Viaccess and Orca Interactive Power Boxer TV Service with Pace and SoftAtHome

PARIS — Viaccess, a France Telecom (Paris and NYSE: FTE) group company and leader in content security CAS/DRM, and its subsidiary Orca Interactive, a leading innovative provider of IPTV middleware and content discovery solutions, announced today that the integrated solutions by Viaccess and Orca will power Swedish broadcaster Boxer’s hybrid services with live premium content and video on-demand (VOD).

The hybrid solution will be presented in the Viaccess stand (1.A51) and Orca stand (2.B40) at IBC 2010, Sept. 9-14 in Amsterdam, to show how broadcasters can retain customers with new VOD services.

Viaccess provides Boxer with an ecosystem of partners and end-to-end solution for a quick time to market of its VOD service. The Boxer deployment includes Viaccess content protection, Orca Interactive IPTV middleware and content discovery, SoftAtHome high-end STB middleware, and Pace plc (LSE:PIC) integrating the client software into its last generation of hybrid DVB-T2 PVR Set-top box platform.

Boxer is one of the first broadcasters in the world to utilize Digital Video Broadcasting – Second General Terrestrial (DVB-T2), a standard used to offer high definition services on digital terrestrial television. Boxer is also using a Flash-based user interface to enhance the user experience. The services offered will include live TV channels, VOD, subscription video on-demand (SVOD), pause live TV and client personal video recording (CPVR).

Viaccess maximizes the protection of Boxer’s Hybrid VOD content with its unique 360° approach that includes technical excellence, legal protection, continuous monitoring, open communication and pro-active actions on technology status.

As the protection of premium VOD content is key for success and any TV operator is vulnerable, Viaccess helps Boxer face piracy risks against content over the open Internet by non-approved distributors and hackers. Viaccess also ensures trust and distribution rights from content owners and movie studios.

On top of the advanced PVR user experience based on the Boxer TV Navigator, the hybrid solution allows Boxer IP connected subscribers to have access to a full range of additional services such as premium VoD through progressive download.

Boxer’s service is also uniquely equipped to provide recommendations on movies and TV series to subscribers with COMPASS, Orca’s content discovery platform. COMPASS includes a variety of recommendation engines to provide a blend of personal, optimized suggestions of content to users on TV, PC and mobile, as well as advanced explore and social TV functionality.

“Viaccess has been working closely with Boxer for more than eight years to protect their live premium content,” said François Moreau de Saint Martin, CEO, Viaccess. “We are proud to continue our relationship as Boxer makes the decision to launch VOD and interactive TV. With this technology alliance of Viaccess, Orca, SoftAtHome and Pace, Boxer is now highly competitive in the market by delivering VOD content over the open Internet and taking advantage of all the new possibilities digital TV has to offer.”

Haggai Barel, CEO of Orca Interactive added “Over the top TV is an opportunity for pay TV operators. In order to win the battle, they should selectively open the “walled garden,” increase their eligibility and enhance their service with more personalization, more interactivity, and more web related functionality while keeping their traditional assets of high QoS, superior user experience and outstanding customer service. We are excited to work with Boxer enabling them to effectively offer an engaging TV service that will reposition them in today’s competitive market.”

“Boxer aims at providing access to a large number of paid and free to air terrestrial TV channels across the Nordic region. Our next generation TV offering will deliver a unique user experience with combinations of HDTV DTT broadcast and over-the-top On Demand content,” said Håkan Brander, Director Product Management & Development of Boxer. “We were looking for a solution that could provide a consistent user experience across different STBs. It was also key for Boxer to find key partners for the end-to-end solution. We are delighted to collaborate with Viaccess and leverage their innovative approach to bring new services for the Digital Home.”