RESEARCH — Nearly 16 percent of American households who use the internet watch television broadcasts online, a new study suggests. According to The Conference Board and TNS, the number of consumers viewing entire episodes on the ‘net has doubled from one year ago. The research firms said personal convenience and avoiding commercials were the top two reasons why consumers are flocking to the internet for video. The study also said four of five online viewers say watching internet video has not changed their TV viewing habits.

TECHNOLOGY — Integral Systems subsidiary RT Logic unveiled its new Telemetrix 500RX high-rate digital/analog recorder system. Combining RT’s high-speed field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based hardware and firmware with commercial off-the-shelf PC server technology, the T500RX offers customers aggregate recording and playback rates in excess of 1 Gbps and is available in 1U, 2U, and 5U rack-mount versions, the company said.

INTERNATIONAL — Russian satellite operator Gascom inked a capacity deal with Network Teleport Italia. The Italian company will lease capacity on the Yamal-202 satellite to provide data, internet, television, radio and IP content distribution. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

MISCELLANY — The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) welcomed three firms to the organization as new installation members. The SBCA said it will now be working with Impact Satellite of Harrisburg, PA; Computer Cabling Products International of Denver, CO; and Atlas Marketing of Provo, UT to support their education and licensing efforts.