The collection of standards formerly known as the OpenCable Application Platform, or OCAP, and now known simply as the OpenCable Platform, has long been at the center of a war between the cable industry and the consumer electronics industry. And while that war still rages on, cable STB manufacturers have started to produce OCAP (yes, I’m going to keep using that) set top boxes. Time Warner Cable has already deployed 150,000 OCAP STBs, from Samsung and Scientific Atlanta. Motorola’s 3400/6400 boxes support a ‘precursor to OCAP’, which is the platform for TiVo’s cable software, and will be upgraded to full OCAP t some point.
By the end of 2008, Time Warner Cable expects to have deployed OpenCable technology in all its divisions, as do Comcast, Cox Communications, Cablevision Systems and Bright House Networks. That group of operators represents 91 million households in 145 designated market areas, according to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association.
Leddy described Time Warner Cable’s OpenCable deployments at a roundtable discussion for reporters hosted by the NCTA to provide operators’ perspective on the two-way cable issue.
The spread of OCAP compliant STBs is a good thing for TiVo – each OCAP compliant box is a potential host for the software TiVo has developed for Comcast and Cox. OCAP provides a common programming platform, so the actual hardware brand shouldn’t matter.
Picked up through EngadgetHD.
