Semico Releases Media Hub Report

Teams with Triple Play Action: Who Will Win The Pennant?

Phoenix, Arizona June 27, 2005 - In baseball, the triple play (TP) is known as a very rare play, since there is usually only enough time for fielders to record a double play at best under most circumstances. In the digital home, the TP is being driven by consumer demand and the trend towards mobility. The term ‘triple play’ in the semiconductor industry has been coined to define the convergence needs of video, voice, and high-speed data. The semiconductor opportunities increase as consumers look to adding functionality in order to network the devices. Even though products have been available for nearly two years as is the case in baseball, the desired ending is still rare.

The desired ending in this case meaning transparent interoperability for different networks and digital devices to seamlessly work together in a way that non-technical people can implement. While home networks have been growing steadily there are a relatively small number of devices that are actually networked. Today different vendors have different ideas as to what device will become the centerpiece of the digital home. Many believe that whoever controls the set top box will control the digital living room. However, the traditional set top box is changing dramatically as Media Center PCs, Extender devices; video game consoles, etc. are battling to have the central role in the home network.

Semico believes the market will eventually evolve into two main solutions and eventually converge. The first being a PC-centric solution; and the second solution is media hub functionality that is integrated into devices such as DVD players and set top boxes. Last year, one million stand-alone media hubs shipped worldwide. The market is expected to grow 60% this year and by 2009, Semico forecasts 15.9 million units.

“Today PC-centric implementation is being led by the sluggers on team Intel Corp. and team Microsoft Corp.,” said Connie Wong, director of wireless communications at Semico Research Corp. She added, “However, we’ve seen a number of convergence devices that have been developed backing the media hub functionality solution.”

Semico’s latest report titled, “What’s All the Media Hubbub?” fields various implementations, product timelines, media formats, connectivity options plus compatibility challenges and barriers present in the digital rights management initiative. The latter is a growing concern in Hollywood as studios fight to protect their interests while enabling mass content distribution. Adding to this robust listing of report offerings include stand-alone media hub forecasts, block diagrams, BOMs, semiconductor ASPs and content plus semiconductor revenue and unit TAM.

“Revenue shipments are expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2009,” commented Ms. Wong. “Aside from obvious increases in semiconductor consumption, this (media hub) trend offers content developers some new business opportunities such as pay-per-use services, and the opportunity to develop co-branded media hub products,” she concluded.

This study is available for immediate delivery for $3,500. To purchase, please contact Jim Feldhan at 602-997-0337 or jimf@semico.com and reference DH101-05, What’s All the Media Hubbub?

About Semico
Semico Research Corp is a semiconductor marketing and consulting research company located in Phoenix, Arizona. Semico was founded in 1994 by a group of semiconductor industry experts. We have improved the validity of semiconductor product forecasts via technology roadmaps in end-use markets. Semico offers custom consulting, portfolio packages, individual market research studies and premier industry conferences.