- NDS and SES AMERICOM will both show live feeds of IP-PRIME television channels broadcast from SES AMERICOM’s satellite using NDS Metro™ middleware
- Integration of the NDS Metro regional headend system into the SES AMERICOM IP-PRIME telco delivery system ready for field deployment
- Delivery of multiple MPEG-4 channels highlights the comprehensive IPTV offering provided by SES AMERICOM, enabled by NDS
- NDS Metro solution includes NDS VideoGuard® content protection, currently securing content on more than 72 million set-top boxes worldwide
- Rich application development environment based on NDS MediaHighway™ middleware, running on more than 57 million set-top boxes to date
NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, and SES AMERICOM, a leading satellite operator and service provider in North America, will showcase at NXTComm (June 19-21) the first ever live demonstration of IP-PRIME IPTV service integrated with the NDS Metro middleware solution. Using Amino 130 set-top boxes (STB), NDS and SES AMERICOM will run live television feeds delivered from SES AMERICOM’s IP-PRIME broadcast center to demonstrate the full capabilities of this IPTV solution. NDS Metro is an integrated IPTV middleware offering that provides a turnkey solution for telecommunications companies and broadband operators.
The live demo at NXTComm will show key functionalities of the Metro solution such as a full-featured Electronic Program Guide, and customizable views for multi-channel navigation. Metro enables the tuning, decryption and playing of H.264 (MPEG-4) standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) television channels.
By implementing Metro into the IP-PRIME service, SES AMERICOM is now able to offer their customers more options than traditional IPTV services, since the Metro middleware platform provides a much richer application development environment for interactive TV innovations. Metro is part of the NDS MediaHighway middleware family of products, which is currently deployed around the world on more than 57 million STBs. Metro also provides digital rights management via NDS VideoGuard®, the most widely used conditional access solution in the world, currently protecting content on more than 72 million set-top boxes.
“Our next-generation IPTV middleware solution, Metro, provides reliable and highly scalable applications to telecommunications companies like SES AMERICOM who are looking to the future and responding to the demand for more than just standard television,” said Dov Rubin, Vice President and General Manager, NDS Americas. “We have been working with SES AMERICOM for more than a year to help deploy secure and advanced interactive content for the IPTV environment and this demo which we are both featuring at NXTComm shows telcos and subscribers just how rich their IPTV experience can be.”
SES AMERICOM has integrated NDS Metro middleware into its IP-PRIME video service, a centralized, satellite-delivered IPTV distribution system that enables telcos to bundle hundreds of traditional SD and HD programming channels with their voice and Internet services. Offering this fully functional IPTV package eliminates the need for distributors to build and run an expensive IPTV headend system.
IP-PRIME offers two delivery choices to customers:
- Transport Only – programming is delivered to the telco’s headend in MPEG-4 IPTV format and bulk decrypted ready for re-distribution using the telco’s own STB solution; or,
- Fully Managed – programming is delivered the telco’s headend in MPEG-4 IPTV format and re-distributed directly through the telco’s access network to IP PRIME certified STBs in consumer households. IP PRIME offers, as part of the Fully Managed Solution, full STB management including all STB software, integration of local and regional channels, full electronic program guide for all channels, subscriber management system, blackout management as required by programmers and a comprehensive remote management and control capability for the headend systems.
“By integrating a proven solution such as the NDS Metro solution with the IP-PRIME video service, we are reinforcing IP-PRIME’s stature as the leading, fully-managed IPTV system in the US,” said Alan Young, Chief Technology Officer of SES AMERICOM. “Our relationship with NDS has allowed us to offer our customers truly secure content while enabling them to take advantage of such features as interactive games and a full-featured EPG.”
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the US, SES AMERICOM is recognized as a leading innovator of global satellite communications services. The company today operates a fleet of 15 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region of the world via a fleet of more than 36 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the US government. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions.
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This document may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global economic, business, competitive market, regulatory and other factors. More detailed information about these and other factors that could affect future results is contained in our filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Any “forward-looking statements” included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and we do not have any obligation, nor do we undertake, to publicly update any “forward-looking statements” to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.