GENEVA, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics today announced it is providing the digital broadcasting chipset for SIRIUS Backseat TV(TM), a ground-breaking TV service that delivers live TV from the best family TV programmers directly to vehicles. SIRIUS Backseat TV will be launched later this year in select 2008 model Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge vehicles.
SIRIUS Backseat TV, which offers consumers three channels of family TV programming, can be received via an in-vehicle satellite video receiver and two small roof-mounted antennas. The SIRIUS Backseat TV digital audio and video signal is broadcast over the same frequency spectrum allocation as SIRIUS radio.
The core of the in-vehicle satellite video receiver, which is manufactured by Delphi for SIRIUS, is based on three ST chips: the STA210 RF tuner IC; the STA240 channel, service and source decoder IC; and the STA264 advanced hierarchical demodulator chip, which extracts the video stream and performs error correction on the received signal.
ST has been a strong partner with SIRIUS since 2004 in the development of its radio receiver chipsets.
"SIRIUS is dedicated to delivering the best in-vehicle entertainment available anywhere," said James E. Meyer, SIRIUS President, Operations and Sales. "ST is helping us deliver a high-quality entertainment experience to make our new SIRIUS Backseat TV the Best TV in the Backseat."
"SIRIUS is a major player in the automotive entertainment field and its choice of ST's chips to provide the core of this new in-vehicle TV receiver is a significant endorsement of ST's digital broadcast expertise," said Ugo Carena, Corporate VP and General Manager of ST's Automotive Product Group. "ST's has leveraged its digital radio design expertise, world-class manufacturing machine and know-how in System-on-Chip technology to deliver leading-edge solutions to the fast-growing US in-vehicle entertainment market."
ST has been at the forefront of digital broadcast radio technology for more than ten years and is now the world's leading supplier of the microchip components that power the digital radio receivers made by leading consumer and automotive radio manufacturers. Specifically in the US digital satellite radio market, ST is also the chip supplier for XM Radio receivers, in addition to SIRIUS digital satellite radios.
About SIRIUS
SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels. SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NASCAR, NBA and NHL, and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL, as well as live NASCAR races. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95.
SIRIUS Internet Radio (SIR) is a CD-quality, Internet-only version of the SIRIUS radio service, without the use of a radio, for the monthly subscription fee of $12.95. SIR delivers more than 75 channels of talk, entertainment, sports, and 100% commercial free music. SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at shop.sirius.com.
SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep(R), Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercury, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Scion, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country.
Click on http://www.sirius.com/ to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2006, the Company's net revenues were $9.85 billion and net earnings were $782 million. Further information on ST can be found at http://www.st.com/.
"SIRIUS" is a trademark of SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc.
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