DIRECTV Selects NDS Videoguard Connect™, the DRM for Multi-Platform Pay-TV

LONDON — IBC 2011 — Stand 1.A71 — NDS Group today announced that DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV), one of the world’s leading providers of digital television entertainment services, has selected NDS’ VideoGuard Connect™ DRM for multi-platform pay-TV to protect and enable their multi-platform Over-The-Top (OTT) and home networking services.

In conjunction with DIRECTV’s existing pay-TV solutions from NDS, VideoGuard Connect will enable the seamless addition of OTT and home networking content distribution to multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS and Android-based mobile and tablet devices.

VideoGuard Connect is a DRM solution for multi-platform pay-TV that protects the delivery and consumption of premium content. Utilising content delivery optimisation technology from NDS, VideoGuard Connect will enable DIRECTV to implement linear channels, on-demand events and download services over the open internet providing a traditional TV user experience.

“Our subscribers expect quality content and the best viewing experience from DIRECTV” said Rômulo Pontual, Chief Technology Officer at DIRECTV. “We will use VideoGuard Connect’s highly secure DRM to ensure content producers and DIRECTV can support consumers’ growing desire for a video experience on multiple screens. VideoGuard Connect is a valuable addition to our portfolio of solutions from NDS”

Raffi Kesten, Chief Operating Officer at NDS added “As pay-TV operators extend their services to more connected devices, protecting these services is critical for their business success. The selection of VideoGuard Connect by DIRECTV recognizes the central role of content and service protection technologies to their evolving TV strategy. NDS continue to be a leading provider of premium security services for pay-TV platforms in this constantly expanding market”

DIRECTV currently employ a number of NDS technologies to secure and enable their platform including VideoGuard® Conditional Access (CA), NDS Dynamic™ advanced advertising technology, NDS middleware and DVR technology. The addition of VideoGuard Connect extends the relationship between NDS and DIRECTV and furthers the two companies’ mutual business interests.