Entone has introduced HD Now, a means for IPTV providers to provide MPEG-4 HDTV without building out their own headends with the infrastructure necessary to support MPEG-4 video. HD Now is a combination of Entone’s Hydra IP home gateways with SES Americom’s HD-4 technology.

Entone’s Hydra IP home gateways make it unnecessary to have a separate set-top box. The system provides full DVR capability throughout subscribers’ homes, Entone said. The company also said a service provider will be able to offer 32 channels or more, for the cost of six HD encoders. Entone said a provider can begin service in 3 to 4 weeks.