CES 2008
Panasonic and Comcast Preview AnyPlay P-DVR Utilizing New Tru2way Technology
 Event Summary
January 8, 2008 - During his CES keynote address, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts shared his vision for the future of video services with a preview of the Panasonic AnyPlay device that utilizes the cable industry’s open standard, called Tru2way (the new brand name for the OpenCable Applications Platform [OCAP]), which allows for cable’s video content to be played on more devices beyond today’s closed network set-top boxes.
Competitive Positives
• The Panasonic AnyPlay P-DVR’s unique feature is that the device can be taken outside the home to play up to 60 hours of Comcast digital cable recorded programming with a built-in 8.5-inch folding LCD display screen and integrated stereo speakers for a quality mobile viewing experience.
• The AnyPlay device is made possible with the cable industry’s commitment to open up its video platform, which until now was closed to outside development. This will offer residential cable customers the freedom to transfer video content to multiple devices without the need of a leased cable set-top box.
• Along with Panasonic, many leading electronics manufactures including Digeo, LG, and Samsung are developing devices using the open two-way cable platform and Java-based Tru2way technology.
Competitive Concerns
• The AnyPlay P-DVR will not be available to Comcast’s over 14.6 million digital video subscribers until early 2009. With the home entertainment market moving at a feverish pace to provide more innovative video services, Comcast could be too late to make a substantial impact.
• Comcast has put forth many changes and it could have over-promised what it has the resources to accomplish; it has taken the company longer than anticipated in the past to get new services off the ground, as exemplified by its Digital Voice deployment, which took years after the company’s initial technology tests to reach a majority of its customers. In addition, Comcast has not been able to get an integrated TiVo service beyond one market (New England).
• The AnyPlay P-DVR previewed at CES 2008 comes with some limitations compared to other existing DVRs available right now to U.S. consumers, including its inability to record in high-definition and just 60 hours of recording storage. Rivals such as TiVo and DISH Network offer DVRs that can record over four times as much video content.
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