Irdeto Announces Support for Common Interface Plus (CI+)

Standard offers new advantages to Irdeto’s large global based of cable, satellite and DTT operators using retail set-top box distribution models

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NAB 2008 — Irdeto (JSE: NPN), a leading expert in content and business model protection solutions and services, today announced its support for the Common Interface Plus (CI+) specification with a new CI+ conditional access module (CAM) planned for commercial availability by year’s end, after the CI+ Forum completes the final specification.

The CI+ Forum is currently finalizing the CI+ (CI Plus) specification to meet market requirements for the secure delivery of pay-TV services to a horizontal market for digital TV (DTV) receivers, including set-top boxes, IDTVs and PCs. Originated in 1995 by the DVB Consortium, the CI specification interconnects a CAM and a DTV receiver so that any encryption system can be used in the receiver. CI+ strengthens the original specification to combat piracy and enforce a relationship of trust between the host and the smart card.

The enhanced security within the CI+ specification allows broadcast operators to deploy smart cards and CAMs that can be used with any retail set-top box or IDTV that supports the standard, giving consumers a wider range of choice in receiver equipment. In addition to increasing choice, support for Irdeto content protection within the CAM empowers operators to offer premium pay-TV offerings like PVR, PPV and VOD services. CI+ also delivers better user interfaces for CAM users, improving the overall viewing experience. The end result not only increases subscriber loyalty, but also increases business model options and average revenue per user (ARPU) for operators.

“Many of Irdeto’s more than 400 conditional access customers prefer the advantages of a retail distribution strategy: lower costs, more choice for consumers, and greater involvement from the equipment manufacturers, who compete with one another on price, functionality and innovation,” said Doug Lowther, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Irdeto. “This specification and its mission to integrate more robust security features and new functionalities will meet the evolving needs of pay-TV operators and give consumers greater choice, and Irdeto strongly supports that.”

The ongoing global switch from analog to digital broadcast creates a growing market for CAMs as IDTV’s integrate CI slots as a standard feature to accommodate encrypted broadcast signals. In the European Union, a mandate has already been passed requiring that all new IDTVs include a CI slot to receive digital terrestrial TV (DTT) broadcasts.

Members of the CI+ Forum include Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Neotion and SmarDTV. The group is currently establishing a compliance regime to enable CI+ deployment within DTV receivers and CAMs.

Irdeto will be exhibiting at NAB 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, April 14-17th. Please visit booth #SU8811 to view live demonstrations and to meet with an Irdeto representative.