Pace Ceases Production Of Analogue Equipment

Pace Microtechnology, the manufacturer of set-top box equipment required to receive satellite and cable television, has ceased the production of its analogue product in order to concentrate on the opportunities presented by digital television, the company announced today.

Pace, which makes digital receiver boxes for both satellite (Sky Digital) and terrestrial (ONdigital), said that the continued decline of the analogue market and the need to redirect resources to take advantage of the growing digital market led to the decision to discontinue analogue production.

This represents a significant committment to the digital ‘future’ by a hardware manufacturer and follows a shortage of boxes at the launch of digital terrestrial television by ONdigital last November (see ONdigital Takes To The Air). However, for customers it could also mean that the cheaper, analogue boxes will soon no longer be available, driving up the entry price of multi-channel television.

Pace today announced pre-tax profits of £8.3 million, compared to a loss last year of £12.3 million. Turnover was up by 14.4% to £99.4 million and earnings per share moved into the black at 2.6p for the six months ended 28 November 1998.

Pace Microtechnology: 01274 532 000