Japanese TV Makers Partner for Standards

TOKYO — Recognizing the growth potential of IPTV, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba and Hitachi have joined forces to create the TV Portal Service Corp., which will implement standards for Internet-connected TVs. The jointly owned company was created to address the companies’ competition for broadband video services.

The Japanese electronics manufacturers are seeking to produce TVs that are capable of hooking up to the Internet at broadband speeds, without the need for extra hardware, like a set-top box.

The technology behind the group’s common standards will be based on a Linux operating system, and the standards are expected to be ready in Spring 2007. Products could come later that year.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Sony and Panasonic’s parent company Matsushita are the lead shareholders in the consortium, each with a 35 percent stake, with the other companies holding 10 percent each.

Some experts predict this alliance of the TV giants could ultimately remove the need for extra hardware, and potentially eliminate the need for IPTV providers to sell such hardware to their customers.

According to InformiTV.com, “Multimedia Home Platform specification, the basis for the OpenCable Application Platform specification formally adopted by the American cable industry, was intended to provide just such a standard, but its adoption has been frustrated by wrangling over technology and licensing.”

Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai reported that the proposed Internet TVs will feature a remote control to access the Internet, and also will eliminate the need for a special keyboard to access content and other value-added services.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

Show More