NDS Media Center: NDS Wins Extra Viasat HDTV Biz

NDS Wins Extra Viasat HDTV Biz

SOURCE: Rapid TV News
DATE: Tuesday, February 5, 2008

by Chris Forrester

NDS, already responsible for Viasat’s conditional access security, has won extra pay-TV business.

Viasat, a division of Modern Times Group, already uses NDS’ VideoGuard smart card-based conditional access, but a new agreement covers NDS’ MediaHighway middleware, as well as NDS’ XTV technology which covers Digital Video Recording for Viasat’s HDTV transmissions.

Viasat was, until 2003, a user of Viaccess for conditional access, and in the 2005 words of its COO came “close to death” as a business because of card piracy and lost income. “Viasat’s extension of the agreement with NDS is a clear ratification of the successful business-enhancing platform security which NDS has delivered to them for a number of years, and we are extremely proud of this endorsement,” said Dr Abe Peled, NDS Chairman and CEO. He continued: “This, together with the new agreement, demonstrates Viasat’s continuing confidence in NDS’ capabilities as a wide-ranging technology partner, and trust in our ability to provide solutions that will help Viasat meet its business objectives both now and in the future.”

Modern Times Group also announced on February 5 that Viasat has signed an agreement with Canal Digital in Sweden to include the Kanal 5 channel on Viasat’s DTH satellite and IPTV platforms, and for TV3 to be made available on the Canal Digital satellite and IPTV platforms. The channels will be included in Viasat’s and Canal Digital’s pay-TV offerings from February 13 2008 until the end of 2015.

Viasat will include Kanal 5 in its Entertainment package, which is available as part of its satellite offering in Sweden, for customers subscribing to at least two interest packages. The Channel will also be made available to Viasat’s premium IPTV subscribers. TV3 will be available as part of Canal Digital’s Family package. Viasat and Canal Digital have also agreed to extend the distribution of Viasat channel TV8 on the Canal Digital platform until the end of 2009.