Power-line group to plug in audio-video

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an industry group promoting home networking over power lines, said Monday that it has begun taking proposals from companies interested in developing an audio-video streaming specification. The new specification, to be called HomePlug AV, will be for the distribution of data and multistream entertainment, including high-definition and standard-definition television.

The plan is for HomePlug AV to coexist with the power-line networking standard HomePlug 1.0. The deadline for proposals is Aug. 1. Details of the specification are expected to be released 12 months to 17 months after that, according to the group, which recently added Panasonic as a member.