– Recent raids on pirate pay-TV operators in Manila underscore that secure technology is a fundamental requirement to guarantee that pay-TV platforms cannot be hacked
– Mediascape recently deployed end-to-end NDS system including VideoGuard® conditional access, the world’s most secure digital pay-TV content protection technology solution
– NDS has a zero-tolerance policy towards piracy which is reinforced with intelligence gathering operations and cooperation with lawmakers and police forces worldwide
MANILA, PHILIPPINES, February 12, 2009 – NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that its market-leading VideoGuard® conditional access technology ensures that Mediascape, the Philippines’ premier digital satellite pay-TV provider, remains unaffected by piracy, and continues to securely deliver pay-TV services to subscribers.
Pay-TV piracy in the Philippines has made headlines this week as police raided pirate pay-TV operations, including illicit satellite TV reception as well as unauthorised cable systems, in the Manila metropolitan area. Pay-TV signal theft occurs when a licensed pay-TV broadcaster’s content security mechanisms are compromised by pirates. The pirates often retransmit the content via cable to their own ‘subscribers’ without having paid for legitimate access rights to that content. The result is that the owners of that content suffer from breach of copyright, and they do not receive all the revenues to which they are entitled.
Furthermore, the licensed pay-TV operator, who legitimately acquired the rights to broadcast that content, receives a reduced return on that investment, and also suffers from limited potential for revenue collection and business growth.
According to CASBAA, the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia, pay-TV piracy in the Philippines reached about US$94 million by the end of 2008.
Unlike those broadcasters whose security technology was breached by pirates, Mediascape has a complete end-to-end NDS solution centred around NDS VideoGuard conditional access (CA), the world’s most trusted pay-TV security technology, More than 70 pay-TV operators worldwide have chosen VideoGuard to safeguard their platforms and service revenues from piracy.
In addition to NDS CA, Mediascape also chose to deploy NDS MediaHighway® middleware, the advanced operating system for set-top boxes that enables a host of advanced services for subscribers, and an NDS customised electronic programme guide (EPG).
NDS has a zero-tolerance policy on piracy, and its solutions remain 100% secure. NDS VideoGuard CA and DRM technology currently protects over 99 million digital devices worldwide, including those in all Mediascape subscribers’ homes.
Unauthorised dissemination of pay-TV content is a crime in most territories. It is not only a major concern for broadcasters, but content providers are reluctant to release premium content in markets where content is known to be distributed illegally. This, in turn, means that pay-TV operators in those markets may be less able to deliver the programming that their subscribers really want.
Having invested hundreds of millions of dollars in R&D, NDS has been at the forefront of fighting pay-TV piracy worldwide for two decades. In addition to providing the most robust technology on the market, NDS actively works with both legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies to ensure that its customers’ content and platforms remain unaffected by pirate activity. NDS conducts extensive intelligence gathering and actively monitors pirate activities worldwide.
Benjie S. Fernandez, Managing Director of Mediascape, said: “We selected NDS as our technology partner because of its proven and unsurpassed track record in content security.”
Sue Taylor, NDS Senior Vice President NDS Asia Pacific, commented, “Providing the best security technologies for the global pay-TV industry is at the very heart of NDS’ strategy and ethos. The ability to secure content from illicit reception is fundamental to the success of the pay-TV business model.” She continued: “It is gratifying that operators like Mediascape entrust NDS to protect their business revenues, and they can rest assured that our commitment to helping them carry out their activities unaffected by piracy is unwavering.”
About Mediascape, Inc.
Mediascape, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mediaquest Holdings, Inc., is licensed to offer a direct-to-home (DTH) service in the Philippines. Mediaquest is an investee company of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, which holds various interests in media companies in the Philippines.
For more information on Cignal Digital TV, please call (02) 8956353 or 0908-7699-119 or email CignalCare@mediascape.com.ph.
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 70 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 more than 99 million active devices, and safeguarding pay-TV service revenues exceeding $40 billion. NDS middleware, including MediaHighway® which enables a host of advanced services for subscribers, has been deployed on 108 million devices. NDS DVR technology, centred around XTV®, leads the global industry with 17 million units deployed. (Deployment figures as of 31st December 2008)
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, Denmark, France, India, Israel, Korea 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.
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NDS
Cynthia Ritchie
Director, Corporate Communications
T: +44 (0)20 8476 8378
critchie@nds.com
Vanessa Griffiths-Green
Director Marketing & New Initiatives, Asia Pacific
T: +852 2201 9151
vgriffiths-green@nds.com
Breakaway Communications for NDS
Kelly Fitzgerald, Managing Partner
T: +1 212 616 6006
kfitz@breakawaycom.com