New HD/SD Solutions Offer Leading-Edge Features in a Compact Footprint

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5 — (PRNewswire) — 2010 International CES -- Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the latest additions to its set-top box (STB) family of system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions, enabling advanced IP digital entertainment services in a low cost, high performance and compact package.  Complementing Broadcom's existing family of DVR-enabled media server solutions, these new SoCs will enable service providers to cost effectively expand IPTV services, such as networked DVR and IP video services, for both client-server and low cost standalone deployment models.

Highlights/ Key Facts:  

• The latest generation of IP STB SoC solutions includes the Broadcom® BCM7208 (for high definition applications) and the Broadcom BCM7468 (for standard definition applications).
• The BCM7208 IP STB SoC solution provides support for the most cost effective memory technologies available on the market today incorporating high-speed DDR3 (for decoding HD content), high capacity bulk MLC/SLC NAND, SDIO and serial NOR controller technology.  It also delivers true HD resolution supporting 1080p60 output.
• The BCM7468 IP STB SoC solution offers similar technology advantages to the BCM7208, however, it addresses the existing requirements for the large base of legacy standard definition analog TVs in the market.  
  • DisplaySearch research projects that there are over 120 million CRT (cathode ray tube) television sets still in service in the United States and over 150 million in Western Europe.  Of those existing CRT TVs in North America, around 80% are analog only.
  • It integrates a full HDMI 1.3 transmitter to support low cost sub-HD LED panels up to 480/576p resolution.
• The expanded IP STB product family is equipped with the following key functionality:
  • Integrates power management controllers and regulators for support of the latest EnergyStar and European Code of Conduct set-top box requirements offering flexible and configurable standby and active modes of operation.
  • Both solutions enable ultra small form factors, measuring at 17x17mm.
  • Uses a single 16-bit DDR2 or DDR3 memory device for SD or HD decode respectively, representing a significant reduction in the PCB area, as well as bill-of-materials (BOM) cost over current IP STB solutions in the market.
  • The BCM7208 integrates 1080p60 output supporting high quality HD programming, while the BCM7468 supports DVD-quality output (up to 480p) for enhanced definition viewing and SD + SD picture-in-picture (PIP) capabilities. Both solutions support HDMI 1.3 output.  
  • Supports new compelling subscriber applications including RVU Alliance's remote user interface (RUI) technology, CEA-2014 RUI client, Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) and Adobe® Flash® Platform for the Digital Home.
  • Integrates DLNA® technology support enabling consumers to locate and enjoy digital content anywhere on their home network and effortlessly move or stream this content between DLNA-connected devices.
  • Supports a wide range of media formats including DivX®, RealMedia Variable Bitrate (RMVB), China's audio video coding standard (AVS), as well as MPEG-2, AVC and VC-1.
  • Integrates additional functionality including support for advanced security and USB HDD DVR applications, a powerful audio decode/encode DSP, a high performance graphics engine, audio/video DACs, an IR receiver, and a high speed transport processor.
• Both the BCM7208 and BCM7468 are now sampling to early access customers.

Supporting Quotes:

Dan Marotta, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom's Broadband Communications Group

"These new solutions clearly demonstrate our continued commitment to strengthening our range of IP-connected set-top box solutions.  In response to our customers' evolving needs for low cost client and devices, we are pleased to offer these products as an important element to enabling the connected home."

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Product Information:

BCM7208: http://tinyurl.com/yd8eufp

BCM7468: http://tinyurl.com/y9auajr

About Broadcom

Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications.  Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment.  We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices.  These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything®.

Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2008 revenue of $4.66 billion, and holds over 3,650 U.S. and over 1,450 foreign patents, more than 7,750 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.

A FORTUNE 500® company, Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe.  Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.

Cautions regarding Forward Looking Statements:

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change.  Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words.  Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, references to Broadcom's new STB SoC solutions providing service providers the ability to cost effectively expand IPTV services; and Broadcom's commitment to strengthening its range of IP-connected set-top box solutions..  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.

Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with BCM7208 and BCM7468 IP STB SoC solutions, but are not limited to:

• the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Broadcom's technologies and products in the markets for next generation set-top box applications;
• delays in the adoption and acceptance of industry standards in those markets;
• general economic and political conditions and specific conditions in the markets we address, including the volatility in the technology sector and semiconductor industry, trends in the broadband communications markets in various geographic regions, including seasonality in sales of consumer products into which our products are incorporated;
• the timing of customer-industry qualification and certification of our products and the risks of non-qualification or non-certification; and
• the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers, to manage inventory.

Additional factors that may cause Broadcom's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the list that can be found at http://www.broadcom.com/press/additional_risk_factors/Q42009.php.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.  The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

Broadcom, the pulse logo, Connecting everything, and the Connecting everything logo and are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU.  Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.