This week at the International CES show in Las Vegas, NV, UK’s digital audio semiconductor supplier Frontier Silicon is demonstrating a multistandard receiver module Venice 6. By supporting the popular Sirius Internet Radio service on its Venice 6 multistandard receiver module, it is bringing satellite radio to a wide range of audio devices. According to market research from Bridge Ratings, Sirius Radio is currently listened to by some 6 million U.S.-based subscribers via satellite, mainly in their cars.

Venice 6 allows audio manufacturers to add the capability to connect the Sirius Internet radio service to a wide range of audio devices such as tabletop radios, clock radios and micro CD systems without requiring a rooftop satellite antenna, thereby making the Sirius service easily accessible in the home environment.

According to the manufacturer, its modules and ICs are already incorporated in about 80% of DAB digital radios, and the Venice 6 module is the latest addition to its product range, adding Wi-Fi connectivity to the DAB/DAB+/FM capabilities offered on earlier modules. The Wi-Fi connectivity gives Venice 6-based radios access to more than 10,000 Internet radio stations and a massive array of free online content such as podcasts and "Listen Again."

The module, which also plays audio streamed from a network server and music-on-demand, is opening up vast new markets for the company. By enabling Venice 6 to receive Sirius Internet radio, consumer electronics manufacturers will be able to produce familiar tabletop radios, microsystems and clock radios that also have access to the Sirius'
commercial-free channels for a monthly subscription fee.

Anthony Sethill, CEO of Frontier Silicon said, "The Sirius radio service is already very popular with consumers in the USA, with millions of subscribers regularly enjoying it. Implementing Sirius on Venice 6 is going to let our customers quickly bring to market new easy-to-install home audio products that will bring this high-quality Sirius content into the home."

According to the maker, Venice 6 is a truly global radio module, capable of receiving Internet radio, DAB/DAB+, FM and music streamed from a network server. It is based on the supplier’s Chorus 2 processor and streams radio stations and music files in a variety of formats and protocols including MP3, WMA, and RealAudio.

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