WASHINGTON, November 30, 2004 – Members of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, Inc. (ATSC) have approved a new standard that will allow receiver manufacturers to dynamically upgrade their products in the field.

Software Data Download Service, A/97, defines specifications for downloading software to terminal devices using an MPEG2 transport stream. This new standard provides updates and upgrades of firmware, operating system software, device driver software, native application software, middleware and other types of software residing in devices, such as consumer DTV receivers.

“A/97 specifies the mechanisms for announcement, signaling and encapsulation for the delivery of a download data service in the ATSC transport, while allowing the specific details of the software download payload to be defined by each manufacturer,” said Michael Dolan, chair of the ATSC Specialist Group on Data Broadcasting that developed and maintains the document. The new standard is available for download on the ATSC web site at: http://www.atsc.org/standards.html.

The Advanced Television Systems Committee, Inc. is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. ATSC member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries.

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