NDS Provides On Digital Media with Key Technologies to Launch South African Pay-TV Platform

LONDON, UK — NDS Group, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that On Digital Media has selected NDS as technology provider and prime integrator to support the launch of its direct-to-home (DTH) platform in South Africa. The new service, TopTV, will go live in Q2 2010.

On Digital Media will secure their MPEG4 DVB-S2-based service using NDS’ market-leading VideoGuard® conditional access technology. To enable the platform and provide the basis for future functionality, NDS MediaHighway® set-top box software and an NDS developed electronic programme guide (EPG) will also be implemented.

The launch of the TopTV platform will provide South Africans with a choice of satellite service providers. TopTV will offer a competitively-priced basic package of approximately 30 channels. On Digital Media will offer subscribers the flexibility to tailor their services to their own requirements and budget.

“We chose to partner with NDS as it offers the most secure encryption for pay-TV and a middleware roadmap that will allow us to introduce more advanced features including a DVR service in the future. The design and ease-of-use of NDS user interfaces was also a key factor in our decision,” said Vino Govender, CEO of On Digital Media. “Moreover, we are benefiting from NDS’ professional services as they bring unique experience from their involvement on similar engagements around the world.”

“On Digital Media is bringing pay-TV to middle-income households in South Africa for the first time. This represents a key win for NDS as we expand our presence in the emerging pay-TV market across the continent,” said Giles Wain, NDS Vice President of Regional Sales, EMEA. “The pay-TV market in Africa is at a tipping point. We are investing in local expertise at our new office in South Africa to ensure we are well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.”