Viaccess secures BoomTV DTT in Macedonia

PARIS — Viaccess, a France Telecom (Paris and NYSE: FTE) company and leader in conditional access, announced today that BoomTV, the leading premium pay-TV operator in Macedonia, has selected Viaccess conditional access platform to secure its programming broadcast on its digital terrestrial television nationwide.

Viaccess’ scalable conditional access systems will help BoomTV to secure a short time-to-market as they have been pre-programmed to work with a large choice of TV ecosystems and set-top box vendors. To extend its reach, BoomTV can take advantage of Viaccess’ multi-network (DTT & IP), multi-device (PC, mobile, portable video players) and home networking capabilities, enabling it to deliver content in a more flexible way.

Launched by On.Net, the leading internet service provider in Macedonia, BoomTV is the first general-interest pay TV in Macedonia. On.Net, owned by Telekom Slovenije since March 2006, plans to offer 50 TV programmes, 50 radio programmes and datacast, including a seven-day electronic programme guide, on four DVB-T multiplexes to all territories of Macedonia.

“We are pleased to enter the Macedonian market by helping On.Net to launch BoomTV, the first pay-TV experience in this country,” said François Moreau de Saint Martin, Viaccess CEO. “We are delighted to cooperate with OnNet for the launch of Boom TV DTT services and we look forward to supporting BoomTV in its upcoming initiatives.”

“It is our goal to become the leader in the pay-TV market in Macedonia, and as such, On.Net needs to be the pioneer in adopting the latest technology that is shaping the future of our industry,” said Predrag Cemerikic, On.Net CEO. “That’s why for the launch of BoomTV, we decided to select Viaccess conditional access solutions and we look forward to working with Viaccess as our new technology partner. ”

Of Macedonia’s two million population, On.Net expects to have more than 200,000 susbscribers to its pay-TV services by the end of 2010.