Altera Announces Broadcast Studio Converter Solutions that Boost Performance and Lower Cost

FPGA-based Upconverter Provides Breakthrough Image and Display Quality; Audio Sample Rate Converter IP Enables Design Flexibility

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Conference, Las Vegas, April 26, 2006—Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) announced today at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) new broadcast studio solutions that significantly improve high-definition (HD) video converter performance and lower system costs for multi-channel audio sample rate converters. These solutions optimized for Altera^® FPGAs will help accelerate the creation of new broadcast video system designs so that developers can meet their time to market goals.

HDTV Upconverter

A new HDTV upconverter implemented on Altera FPGAs, brings an innovative video space-time analysis for standard definition (SD) to HD upconversion. This new technology will exceed the image quality obtained in motion-adaptive-based upconverters. This product is being developed by Let It Wave, of Palaiseau, France and distributed on Altera FPGAs.

“Our video upscaler technology, combined with the performance benefits of Altera devices, yields the highest visual quality, suitable for the most demanding broadcast and display applications,” said Professor Stéphane Mallat, CEO of Let It Wave. “Partnering with Altera provides us with significant time-to-market advantages, and their comprehensive product offering allows us to deliver the optimal solution to each of our target markets.”

Audio Sample Rate Converters

Altera’s new reference design for audio sample rate conversion is the first broadcast quality FPGA-based solution that synchronizes audio channels to an audio reference clock. The reference design supports two or more channels for various audio interfaces on a single FPGA, reducing chip count and board space versus single-channel ASSPs. Applying programmable logic technology in these audio systems also avoids obsolescence since the converter design can be revised as new audio interface standards emerge.

“These new FPGA-based video and audio offerings provide the quality and cost-effectiveness this sector is striving for,” said Todd Scott, senior director of Altera’s broadcast and consumer business unit. “Together with our industry partners, Altera is creating high-value programmable solutions for the broadcast industry.”

For more information on the range of Altera’s broadcast industry solutions, go to: www.altera.com/b/broadcast.html.

Latest Broadcast Solutions at NAB2006

Altera will display its newest FPGA-based solutions that accelerate broadcast system designs at NAB2006 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April 24-27, in booth C8112. These designs include:

• The only broadcast-quality audio sample rate converter

• The only 3Gbps SDI IP on the market and SDI, HD-SDI IP.

• The new Altera Video and Image processing suite

• Let It Wave breakthrough SD to HD upconverter (Also booth #C11028)

• Gennum embedded audio CODEC, at the Gennum booth #SU4214  

• Audio Video Development Kit, Stratix II GX Edition

About Altera

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) is the world’s pioneer in system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) solutions. Combining programmable logic technology with software tools, intellectual property and technical services, Altera provides high-value programmable solutions to approximately 14,000 customers worldwide. More information is available at www.altera.com.