During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2006 ATI Technologies previewed its high definition television digital cable receiver for personal computers (PCs) which is expected to be commercially available later this year. The device will allow PCs to receive HDTV and will add functionality and power to the media center computers.

ATI OCUR (open cable uni-directional receiver) product will allow media center PCs that run on the forthcoming Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, to receive high definition (HD) premium digital cable TV content on the PC. The new device will also offer traditional analog TV and free-to-air HD broadcast reception to the PC. The OCUR is expected to be a part of ATI’s Avivo initiative, which means that it will be compatible with various graphics cards based on the Radeon X1000-series and future graphics chips and will ensure quality video output using DVI, HDMI, component or other types of output.

“The forthcoming OCUR PC receiver is powered by ATI’s Avivo technologies which means that not only will the Media Center PC have a new level of functionality but also the highest available video quality. ATI is proud to work with Microsoft to demonstrate this new OCUR PC receiver for a new era of media PCs,” said Godfrey Cheng, director of marketing, multimedia business unit, ATI Technologies.

ATI along with Microsoft and other PC companies hope that thanks to new operating systems and hardware technologies media center computers will be as robust as conventional consumer electronics.

“We’re working with Microsoft and other industry leaders to drive Media Center PCs to be more intuitive, powerful and robust than standalone consumer electronics devices,” Mr. Cheng added.

Microsoft Windows Media Center delivers advanced computing plus easy-to-use integrated digital entertainment, including live and recorded television, movies, music, photos and radio, that consumers can enjoy when and how they want. It provides a central hub for digital entertainment and productivity, accessible on either a PC monitor or TV display, using a single remote control.

Pricing and availability timeframe for the OCUR were not announced.