Sky Deutschland Deploys Latest Version of NDS MediaHighway

Highlights:

* Launch of Sky Deutschland (Sky) supported by NDS MediaHighway™ set-top box (STB) software
* New MediaHighway™ middleware provides advanced services for Sky
* Sky and NDS designed new user interface and electronic programme guide (EPG) for Sky STBs

LONDON, UK – IBC Hall 1, Stand A71. – NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that Sky Deutschland, the largest pay-TV operator in Germany and Austria, has deployed the latest version of NDS MediaHighway™ middleware to support the launch of its new pay-TV service.

The new middleware uses a Flash™-based engine to take the TV user interface, graphical experience and ease-of-use to a higher level. New satellite HD-STBs will run MediaHighway with support for MPEG-4.

Sky and NDS also redesigned the user interface and EPG for all MediaHighway-based satellite STBs to incorporate Sky’s new branding and design and to take advantage of the new features in the latest generation Sky STBs.

The new middleware offers Sky the ability to provide advanced TV and entertainment services – such as combining broadcast and broadband content – and allowing viewers to use an HTML-based internet browser on screen. It also features multi-threading and multi-tasking features, enabling Sky to add multiple applications and scale significantly to enhance the user experience, without impacting quality of service.

Gerry Duffy, Senior Vice President Technology Sky Deutschland, said: “NDS MediaHighway played a pivotal role in enabling a smooth and successful launch of our Sky pay-TV service this summer. The advanced features now supported by NDS MediaHighway put us in a great position to add exciting, new services to our subscriber base in the future.”

Yves Padrines, NDS France Vice President, Business Development & General Manager NDS GmbH, said: “Our partnership with Sky continues to strengthen with our involvement in the delivery of an advanced middleware platform ready for Sky’s launch this summer. As a first step Sky has deployed MediaHighway to support the extensive new technical specifications and design requirements during the launch phase. We are now helping Sky plan the extension of their service supported by our enabling, securing and interactive technologies.”

At IBC, NDS will demonstrate how MediaHighway delivers on the promise of hybrid and multi-screen network environments, including the integration of broadcast and broadband content and the integration of social networking with broadcast TV.