The conditional access and DRM suppliers are all touting stories which open up their products offerings either for PCs or one way networks in the run up to IBC, with at least Verimatrix, Latens and NDS all citing new offerings or new deals.
Verimatrix has a new version of its VCAS for DVB networks and includes DVB-T within that, Latens has landed a monstrous 12 million set top installation in India for conditional access on a one way cable network which has no return path, and NDS is rolling out the PC based version of its product called Videoguard Key.
All of the smaller software only DRM specialists are trying to annex the markets that the larger NDS, Nagravision and Irdeto feed from, and Verimatrix has built a new DVB platform that will run on DVB-C, DVB-S set tops and go into the mandated DVB-CI slot on a DVB-T adaptor. Once authorized, Verimatrix client software will create its own decryption key unique to the device which will run on any of the major set top Systems on a Chip from Broadcom, ST Micro and Sigma.
VCAS for DVB 2.0 can be used to DRM-enable one way cable networks, which Verimatrix tells us are scattered in placed like India, where there is a huge government funded initiative underway to take the cable networks from analog to digital as rapidly as possible. It can also be used to add paid bouquets to existing DTT networks in Europe, such as the UK Freeview system. Using the DVB-CI slot would mean it would work with existing adaptors with the extra card posted to the customer and user installed. The same approach could be used for the new free to air satellite services that are coming into play, such as Freesat.
Such one way systems never have to be connected to register for service, the operator can use broadcast to deliver the software and enable it through what it calls ‘carrier pigeon’ return paths, so using an SMS message to an installer with a key to enter into the system, or using a web transaction to generate an EMM (Entitlement message).
At IBC Verimatrix will also be talking about a new round of funding which is designed to broaden its product line to take it up against smart card based systems and its recent award by MRG which says that it is the most installed IPTV DRM in the world.
As if to illustrate the market that Verimatrix is after, Ireland based rival Latens has just deployed its first large-scale implementation of its BCAS downloadable conditional access for DVB at Indian cable operator, Digicable Network, which says it has over 12 million subscribers.
BCAS was designed to offer existing operators an escape route from legacy smartcard systems, to cut down the cost of offering pay TV, especially in margin constrained economies like India. BCAS also works with one-way networks including cable, DTT and satellite and is deployed throughout a mixed network from one integrated headend so that’s cable with IPTV or DTT/IPTV or DTH/IPTV hybrids. Latens has always made a big deal out of adding protection to set tops that are already deployed. Verimatrix was talking about a similar approach where the code elements are upgradeable in a one way network to a two way network with a return path and the clients can mix and match.
Meanwhile NDS said that at IBC it will unveil VideoGuard Key, a PC hardware plug-in that allows operators to securely send content to PCs equipped with any off-the-shelf tuner. This will have the same level of security as its existing smart card based set tops. Subscribers will also be able to move content between their PC and Digital Video Recorder (DVR), to take content on the road, which will still be protected by Videoguard so they can watch content when and where they choose.
Interestingly both Verimatrix and NDS are claiming the number one spot for protection in IPTV systems, with the latest MRG report confirming that VCAS is the most widely-deployed IPTV content protection system, while NDS insists that two leading analyst groups, Current Analysis and ABI Research both rank it as number one, but that’s on a ranking that takes into account its global standing as a conditional access player on non-IPTV systems as well, and its financial weight. NDS has installed conditional access to IPTV companies such as Arcor (Germany), BBTV (Japan), Cyta (Cyprus), KT (Korea), SES Americom (USA), Sistema Mass Media (Russia), Telekom Austria, and Viasat (Scandinavia) ‘ none of which are globally leading IPTV accounts in terms of deployed homes.
NDS will also launch NDS Dynamic at the show, a suite of TV advertising tools and audience measurement system (see separate item).