XStreamHD: The New Voom or the Next Netix?
01.08.08
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Michael Douglas Talks Up XStreamHD
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by Loyd Case
CES 2008 Coverage
LAS VEGAS—A few years back, a company called VOOM launched a satellite TV service aimed squarely at high definition TV. The technology was impressive, and the picture quality superb for the time. But the customers never showed up, and Voom was eventually acquired by Echostar.
XStreamHD Founder George Gonzalez
In early December, a new startup company called XStreamHD, which is eyeing the space left by Voom, described its technology to PC Magazine. Flash forward to the 2008 CES. XStreamHD, founded by George Gonzalez, with funding by a variety of investors, including superstar actor Michael Douglas, announced its new satellite HDTV service.
Offering impressive technology and promising uncompressed high definition audio and 80 Mbits/s, 1080p video to the home, XStreamHD plans to use data satellites to deliver very high quality video and audio to consumer's homes. Lower-priority programs may be delivered via the Internet as well.
At the hardware level, XStreamHD consists of the XStreamHD Media Receiver, a networked device that plays back the HD stream to the display device, and the XStreamHD Media Server, which downloads and stores personal high definition content libraries for distribution throughout the home. The initial hardware pricing, which includes one receiver and the Media Server, will be priced at $399.
The Media Server also offers user the ability to expand its storage, including an eSATA port for external hard drives. In addition, the server offers three ATSC over-the-air HD tuners and can pipe up to four full 1080p high definition streams around the house.
The bugaboo is the business model. For a company that claims to be shipping by the end of 2008, the business model is still up in the air. The company has not signed any deals with content providers. Company founder George Gonzalez did discuss a hybrid pricing model, which includes a mix of rental, download-to-own and library subscription services, although that service pricing is as yet undetermined.
Users will receive large libraries of content, based on their personal tastes, but not be charged until they actually watch a particular program (in the rental model.) If the buyer wants to obtain a hot new movie, Gonzalez suggested that the movie would be available for viewing within 15 minutes of ordering.