CANAL+ and Kudelski announce Swiss partnership

CANAL+/CANALSAT Switzerland and Nagravision announce a new partnership on content and revenue security for the upcoming launch of CANALSAT and CANAL+ high definition channels

LAUSANNE and CHESEAUX — In the framework of the upcoming April launch of a new high definition package, CANAL+/CANALSAT Switzerland announced today a new partnership with Nagravision, a Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S) company, the world’s leading provider of content protection and multiscreen television solutions.

CANAL+/CANALSAT Switzerland selected Nagravision’s latest Nagra Media Access conditional access system to provide their subscribers with access to high definition content delivered via satellite. Nagravision’s system allows CANAL+/CANALSAT Switzerland to not only secure their new high definition service for live broadcasts, but also to offer innovative features over time such as time-shifted television (which allows to pause and restart a live programme) and start-over television (which allows to restart a program already in progress).

In order to ensure that only authorized subscribers have access to the new service, the new CANAL+/CANALSAT smartcards provided by Nagravision will not be compatible with those already securing the CANAL+/CANALSAT service in France and in territories serviced by CANAL Overseas.

“We are always on the lookout for new solutions to secure our content and our partnership with Nagravision is fully in line with this effort,” said Jo Guegan, Deputy Chief Technical and Information Officer, CANAL+ Group. “We are very pleased to extend our relationship Nagravision, a company whose technology provides the best security for our content and ensures peace of mind for our content owners while allowing us to deliver the best programming to our subscribers.”

“Security is a moving target and we’ve invested heavily to ensure the highest level of protection for our customers’ content and revenues, whether it’s through our smartcards, interactive applications, or information and subscriber management systems,” said Andre Kudelski, President and CEO, Kudelski Group. “We are thrilled to extend our close partnership with CANAL+ Group today after more than 22 years of active collaboration.”