Opera, TechniSat and Verimatrix provide smooth TV browsing for operators

LAS VEGAS — Opera Software, together with TechniSat Digital, a leading consumer-electronics manufacturer, and Verimatrix, a specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for digital TV services, today announced that the latest TechniSat hybrid set-top boxes (STB) will be powered by the Opera Software Development Kit (SDK) and protected by advanced Verimatrix security solutions.

Opera Software and TechniSat have been partnering for years to deliver STBs powered by Opera’s web technology. This long-standing collaboration now brings TechniSat hybrid STBs, with a DVB-C tuner subsystem operating in conjunction with over-the-top (OTT) video service support, and offers a friendly interface for browsing web content and video sources on TVs. Opera’s SDK brings support for HMTL5-based middleware, as well as the rendering of commercial OTT video content, to TechniSat devices.

DVB and OTT pay-TV services, available via TechniSat STBs, are protected by a hybrid Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) security solution, using the award-winning ViewRight ONE security client. The solution provides cardless protection of QAM-based broadcast services and direct support for enhanced HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) secured services through a native HTML5 video tag. The integration of ViewRight with the browser’s native HLS stack gives efficient support for commercial OTT video services using the world’s dominant video-streaming format. The IP-hybrid STB, which enables seamless blending of broadcast and internet-delivered video, is a natural way to combine the growing range of HLS services with the efficient MPEG hardware support of STBs and other devices.

With the new TechniSat STBs, cable operators gain ready-to-deploy products that support modern web standards and premium and secure OTT services for viewers. This solution can also be customized to match operators’ needs, including the integration of further options, such as Opera’s HbbTV solutions, portals and services, including the Opera TV Store.

“Top-notch security and a seamless web TV experience are simply must-haves in the TV world today,” says Aneesh Rajaram, Senior Vice-President for TV & Devices, Opera Software. “Opera’s standards-compliant browser engine and TechniSat’s solid platform and performance, together with advanced revenue security from Verimatrix, make the latest TechniSat STBs a perfect choice for operators.”

“For operators transitioning to a hybrid network, a standards-based approach provides the most flexible options when planning their technology infrastructure and business models. Our OTT video partner ecosystem, which includes progressive providers like Opera and TechniSat, reflects this approach and guards against proprietary technology lock-in,” says Petr Peterka, CTO, Verimatrix. “Verimatrix VCAS is an ideal solution for this integration to meet the security requirements for multi-platform video delivery.”

“Operators are increasingly looking to HTML5 as the standard for delivering rich multimedia content over IP/DVB networks, and we remain dedicated to delivering the best to our customers,” says Udo Scalla, CEO of TechniSat Digital S.A. “Our most efficient set-top-box architecture is able to run the robust Opera HTML5 browser and ensures a most compelling and optimized STB solution for our OEM and operator customers. We are convinced that Opera and Verimatrix are the right partners to develop a future-proof STB for any market.”

The Opera Devices SDK powers the web experience on tens of millions of devices made by over 50 customers, including Sony, Samsung, TiVo, Humax, Arris, Cisco, Amino, TCL, Sharp, Vestel and Altech. Opera Software’s web products for Smart TV devices also include the Opera TV Store app platform and the Opera TV browser.

Come and meet Opera Software at International CES 2014 show in the Las Vegas Convention Center (January 7-10), at South Hall S2, Lower Level, #MP25070, CES Meeting Place. To arrange a commercial or media meeting, contact zlauder@opera.com.

Come and see TechniSat at the CES in Las Vegas in the “Made in Germany” Pavillon in the Paradise Event Center #40011 or ask for a meeting via solution@technisat.com.