Irdeto multi-screen solution selected for Astro On-the-Go

Irdeto’s advanced multi-screen TV services and dynamic security solutions deliver premium entertainment for new over-the-top service in Malaysia

SINGAPORE — CommunicAsia — Irdeto (JSE: NPN), a global software security and media technology company, today announced that Astro Malaysia Holdings (Astro) has selected the company’s patented Broadband multi-screen TV services and ActiveCloak™ for Media solutions to launch Astro On-the-Go (OTG), a new over-the-top (OTT) service that delivers premium linear channels, Catch-Up, LIVE events and VOD content to connected devices.

The Irdeto Broadband solution has been a part of Astro’s successful B.yond IPTV service since 2010. The new deployment of Irdeto Broadband’s multi-screen TV services and ActiveCloak for Media are enabling Malaysia’s largest MSO to effortlessly deliver its content, applications and experiences to meet consumer demand for entertainment anytime, anywhere and on any device, while minimizing risk to its revenues. Irdeto was also chosen for system integration.

“Astro On-the-Go is an important step in our aspiration to provide all Malaysian households with an engaging, personalized media experience, and we believe this new service will help secure our market position and connect with a new generation of Malaysian consumers,” said Brian Lenz, Chief Innovation Officer of Astro. “Irdeto has been a trusted partner from the very beginning of our IPTV history with the most experience in pay media and the ability to provide innovative technology and services at every step as we prepare for the future.”

With approximately 50% penetration in the Malaysian market and serving more than three million customers in the increasingly competitive landscape, Astro designed Astro OTG to nurture and attract new subscribers with a more personalized, flexible entertainment experience beyond the living room.

According to Graham Kill, CEO, Irdeto: “Astro On-the-Go is proving once again that Astro is innovating to satisfy consumer demand for anytime, anywhere entertainment. The extension of our partnership is confirmation that to be truly successful in a multi-screen environment, you need a holistic, solution and managed service that blends dynamic security with robust content management and flexible TV services. We are proud to continue supporting Astro’s business growth to help them deliver quality content wherever their consumers want to enjoy it.”

Astro is using Irdeto ActiveCloak for Media, a dynamic and renewable software security solution, to further establish itself as a trusted OTT distributor for content owners and Hollywood studios, enabling it to expand its range of consumer devices. Astro OTG will start with iPads, iPhones, PCs, and Macs, followed by Android-powered smartphones in its second phase kicking off in September 2012. Astro is relying on Irdeto Broadband’s multi-screen TV services to:

• Easily configure and automate content-viewing rules
• Package and deliver content in more personalized ways
• Create engaging customer experiences and applications complete with intuitive search and recommendation
• Provide social and interactive viewing capabilities; and
• Determine the best recipe for monetizing content across multiple distribution methods.