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NDS Set-Top Box Software Powers BSkyB’s Sky+HD STB & Anytime+ VOD Service
  • NDS’ advanced set-top box software enables innovative services for Sky subscribers across the UK and Ireland
  • Includes Sky Anytime+ service, delivered over IP using NDS progressive download technology in both the headend and the STB
  • Enables Sky to address changing customer demands with the ability to introduce additional functionality and services

London, UK, July 12, 2011 - NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that BSkyB has deployed a customised implementation of NDS’ advanced set-top box software for its Sky+HD boxes.

“The Sky platform provides one of the most innovative pay-TV experiences in the world. Sky’s deployment of NDS advanced set-top box software and progressive download technology is a perfect example of how a service provider can optimise its existing infrastructure to introduce value added services to enrich the subscriber offering.”


As well as enabling the launch of Sky’s Anytime+ VOD service, the component based architecture of the set-top box software enables Sky to evolve the complete end-user experience to meet changing customer needs faster than ever.


Alun Webber, Managing Director of Product Design & Development at Sky, said: “With over 10 million subscribers in the UK and Ireland we are constantly working to ensure that our platform offers the best possible customer experience. Our collaboration with NDS to develop this set-top box software puts us in a great position to continually innovate, giving customers even more choice and control over how and when they consume the content that they love”.


Sky Anytime+ complements the existing Sky Anytime push VOD service with a comprehensive catalogue of on-demand content available to Sky Broadband customers. Using NDS set-top box software and end-to-end progressive download technology to power its on demand service, Sky is able to deliver VOD content over Sky’s own broadband network direct to the customer’s set-top box.


Once enough content is delivered to the DVR, playback can commence – allowing for the remainder of the content to be delivered in the background, thus ensuring a consistent and reliable customer experience.


David Nabozny, Senior Vice President Major Accounts at NDS, added: “The Sky platform provides one of the most innovative pay-TV experiences in the world. Sky’s deployment of NDS advanced set-top box software and progressive download technology is a perfect example of how a service provider can optimise its existing infrastructure to introduce value added services to enrich the subscriber offering.”


Sky currently employs a number of technologies from NDS including VideoGuard™ Conditional Access (CA) and NDS XTV™, the DVR technology underpinning Sky+, which allows customers to pause and record live TV.


The new Sky Anytime+ service is available to Sky customers with a Sky+HD set-top box and Sky Broadband Everyday Lite or Sky Broadband Unlimited. Sky has been the UK’s fastest growing Internet Service Provider (ISP) over the last four years.

About Sky
Sky entertains and excites more than 10.1 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, online and on mobile. Sky is now leading the UK into the age of high definition television with Sky+ HD and has launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, as well as Sky Anytime+, its internet delivered video on demand service. The company is also the UK's fastest-growing broadband and home phone provider.

About NDS
NDS Group Ltd. creates the technologies and applications that enable pay-TV operators to securely deliver digital content to TV STBs (set-top boxes), DVRs (digital video recorders), PCs, mobiles and other multimedia devices. Over 80 of the world’s leading pay-TV platforms rely on NDS solutions to protect and enhance their businesses. VideoGuard® is the world’s market-leading conditional access (CA) and digital rights management (DRM) technology, currently deployed on 150 million active devices, and safeguarding pay-TV service revenues exceeding $50 billion. NDS middleware, including MediaHighway® which enables a host of advanced services for subscribers, has been deployed on 180 million devices. NDS DVR technology, centred around XTV, leads the global industry with 38 million units deployed. (Deployment figures as of 31st March 2010).

Headquartered in the UK, NDS remains committed to investing in R&D with over 75% of its employees dedicated to pioneering work at development centres in China, France, India, Israel, Korea, UK and US. NDS has also implemented a host of initiatives aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and helping digital TV subscribers reduce energy consumption.

NDS Group Ltd. is a private company owned by the Permira Funds and News Corporation. See www.nds.com for more information.

Read about the latest developments at NDS and in the pay-TV industry in World Vision.

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12.07.2011