Sky Deutschland Launches Integrated Sky+ HD Digital Video Recorder (DVR) Service with NDS XTV Technology

* Sky Deutschland (Sky) selects NDS XTV™ secure, integrated DVR technology
* New Sky+ HD DVR service provides advanced features for Sky subscribers, including HD 3D readiness
* NDS extends leadership as number one provider of DVR technology in the global industry with over 28 million units deployed worldwide

LONDON, UK and ANGA CABLE, COLOGNE, Stand B18A - 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 chosen NDS XTV™ secure integrated digital video recorder (DVR) technology to power its Sky+ HD DVR service. HD set-top boxes (STB) featuring XTV will enable recording of up to 50 movies in standard definition (SD) or up to 25 movies in true HD. Sky HD receivers will also be capable of receiving future HD 3D services.

Sky already benefits from the advantages of an end-to-end digital TV solution from NDS; having previously selected NDS MediaHighway® STB software, NDS VideoGuard® content protection technology and an NDS electronic programme guide (EPG). This end-to-end infrastructure enables Sky to swiftly launch service enhancements such as this new HD DVR device powered by XTV.

XTV technology provides viewers with the flexibility to manage their TV viewing, enabling them to record programming to view when they want; with the ability to record one channel while viewing another, pause live TV and resume playback and also to play, pause, rewind and fast forward any of their recorded content. Fully integrated with the NDS end-to-end solution for Sky, viewers also benefit from MediaHighway middleware that uses a Flash™-based engine and takes the Sky user experience to a higher level.

Gerry Duffy Senior Vice President Technology, Sky Deutschland said: “NDS XTV is the logical extension to complement the end-to-end solution that Sky is already using from NDS. The new DVR technology enables a secure and enriched service for our Sky+ subscribers – which are the two important prerequisites for any service in advanced pay-TV environments. We look forward to extending our technology partnership with NDS further.”

Yves Padrines, NDS Vice President, Business Development & General Manager NDS GmbH, said: “We are extremely pleased to be supporting Sky in this fantastic enhancement to their service, XTV provides the functionality that truly leads to an enhanced user experience. With MediaHighway, VideoGuard, XTV and an NDS EPG, Sky benefits from an advanced NDS technology infrastructure – providing the right framework for them to flexibly launch more exciting service extensions in the future.”

About Sky Deutschland

Sky is all about entertaining, exciting and inspiring customers with an unrivalled choice of great TV. The Sky brand stands for the best choice of television entertainment available, giving customers high-quality programming that they cannot find elsewhere, putting innovative services into their homes and improving satisfaction with strong customer service at great value.
Subscription pay-TV is Sky’s core business. Sky offers a wide range of programming in Germany and Austria, including feature films, new series and live sports, especially the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Sky sets a new standard with its HDTV service, which currently comprises seven HD channels. The company also offers its subscribers attractive films, live sports programming and adult entertainment on a pay-per-view basis. Sky distributes its pay-TV digital channel bouquet primarily via cable and satellite with a technical reach of approximately 95 percent in Germany and of 85+ percent in Austria.

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 119 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 143 million devices. NDS DVR technology, centred around XTV™, leads the global industry with 28 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, Denmark, 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.