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New Pinnacle PCTV HD Sticks Deliver HDTV on a PC
Sleek, Ultra-mobile USB Sticks Add Support for Digital
Cable TV
Mountain
View, Calif., – Pinnacle Systems, Inc., the consumer
division of Avid Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID) ,
announced today the next generation of its Pinnacle PCTV™
HD Stick, and Pinnacle PCTV™ HD Pro Stick—the number one
selling TV tuner for PCs in the U.S. retail market in
2007, according to NPD. In addition to delivering free
digital HD and SD TV over-the-air (ATSC), these new
Pinnacle PCTV HD and HD Pro Sticks now support
unencrypted digital cable (ClearQAM) channels and
include a next-generation tuner/demodulator with more
sensitive reception of both analog and digital TV
signals and, in the case of the PCTV HD Pro Stick, even
FM radio.
About the size of a flash drive, the new Pinnacle PCTV
HD Sticks provide consumers with the brilliant sharpness
of digital HDTV with resolutions up to 1080i, by simply
plugging the device into a USB port on their PC. The
addition of ClearQAM support allows cable TV subscribers
to enjoy their favorite over-the-air (OTA) digital
channels with optimal quality by connecting the digital
cable directly to their PC.
The affordable, easy-to-use Pinnacle PCTV HD and HD Pro
Sticks are for laptop users, travelers and students, who
want to experience HD-quality TV at home or on-the-go
without having to pay expensive service fees. They are
also compelling solutions for Windows Vista™ and
Windows®XP MCE owners who did not purchase a PC TV tuner
with their systems.
“With
the February 17th, 2009 shut down of analog television
approaching, users are considering cost-effective
alternatives to paying for cable and satellite TV or
buying a new HD TV,” said Tanguy Leborgne, Pinnacle
Systems Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. “At just
$99 U.S., the new PCTV HD Pro Stick can provide
consumers with savings of up to $1,000 on their
subscription fees and it even works as a Personal Video
Recorder (PVR). All you need is your laptop or desktop
computer.”
The Pinnacle TVCenter Pro software bundled with the new
tuners delivers fully functional PVR capabilities that
make it easy to watch, TimeShift and record SD and HD
TV. For added convenience, users have the option of
viewing programs in full-screen mode or in a scalable
window while using other applications. An integrated
Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) is included to locate
programs and schedule recordings. Shows can be recorded
to the user’s hard drive or direct to DVD for playback
on a DVD player.
The
new Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick offers all of these
features plus a broad range of additional capabilities
ranging from stereo sound for both digital and analog
TV, stereo FM radio reception and the ability to capture
a video signal from a cable/satellite set-top box or
camcorder with the A/V adapter cable provided. It also
supports the DivX® format and includes a trial version
for MPEG-4 support which enables output to a PSP™ or
iPod®.
Pricing, Availability
The Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick and the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro
Stick will be available through leading retailers and
online resellers by April 6, 2008 with U.S. pricing at
$69.99 and $99.99 respectively. Both devices are fully
certified for Windows Vista™ and Windows® Media Center.
For tips, tricks and techniques on all Pinnacle
solutions go to
Pinnacle Life.
About Pinnacle Systems, Inc.
Pinnacle Systems, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in video
editing solutions, TV tuners for the PC and digital
media adapters for the consumer market. The company’s
product lines include Pinnacle PCTV™, Dazzle®, Pinnacle
ShowCenter®, Pinnacle Mobile Media™, Scorefitter™ and
its flagship Pinnacle Studio™ line. For more
information, visit
www.pinnaclesys.com .
About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video,
audio, 3D animation, gaming and broadcast professionals
– as well as for home audio and video enthusiasts. Avid
professional and consumer brands include Avid,
Digidesign, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius,
Softimage and Sundance Digital. The vast majority of
primetime television shows, feature films, commercials
and chart-topping music hits are made using one or more
Avid brands. Whether seasoned professional or beginning
student, Avid’s products and services enable customers
to work more efficiently, productively and creatively.
For more information about the company’s Oscar®, Grammy®
and Emmy® award-winning products and services, visit
www.avid.com.
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