NDS VideoGuard to Secure HD+ Content for Sky Deutschland

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011
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  • NDS VideoGuard conditional access technology to protect HD+ content for Sky Deutschland
  • APS to simulcrypt HD+ channels with NDS VideoGuard for reception on Sky HD satellite receivers

COLOGNE, Germany — ANGA Cable 2011, Stand B18, Hall 10.2, May 3 to 5 — NDS Group, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that NDS VideoGuard® conditional access (CA) is enabling the secure delivery of HD+ content to Sky Deutschland (Sky) subscribers.

Following a cooperation between Sky Deutschland and HD+, Sky HD subscribers will be able to receive both Sky and HD+ services through Sky HD receivers. HD+ content will simultaneously be encrypted with NDS’ VideoGuard CA by Astra Platform Services (APS), the technical operator of the HD+ service. The new service will be available in the summer of 2011.

As the primary security solution for the Sky platform, VideoGuard will continue to manage specific content security requirements and rights applying to both Sky and HD+ content, enabling the fulfilment of HD+ security requirements for their current and future content partners.

Gerard Duffy, Senior Vice President Technology at Sky Deutschland, said: “The cooperation with HD+ is another milestone in Sky history. It provides convenient access to another eight HD channels for our customers. Through its excellent encryption technology our partner NDS has played a significant role facilitating the conclusion of this agreement.”

Yves Padrines, NDS VP Sales Europe & General Manager NDS GmbH, said: “We thoroughly support the addition of content and services to provide subscribers with a value added experience, incorporated in a unified way; we are therefore pleased to be enabling secure access to the HD+ service on the Sky platform.” He added, “NDS VideoGuard has the flexibility to enable all content rights and subscriber authorisation as defined by partners and content owners, a major factor in the streamlined incorporation of HD+ content on the Sky platform.”

HD+ is a technical platform from SES ASTRA to provide encrypted Free-TV channels in HD-Quality via satellite for the German market. The HD+ channel line-up currently includes RTL HD, Sat.1 HD, ProSieben HD VOX HD, kabel eins HD, RTL II HD, SPORT1 HD and sixx HD. HD+ is marketed by HD PLUS GmbH, located in Munich, and an affiliate of satellite operator SES ASTRA.