MaxLinear’s MxL5x2 Satellite Receiver and EN5520 Channel Stacking ICs Adopted by Sky for Next-Generation Sky Q Set-Top Boxes

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  • Sky’s next-generation home entertainment system, Sky Q, enables up to 12 channels of simultaneous reception, recording of multiple channels, and distribution to multiple viewing screens simultaneously

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MaxLinear Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for cable and satellite broadband communications, the connected home, and for data center, metro, and long-haul fiber networks, today announced it is shipping its MxL5x2 Full-Spectrum CaptureTM satellite front-end receiver in the new Sky Q set-top box, announced by Sky plc.

Sky Q is Sky’s next-generation home entertainment service, which will open up a whole new way of watching TV. Available in early 2016, Sky Q is a family of advanced products, connecting wirelessly to create a new ecosystem that makes it easier than ever for customers to access all their favorite TV, and brings an even wider range of entertainment to the big screen.

It will allow customers to watch on up to five screens simultaneously, while recording four other channels, pause on one screen and carry on viewing on another, watch shows from their box, whether live, recorded or on demand, anywhere around the home, and for the first time, to take their recordings with them on their tablet.

Sky Q’s multichannel reception features are powered by MaxLinear’s MxL5x2 Full-Spectrum Capture satellite receiver ICs, which digitize the complete broadcast satellite band (4.1GHz) and perform the digital tuning and demodulation of up to 12 satellite channels in a very low power, ultra small form-factor. The MxL5x2 ICs also provide exceptional rejection of Wi-Fi, LTE and terrestrial interference signals, ensuring that the set-top boxes have excellent HD and UHD reception performance, even in adverse environments.

The Sky Q platform is also utilizing MaxLinear’s EN5520 digital channel stacking IC for multi-dwelling units (MDUs), which enables Sky to offer the same Sky Q experience to subscribers in multi-dwelling apartments and commercial buildings.

“MaxLinear is extremely pleased to be a design partner and strategic supplier to Sky for the next-generation Sky Q platform,” said Will Torgerson, Vice President & General Manager, MaxLinear Broadband Group. “MaxLinear’s relentless focus on best-in-class performance and world-class customer support enables Sky to bring complex, cutting-edge products to market quickly and cost effectively.”

“Sky Q offers customers a whole new way of watching TV,” commented Andrew Olson, Director of New Products at Sky. “To deliver that, we relied on MaxLinear’s expertise and unique satellite receiver ICs during the design phase, and the resulting solution is fantastic. We were delighted with the support provided by MaxLinear throughout the project.”

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL) is a global provider of integrated, radio frequency, and mixed-signal integrated circuits and SoCs. The company is a pioneer in multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) technology and its products serve broadband communications and infrastructure industries, including cable TV, satellite TV, data center, metro, and long-haul optical transport network applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.maxlinear.com.

MxL, Full-Spectrum Capture, FSC and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Sky

Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.

Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of £4.9 billion. The group employs 30,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).

For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate.

Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning or implying future financial performance or trends and growth opportunities affecting MaxLinear, including statements relating to the performance and opportunities related to MaxLinear’s MxL5x2 Full-Spectrum Capture satellite front-end receiver and EN5520 digital channel stacking IC for MDUs. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot predict whether or to what extent we will realize revenues from the adoption by Sky Q of the MxL5x2 in the new Sky Q set-top box platforms or the EN5520 in the Sky Q platform. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including (among others) integration risks arising from our recent acquisition of Entropic Communications, Inc.; intense competition in our industry; the ability of our customers, including Sky Q, to cancel or reduce orders; uncertainties concerning how end user markets for our products will develop; our lack of long-term supply contracts and dependence on limited sources of supply; potential decreases in average selling prices for our products; currently pending intellectual property litigation; and the potential for additional intellectual property litigation, which is prevalent in our industry. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in MaxLinear’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. MaxLinear is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

MaxLinear Inc. Press Contact:
David Rodewald
The David James Agency LLC
Tel: +1 805-494-9508
david@davidjamesagency.com
or
MaxLinear Inc. Corporate Contact:
Yves Rasse
Senior Director, Consumer Product Line
Tel: +1 760-692-0711
yrasse@maxlinear.com

Source: MaxLinear, Inc.

Released January 5, 2016