Pace, Comcast Ink STB Deal

Set-top box developer Pace Micro Technology entered into a multiyear purchase agreement with Comcast.

Under the agreement, Comcast will be able to sublicense Pace EngineWare software platform and related STB technology in the North American market, and will work with Pace on the next-generation of set-tops.

Comcast is expected to shell out between $375 million and $550 million over a three-year period. Under the new contract, which supersedes a previous one, Comcast will buy a variety of Pace boxes, including the Tahoe HD DVR model.

Pace also recently introduced the IP215, an MPEG-4 set-top and cut a deal to provide set-tops for a Dutch DTV rollout planned by UnitedGlobalCom .