KT Launches Mega TV Utilizing NDS Content Protection

Monday, August 6th, 2007
  • NDS selected as content protection provider for KT’s Mega TV service
  • KT, the leading telecommunications company in Korea, reaches over 6.51 million broadband subscribers and continues to offer innovative new services
  • Mega TV video on demand (VOD) service via broadband now available, beginning in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that it has been selected by KT as the provider of content protection solutions for the company’s Mega TV service, as KT announces commercial launch of the service.

KT is Korea’s leading broadband operator. Megapass is the flagship high-speed broadband service provided by KT, currently providing broadband services to over 6.51 million subscribers. KT continues to invest heavily in capital expenditure and is scheduled to complete the build-out of nationwide FTTH broadband by 2010.

Building on its broadband success, KT has now launched the ‘Mega TV on Demand’ TV service via broadband. The telecom giant will initially offer the on-demand service in Seoul, Gwa-Cheon, Dong-Tan and other selected cities in Kyung-Ki province.

The new Mega TV service will offer a multitude of video on demand (VOD) programming services, and a range of interactive TV services including an electronic program guide (EPG) developed by NDS. Mega TV offers programming from all Korean terrestrial TV operators – KBS, MBC and SBS. Many genres of programming are available, including movies, sports, culture, animation, documentaries, drama, and educational programming.

Ms. Sue Taylor, Vice President and General Manager of NDS Asia Pacific said: “NDS is proud to be working with Korea’s leading fixed line telephony and broadband provider. The launch of Mega TV is the start of a comprehensive strategy to offer VOD and iTV services that will eventually capitalize on the substantial network investment to offer full IPTV services, subject to regulatory approval.”

Ms. Young-Hui Lee, Senior Vice President of KT said: “KT takes great pride in figuring among the world’s leading broadband operators, and we continue to innovate through value-added services. Mega TV is the most recent example of KT deploying world-leading technology to offer new services to our customers. NDS technology is vital in delivering the quality and variety of services that are integral to our long-term business plans.”

Under this agreement, NDS VideoGuard® conditional access will be deployed throughout the KT IPTV network to provide end-to-end content protection. VideoGuard is the most advanced security solution on the market today, and is deployed in more than 72 million homes worldwide. VideoGuard facilitates an extensive range of pay TV business models, such as multiple channel packages, tiering, pay-per-view purchase of programs from the electronic program guide (EPG), impulse pay-per-view and other services that allow the operator to maximize viewer choice.

Research conducted during the Mega TV pilot phase revealed that 84% of target customers want to acquire the service when it becomes available. As a launch promotion, KT will offer Megapass + Mega TV packages to offer greater value to subscribers. KT has announced that the company plans to attract 300,000 Mega TV subscribers by the end of 2007.

Links: KT; NDS