Highlights:
-- SkyLife to lead Korean pay-TV market with first personal video recorder (PVR) service.
-- NDS XTV(TM) integrated personal video recorder service to provide added convenience of time-shifted viewing to SkyLife subscribers.
-- XTV integrated personal video recorder service selected by leading pay-TV operators worldwide, such as BSkyB, DIRECTV, FOXTEL, Viasat and most recently SkyLife.
HONG KONG, SAR - NDS Group plc, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced that SkyLife has selected NDS XTV(TM) technology for the launch of an integrated personal video recorder service. The commercial launch of the SkyLife PVR service is planned for mid-2006.
SkyLife was the first digital broadcaster in Korea, and is still the only provider of digital broadcasting services with nationwide coverage. SkyLife has experienced remarkable growth rates and currently provides pay-TV services to 1.8 million subscribers, five years after commercial launch.
Mr. Surh Dongkoo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (SkyLife) said, "SkyLife has achieved many technology firsts in Korea, and the launch of a personal video recorder service is another example of our market leadership and innovation. NDS has been a key partner of SkyLife since launch, and the XTV integrated PVR will take us one step further in being Korea's digital media leader."
Ms. Sue Taylor, Vice President and General Manager of NDS Asia Pacific said, "SkyLife has always utilized the most advanced technology to give their viewers a new level of service. From the electronic program guide (EPG) to the PVR service, NDS end-to-end solutions are critical to the operations of SkyLife. We are honored to be a long-term partner of SkyLife, and will work closely with them during the next few months to prepare for the successful launch of the PVR service."
Using XTV integrated personal video recorder technology, SkyLife subscribers will be able to pause, fast-forward, record one program while watching another, and manage the content that has been saved on the set-top box for added convenience. XTV delivers greater convenience to the SkyLife viewers because it is fully integrated with the NDS end-to-end systems and the EPG. For example, subscribers can view program schedules on the EPG and with one touch, schedule recording for viewing later.
With the deployment of XTV, SkyLife joins other leading global broadcasters, such as BSkyB, DIRECTV, FOXTEL, Sky Latin America, Sky New Zealand and Viasat, in offering the most advanced personal video recorder technology to their subscribers.
XTV platforms worldwide have found the integrated personal video recorder service an effective tool for reducing churn rates and improving buy rates of content, because viewers can watch recorded programming at the time of their choice and only be charged if they actually choose to view the programs.
About SkyLife
SkyLife is the sole digital satellite broadcasting business in Korea, providing over 160 specialized channels of movies, education, children's programming, sports, news and music with high definition SD level picture and high CD quality sound. SkyLife leads the convergence era of broadcasting and communication through its interactive service. In addition, SkyLife's HD broadcasting, the third to be introduced in the world following Japan and the U.S., will lead you into the world of HD previously only possible in your dreams. Launched in 2002, SkyLife has over 1.8 million subscribers as of October 2005.
About NDS
NDS Group plc (NASDAQ/Euronext Brussels:NNDS), a majority owned subsidiary of New Corporation, is the leading supplier of open end-to-end digital pay TV solutions for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to television set-top boxes and IP devices. See www.nds.com for more information about NDS.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the plans, projections or future performance of NDS, which involve certain risks and uncertainties, including risk of market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, possible regulatory changes, technological developments, the impact of competitive pricing and the ability of NDS and its commercial partners to develop systems and solutions which meet the needs of the broadcasting industry in a timely and cost-efficient manner, as well as certain other risks and uncertainties which are detailed in NDS' filings with the SEC. Company or product names have been used for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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© 2005 Business Wire
