Krzysztof Zaborowski has been working in R&D at Aster, Poland’s leading cable MSO, for the past nine years. He is currently Aster’s Project Management Office Manager and the leader of Aster’s Video-on-Demand project which includes advanced digital TV applications such as deployment of Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and On Demand services.  

As the leader in the development of Aster’s new advanced digital TV and on-demand platform, Zaborowski was instrumental in choosing to implement an end-to-end NDS system. This includes VideoGuard conditional access, MediaHighway middleware, XTV DVR and VOD solutions.   

Zaborowski recently discussed the partnership between Aster and NDS.

World Vision: Please tell us about the development and growth of your platform.

Zaborowski: As a company, Aster is almost 15 years old. It was previously known as Aster City Cable and was part of a larger group of cable companies and telcos. Over the past few years we consolidated under the common brand of Aster and in 2003 became the Aster Group. The integration process was completed last year. As of September 2008 we are a single company operating in three cities: Warsaw, Cracow and Zielona Góra.

We originally launched our digital TV services at the end of 2003, establishing Aster as the first digital cable operator in Poland. Since then we have been gaining experience and adding additional digital packages for our subscribers. In 2007 we chose NDS as our technology partner. In May last year we launched our high definition TV services. Aster’s DVR was ready in time for Christmas 2008.

How would you describe the pay-TV market in Poland?

Pay-TV first launched in Poland about 10 years ago. The first platforms were digital DTH satellite operators. Then cable operators entered the market and offered digital programming. As I said, in 2003 Aster became the first cable operator in the market. Others then followed. In 2006 the first HD DTH platform launched. Then, other operators realised that HD is the direction for the future.

Since that time Poland’s market growth has accelerated and has become even more competitive. The result of this competition is the introduction of new platforms, and with this comes value added services like HD and VOD. Telcos are of course also entering the market.

For the last few years all Polish pay-TV platforms have been investigating offering more services as a way to differentiate their offering from the competition. Now Poland is truly a European leader in HD broadcasting.

It is clear that Polish pay-TV subscribers are ready for new services. They really want us to introduce as many innovations as possible. This creates both challenges and opportunities in the market. It also makes the market more competitive which is very good for both service operators and viewers.

How has your digital offering grown?

We launched our first basic digital package in 2003 with a few premium channels. We were attracted to digital broadcasting because it was a new experience for us and for our subscribers. It also included much needed anti-piracy measures.

This first basic package included only premium channels. We then extended it to a digital basic package with about 20 channels. The number of digital channels we offered continued to grow and in 2006 we added HD. Our digital offering now includes more than 80 channels of which 11 are HD.

Aster currently offers five different premium packages. In addition there is the basic digital package now with 40 channels. We also offer about 60 analogue channels.

As you mentioned, telcos are moving into the pay-TV market. Aster is now offering a quad-play service. What does it include and how successful has it been?

The traditional line between pay-TV broadcasters and telcos in Poland is becoming blurred. It doesn’t matter what kind of access you have, the services are what is important and they build the platform’s position. Aster launched its mobile telephony service in June 2008 at about the same time we also launched our HD service.

We now offer broadband Internet, analogue and digital TV, DVR, digital fixed line telephony as well as mobile telephony services. On-demand services will be launched soon. We aren’t perceived as a cable operator any longer. We have become a true multi-service operator and this strengthens our position in the market.

Aster’s advantage is that we can supply our customers with services that meet all of their communications needs. They understand that they benefit from getting all their services from us, and there is a lot of interest.

Why did Aster select NDS to be your technology partner? What NDS solutions have you deployed and what do you expect NDS to offer in the future? 

After doing a lot of research we made the decision to work with NDS in 2007. This choice was based on our belief that NDS really provides the optimal solutions for us.

We found NDS to be the most suitable technology provider for our overall strategy. In terms of the technology that NDS offers - conditional access, middleware, DVRs, etc - we found that NDS could best provide Aster with the full set of solutions and services we want to deploy. What attracted us is that for our needs, NDS really is a one-stop shop.

The range of NDS products is really future-proof. Aster feels that NDS can accommodate the services we now offer as well as services we may decide to offer down the road.

We also feel very secure in terms of the quality and protection offered by NDS VideoGuard. NDS has an impressive track record in the conditional access market and this is quite important for us.

Aster recently began offering Kaon DVRs, including HD DVRs, in conjunction with NDS. What has the reaction been?

This is a brand new service for us. We just launched our DVR at Christmas. The initial reaction has been very enthusiastic. It’s clear that our subscribers were waiting for us to introduce our DVR even though it isn’t the first DVR in the Polish market. We focused on offering quality and providing a product with services that are unique in our market. I think it’s clear that we’re succeeding. 

We see the demand for DVRs is still growing. More and more boxes are being installed every month. We are very optimistic about the future of DVRs in our network.

What we’re finding is the same reaction as experienced in other markets: Once subscribers begin using a DVR they aren’t interested in returning to their previous non-DVR STB. The additional functionality that the DVR offers is difficult to forget. Once they try it they like it.

What future services do you plan to introduce?

VOD is at the top of the list. I head this project for Aster and it is in a very advanced phase. We plan to launch in the next few months.

As for other services, our main goal for this year is to improve and increase both our DVR and HD services. At the same time we’re also thinking about expanding into new services. I think we may consider offering IPTV on our current platform.

What new opportunities do you see in the Polish pay-TV market in the near future?

It’s really difficult to say. There is a lot of competition which means that all pay-TV operators want to offer new services. At the same time we’re losing the distinction between cable and satellite operators and telcos. Everyone is offering multiple services. You have to in order to maintain a leading position in this challenging market. Bundling services seems to be the future. It’s exciting and challenging. One thing for sure is that the market still has a huge potential for growth.

What role has NDS played in helping Aster become and remain a market leader?

Aster has mapped out a strategy for the future that includes our goals and the services we want to deploy. Working with NDS enables us to achieve our goals step by step. The most important fact for us is that our strategy is being realised as a result of our partnership with NDS.

We believe that what we’ve already deployed and what we’re planning to deploy will keep us ahead of our competition. Our partnership with NDS helps us meet our goals.