SAN DIEGO, Aug. 21, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entropic Communications, Inc. (NasdaqGM:ENTR - News), a leading provider of silicon solutions to enable connected home entertainment, announced the release of the RF5101, a new radio frequency integrated circuit recently added to its Band Translation Switch (BTS) product family. The chip was developed to meet the performance requirements of EchoStar Technologies and is being integrated into EchoStar's latest customer premise equipment (CPE) including its Low Noise Block Feedhorn (LNBF) and its Multi-Switches.

The Benefits of BTS

Entropic's direct broadcast satellite (DBS) Outdoor Unit solutions are focused on meeting the needs of DBS providers in an increasingly competitive market. BTS technology has proven effective at lowering installation costs, reducing installation complexity, and increasing installment efficiency. With BTS technology, EchoStar is able to deliver programming from multiple satellites to two set top boxes (STBs) or a digital video recorder (DVR) over a single coaxial cable. BTS products have been successfully deployed in millions of homes in North America and enable both cost effective installations and easy multi-tuner STB upgrades.

New Features and Improved Performance

Entropic's RF5101 builds upon the foundation of the RF5100 BTS IC, which offers four stacked inputs and three stacked outputs with each output supporting up to two STBs or a DVR. The RF5101 IC adds the key new feature of a dedicated 3.1 GHz output. With the availability of this on-chip 3.1 GHz frequency source there is no longer a need for a dedicated high-frequency dielectric resonance oscillator (DRO) for RF to IF frequency mixing purposes. Eliminating the high-frequency DRO improves both design cycle times and performance. High-frequency DROs have been identified as root causes of frequency drifts issues over temperature and time. Therefore, the RF5101 is an ideal solution for EchoStar offering improved reliability.

``We are pleased to expand our BTS product family to address the needs of EchoStar,'' said Entropic's Vice President of Marketing John Graham. ``Our engineering teams are working very closely with DBS Operators, LNB and MS manufactures to improve overall system performance. With the RF5101, OEMs can build robust equipment which will deliver a superior customer experience for subscribers.''

Availability

RF5101 devices are currently production released. Reference design and comprehensive evaluation kits are available to support design-in efforts.

About Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications, Inc. (NasdaqGM:ENTR - News) is a leading fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops and markets systems solutions to enable connected home entertainment. The company's technologies significantly change the way high-definition television-quality video and other multimedia content such as movies, music, games and photos are brought into and delivered throughout the home. For more information, please visit http://www.entropic.com.

The Entropic Communications logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4255

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute ``forward-looking statements.'' Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the advantages and deployment of Entropic's Band Translation Switch technology, including its incorporation into EchoStar Technologies systems, as well as Entropic's continued collaboration with EchoStar. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Entropic's actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effects of competition; Entropic's dependence on a limited number of customers like EchoStar and ultimately service providers like DISH Network; Entropic's ability to introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis and risks related to market acceptance of such products; the risk that the market for satellite digital television and multimedia content delivery solutions may not develop or grow as anticipated; the effect of intellectual property rights claims; and other factors discussed in the ``Risk Factors'' section of Entropic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2008. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Entropic 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.

          Entropic Communications, Inc.
          Media Contacts:
          Susan Huberman, VP, Corporate Communications
            858/768-3711
            susan.huberman@entropic.com
          Investor Contact:
          Debra Hart, Director, Investor Relations
            858/768-3852
            debra.hart@entropic.com

          GlobalFluency
          Maria Canul
          650/433-4173
          mcanul@globalfluency.com