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- NDS and ACCESS Systems Europe Bring Pay-TV and FTA Channels to Connected TVs
AMSTERDAM (NL) – IBC Hall 1, Stand A71, – September 2, 2009 – NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that it has teamed up with ACCESS Systems Europe Holdings B.V., — a subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets — to bring Pay-TV and free-to-air (FTA) channels to connected-TVs without the need for a set-top box (STB). The two companies will integrate the NDS InfiniteTV™ hybrid content platform with ACCESS’ NetFront™ Browser, to provide pay-TV and FTA broadcasters with a compelling solution for connected-TV users.
InfiniteTV allows consumers to view traditional linear channels, catch-up TV, and on-demand content through a single, intuitive user interface. Consumers do not need to install any software or any additional hardware.
More than one million connected TVs in Japan already run ACCESS’ NetFront Browser. NetFront Browser will be pre-installed on connected TVs from a number of manufacturers and expected to be available in Europe and the U.S. in 2010.
Through InfiniteTV, connected TV viewers will have access to an electronic programme guide (EPG) and a default set of web channels and widgets supplied by their service provider. Using both broadcast channels and the Internet, InfiniteTV adds rich metadata to broadcast programmes and integrates with advanced search and recommendations engines to provide a personalised service. It also offers the option to extend the connected TV’s capabilities with time and place shifting through networked DVR and identity management services.
InfiniteTV is a standards-based initiative which supports all popular Internet video formats, DRMs and connected TV chipsets to maintain a secure and high quality service. It is an open platform, enabling any service provider to integrate it into their system while authenticating third-party applications to maintain system integrity. It also allows any content provider to make content easily available for different service providers.
An end-to-end solution, Infinite TV includes a software development kit and certification tools for widget providers; a channel builder for content providers to syndicate content; InfiniteTV Headend for service providers; and the InfiniteTV client.
NetFront Browser is the most advanced, versatile and powerful full Internet browser for beyond-PC devices. Specifically designed and optimised to deliver high performance in resource-constrained environments, NetFront Browser supports almost any OS and CPU, offers low power consumption, easy customisation and a broad range of plug-ins. ACCESS video aggregation and media management technologies further enable consumers to access aggregated video content. With ACCESS’ NetFront Living Connect, consumers can also benefit from the multimedia content (home video, music, pictures) residing on their home multimedia networks. NetFront Living Connect is a DLNA-certified comprehensive software solution, enabling implementation and control of home networks integrating multimedia appliances such as digital TVs, digital cameras, HDD recorders and more.
NetFront products, including NetFront Browser as an embedded Internet browser, have shipped in more than 760 million devices (as of April, 2009) throughout the world, including mobile phones, digital TVs, STBs, mobile handhelds, game consoles and automobile navigation systems.
“Internet-enabled TVs have already gained market acceptance in Japan and are expected to take off in Europe and the U.S. next year,” said Yoni Hashkes, senior vice president of advanced products and markets at NDS. “InfiniteTV has been designed from the ground up to deliver an intuitive interface that makes it easy for connected TV consumers to find and watch both broadcast and Internet content.”
“This partnership with NDS allows operators to provide premium and free-to-air TV content to Internet-enabled TVs for the first time,” said Yusuke Kanda, CEO, ACCESS Systems Europe. “This solution gives broadcasters, operators and consumer electronics manufacturers a powerful solution for win-win collaboration between content providers, advertisers and device manufacturers.”
NDS already supports ACCESS’ NetFront Browser on its MediaHighway™ STB software platform, and NetFront Browser has become the browser of choice for NDS cable customers.
The InfiniteTV suite of technologies enables pay TV and free-to-air broadcasters to reach consumers using emerging platforms and business models. Other solutions in the InfiniteTV suite focus on delivering premium content over the open Internet, funded by advertising.
About ACCESS and ACCESS Systems Europe
ACCESS CO., LTD. is a global company providing leading technology, software products and platforms for Web browsing, mobile phones, wireless handhelds and other networked devices. ACCESS’ product portfolio, including its NetFront™ Browser, ACCESS Linux Platform™ and Garnet™ OS, provides customers with solutions that enable faster time to market, flexibility and customizability. The company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the United States. ACCESS is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers’ Index under the number 4813. ACCESS Systems Europe Holdings B.V. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD., with its principal place of business in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and offices located in Paris, France and Oberhausen, Germany. ACCESS was first established in Europe in July 2001 as a total solution provider for mobile Internet and beyond-PC markets. ACCESS maintains research and development centers in Montpellier, France and in Oberhausen, Germany. For more information about ACCESS, please visit www.access-company.com/.
About NDS
NDS Group Ltd. creates the technologies and applications that enable pay-TV operators to securely deliver digital content to TV STBs (set-top boxes), DVRs (digital video recorders), PCs, mobiles and other multimedia devices. Over 70 of the world’s leading pay-TV platforms rely on NDS solutions to protect and enhance their businesses. VideoGuard® is the world’s market-leading conditional access (CA) and digital rights management (DRM) technology, currently deployed on 107 million active devices, and safeguarding pay-TV service revenues exceeding $40 billion. NDS middleware, including MediaHighway® which enables a host of advanced services for subscribers, has been deployed on 123 million devices. NDS DVR technology, centred around XTV™, leads the global industry with 21 million units deployed. (Deployment figures as of 30th June 2009).
Headquartered in the UK, NDS remains committed to investing in R&D with over 75% of its employees dedicated to pioneering work at development centres in China, Denmark, France, India, Israel, Korea, UK and US. NDS has also implemented a host of initiatives aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and helping digital TV subscribers reduce energy consumption.
NDS Group Ltd. is a private company owned by the Permira Funds and News Corporation. See www.nds.com for more information.
Read about the latest developments at NDS and in the pay-TV industry in World Vision
For further information:
NDS Amy Lucas
Corporate Communications
T: +44 20 8476 8243
alucas@nds.com
©2009 ACCESS CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
ACCESS, the ACCESS logo, NetFront, ACCESS Linux Platform and Garnet are registered trademarks or trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in the United States, Japan and/or other countries.
The registered trademark LINUX® is used pursuant to a sublicense from Linux Mark Institute, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world-wide basis.
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