Roll-ups in the Set-top Box Chipset Business

At least two companies are betting that demand will remain healthy for smarter set-top boxes:

• Intel acquired the cable modem business from TI, which will combine DOCSIS 3.0 expertise with Intel's Atom SoC; and
• Zoran is acquiring Microtune, a Dallas-area developer of silicon tuners. Zoran wants to combine its SoC and media processor solutions with the tuner in one integrated solution, thus lowering costs.