Viaccess and Orca Interactive Present a Unique Hybrid Solution Via Open Internet

Following the release of an end to end solution for rapid deployment of secured, innovative IPTV services, Viaccess and Orca introduce a hybrid solution via the open Internet – helping service providers increase TV coverage and gain competitive edge with advanced services such as progressive VOD downloads, catch-up TV and client PVR, all with secure digital media access

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Viaccess, a France Telecom (Paris:FTE)(NYSE:FTE) company, leader in conditional access and Orca Interactive Ltd., a Viaccess subsidiary, innovation leader in providing IPTV middleware and applications, announced today at the IBC convention in Amsterdam, the introduction of a pre-integrated end-to-end hybrid solution over the open internet for IPTV service providers, content aggregators and broadcasters.

Succeeding the release of the complete end to end solution for IPTV, the new hybrid solution combines digital video broadcasting (DVB) channels, and advanced interactive services through the Internet, such as progressive video on demand (VOD) downloads, catch-up TV, push-VOD and client personal video recording (cPVR).

Viaccess and Orca’s new hybrid platform with open Internet functionality, currently on display at IBC, is designed to help enrich the consumer experience, while expanding the reach of next-generation TV services. IPTV service providers implementing the solution will be able to extend coverage eligibility to areas outside their current IP managed network perimeters.

The offering will also position broadcasters to compete against other digital TV providers through sophisticated on-demand and catch-up TV services, allowing viewers to access content at their convenience and watch programs they missed. In addition, the new solution will enable content aggregators to provide a content service with no need for an underlying IPTV network.

“Less than 4 months after the acquisition of Orca, we are already presenting this unique solution, designed to reliably secure digital media content provided via innovative applications”, commented François Moreau de Saint Martin, Viaccess CEO. “Using our new hybrid platform, service providers, broadcasters and content aggregators will be poised to deliver new services and broaden their footprints”.

“Introducing an advanced hybrid IPTV solution with open internet functionality marks a new era in our common work with Viaccess – and one which we expect will greatly benefit our customers and generate exciting new opportunities”, said Haggai Barel, CEO of Orca Interactive. “The combination of Orca’s top-of-the-line middleware with Viaccess’ dynamic conditional access and content protection capabilities creates a sure-fire winning platform with features that stand at the cutting edge of IPTV”.

IBC 2008: Viaccess booth 151, Hall 1. Orca Interactive booth B40, Hall 2.