Samsung Eyes Next Generation TV

Samsung finalized agreements this week with two of the biggest cable companies, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, to work together on technologies that will be incorporated into the next generation of Samsung televisions. The TVs will be embedded with XHT bi-directional cable receivers, thus eliminating the need for a separate cable box.

XHT is a home network technology that uses Firewire cables to control multiple high-definition televisions and is compatible with digital rights management. It would also allow several HDTVs, as well as audio and video devices, to be controlled by a single remote control.

The televisions will be able to decrypt digital cable signals and be used for advanced services offered by cable providers, such as program guides, as the TV can directly download and install the necessary software over the cable network.

"We believe that enabling the interactive capabilities of cable services is a great way to spread the benefits of digital television and specifically HDTV. This interactive digital cable ready HDTV is one of many OpenCable televisions that Samsung has developed and will rollout in collaboration with Time Warner Cable, other MSOs, CableLabs and retailers," M.Y. Shin of Samsung told reporters at CES 2005.

Carl Vogel CEO of Charter Communications, said adopting the new technologies make good business sense. "Our objective is to increase the number of Charter High Definition Digital Cable Customers," he said. "Acceleration of the sale of digital TVs embedded with XHT bi-directional digital cable receivers and compliant devices, widely believed to be the next generation digital network technology, will help us achieve this objective."

No expected date of availability was given in either announcement, although Samsung said it is currently in the development phase in statements provided to the press.