Broadcom's Universal Optical Disc

Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced that its partner, LG Electronics Inc., earned the overall Best of Show award at last week's 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) based on universal optical disc technology developed by Broadcom. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) selected LG Electronics' "Super Multi Blue" Player (Model BH100) -- the first player with both Blu-ray disc and HD DVD playback capabilities -- as the show's overall best product. The Super Multi Blue Player utilizes the Broadcom® universal optical disc (UOD) platform featuring a combined Blu-ray disc and HD DVD system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution.

Blu-ray and HD DVD are the next generation of optical disc formats for recording, rewriting and playing high definition video and digital data. The market acceptance of these two formats represents a key transition in the home entertainment market and further supports the consumer preference for high definition content.

By combining Blu-ray and HD DVD formats into one SoC platform, Broadcom is enabling global leaders in consumer electronics and mobile communications to provide universal high definition DVD players that can play either format. LG Electronics' Super Multi Blue Player is the first to accomplish this.

Broadcom developed its next generation universal optical disc platform to help accelerate the adoption of high definition DVD players. The UOD platform has an advanced feature set and a flexible optical disc software stack that is compliant with both Blu-ray and HD DVD specifications, providing LG Electronics with a complete hardware and software platform for the design and development of universal DVD players that support both disc formats.

"Congratulations to LG Electronics for receiving Best of Show at CES. Clearly our partner's innovative Super Multi Blue Player is seen as a consumer-friendly solution to the format wars, providing the high definition picture quality benefits offered by both Blu-ray and HD DVD disc formats," said Peter Besen, Vice President of Broadcom's Consumer Electronics line of business. "Broadcom's Blu-ray/HD DVD technology, now available in award-winning products from leading companies such as LG Electronics, is well positioned to drive the widespread adoption of high performance, dual-formatted products that consumers want."

"LG is very honored to have earned the Best of Show award at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. LG would also like to thank our partner Broadcom," said Wae Yeul Kim, Chief Research Engineer of LG Electronics Digital Media Research Lab. "With Broadcom's universal optical disc platform and LG's front-end technology, LG is providing support for both Blu-ray and HD DVD in one player, delivering a single platform that enables consumers to enjoy both formats" - Broadcom.