IPTV is an example of the convergence of broadband and broadcast TV and is one part of what is known in the industry as the “triple play” -- when one company can offer TV, Internet and telephone services.
                           
NDS has recently introduced Synamedia™ Metro, an integrated, secure middleware solution for both broadband and TV operators. By combining the power of broadband with TV broadcasting, IPTV does two things: It enables telcos to enter the TV market and it makes it possible for broadcasters to add on-demand and IP-communications to hybrid broadcast/broadband set-top boxes.

The role of middleware

In order for any new IPTV or VOD offering to succeed it needs a strong middleware solution to manage the EPG, games and other interactive applications that subscribers have come to expect from digital TV. In order for IPTV to be competitive from the start, robust middleware is essential. An untested, weak middleware solution will just not deliver the winning ticket.

“NDS developers came to the conclusion that first generation IPTV middlewares are not scalable and lack important features,” says Jonathan Beavon, Director, Marketing, NDS Broadband Internet Group. “They wanted to implement the best scalable architecture that is based on proven NDS technology,” he says. “We have an advantage because our technologies are deployed on a mass scale.”

Based on MediaHighway™

One of the advantages of Synamedia Metro is that all of these innovations are built on NDS MediaHighway set-top box software which is already developed and deployed. It includes application development tools and is supported by the MediaHighway Development Community.

“What this means is that both telcos and broadcasters can offer the features that will really make them competitive: EPGs, interactive TV applications, VOD, DVR or network DVR capabilities,” Beavon says. “What’s more, they can offer all of this for both SD and HD television.”

“MediaHighway is important for our Synamedia Metro offering,” says Nigel Smith, VP NDS Broadband Internet Group, “because it is already used by some of the world’s most successful broadcasters.” He explains that telco operators can benefit from the experience that NDS has gained in delivering middleware solutions to over 38 million subscribers, “and be sure that they can launch advanced TV applications at least comparable with their competitors – while taking advantage of the two-way nature of IPTV.”

Offering expertise, knowledge
                                                                                                    
Smith says that NDS has been working with telcos around the world for the last six years as they begin to deploy IPTV solutions. “What we offer them is our expertise as well as our deep knowledge of television technology. Only an open solution like Synamedia Metro will meet the requirements for providing the IPTV and hybrid services telcos want. Because it is fully standards-based and has open interfaces, the operator can choose to mix and match components and not be locked into a single supplier.”

“Synamedia Metro’s unique architecture integrates NDS technologies into a solution that enables operators to deploy a single, integrated IPTV system,” Beavon says. “This saves them time and money in the crucial early phases of their new service.”

Synamedia Metro was demonstrated on a Samsung STB at GLOBALCOMM 2006 in Chicago in June. The same box will be demonstrated at the NDS booth at IBC in Amsterdam, September 8-12 (Stand 1.171).

Bases of Synamedia Metro

Synamedia Metro offers integrated IPTV middleware as a turnkey solution for telcos. It integrates with an IP STB or a hybrid broadcast-IP STB. Synamedia Metro includes VideoGuard digital rights management with applications development based on NDS MediaHighway middleware. Features include:

• EPG:   Synamedia Metro’s consolidated, intuitive Electronic Program Guide gives instant access to TV channels, VOD items and broadband communication services. It has powerful search functions and on-screen information bars. Other features include user-friendly shortcuts, customizable views for multi-channel navigation and picture-in-picture elements. 
• Digital Rights Management. Synamedia Metro relies on NDS VideoGuard® technology to provide content protection, rights management, device authentication and advanced fingerprinting. VideoGuard facilitates negotiations for high-value content on the best possible terms, based on NDS’s global reputation for stringent, end-to-end security.
• Standards-based and Open. Synamedia Metro is built with open software interfaces and is based on internationally recognized standards. It uses the latest video codecs, integrated into high definition decoder chips, for bandwidth economy, keeping STB prices low. It also uses standards-based content protection technology to facilitate choice and interoperability with a wide range of hardware suppliers, thus driving down the total cost of IPTV deployment and ensuring faster and easier integrations.

For both broadband and broadcast operators, no solution meets the needs of the IPTV market better than Synamedia Metro which is already developed and deployed.

For more information:

Synamedia            http://www.nds.com/broadband/broadband.html
MediaHighway        http://www.nds.com/middleware/middleware.html