithms, which currently offers the advanced compression technology at a lower royalty charge than alternatives. Based on first generation capacities and resolutions, a complete 2-hour high definition movie will fit on a single FVD disc. Additionally, the FVD format secures content using an AES algorithm along with a unique ID number for each device. ""FVD will bring consumers crisp, high definition video content based on affordable players that can be made available now,"" said Dr. Guo Gua Wu, Department Manager, Logic Technologies Dept., Information Storage Division of ITRI. ""The Sigma EM8620L media processor was pivotal to FVD's success, providing support for high definition WMV9, WMA audio, and AES decryption in a single-chip solution."" For more information, visit http://www.sigmadesigns.com

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