Intel plans to launch rumored virtual cable TV service and set-top box

Abstract: According to foreign media reports, Intel plans to launch the rumored virtual cable TV service and set-top box, and has developed a plan to overcome the content authorization barrier. A video industry source said that Intel would not launch a nationwide cable television service, but rather city

According to foreign media reports, Intel plans to launch rumored virtual cable TV services and set-top boxes, and plans to overcome content-licensing barriers. A video industry source said that Intel would not launch a nationwide cable television service, but rather city-wide services to gain greater flexibility in negotiations with reluctant content providers.

Intel hopes its chips will be used in living room devices, according to a video-publishing industry source. The first wave of Google TV products that used Intel chips a few years ago was unsuccessful, so Intel decided to do it alone. Intel is dissatisfied with "Google TV products developed by vendors, so it decided to develop the right product," the source said.

Intel's plan is to develop set-top box and TV services that are attractive to users who like streaming TV services but do not want to give up cable TV services and key content such as sports. Intel's cable TV service will be a combination of traditional TV channels and streaming content.

In March, the Wall Street Journal reported on Intel's plan to develop a pay-TV service, and Reuters reported in June that Intel's set-top box may use face recognition technology to provide dynamic advertising to improve the relevance and effectiveness of advertising. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters all reported that the biggest obstacle to Intel's cable TV service this year was that content providers were unwilling to authorize content from Intel.

The city-by-town service solves the problem, as content providers may prefer to first choose a market-trial new service that is loosely linked to cable companies, and allow Intel to first launch services in some markets. Intel October licensed the Comcast Reference Design Toolkit to assist in the development of its TV service, so Intel may use its partnership with Comcast to provide television services in the market where Comcast operates.

The source pointed out that because Intel has developed a strategy, will "soon" start to launch the service, but can not determine the specific time. Intel may disclose more details at next week's International Consumer Electronics Show.

Intel's technology will enable users to replay any content they have paid for last month, which means that users do not have to elaborate plans to record what they want to see. This advantage may prompt the user to abandon the existing set-top box and switch to the Intel technology-set-top box.