At this year’s Convergence India, NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, will showcase a range of customised solutions for pay-TV operators in India, designed to help them digitise their services. With the recent announcement from The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to digitalise the Indian Cable TV market by March 2015, NDS will use the event to demonstrate that it has the experience and expertise to meet the anticipated demand from operators for market leading, cost effective, end-to-end digital cable TV solutions. The company will also showcase its latest revenue generating solutions and advanced user interfaces to help operators generate incremental revenue and retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive environment.
Commenting on NDS’ focus at Convergence India 2011, Sue Taylor, Senior VP, GM and MD Asia Pacific, said: “As we rapidly move towards the digitisation of India’s pay-TV industry, we believe that there is great opportunity for the introduction of innovative technologies that will unlock the huge potential of the Indian Cable TV market. We have made significant investment in our R&D centre in Bangalore which has enabled us to focus on the market on a local level and tailor applications for its unique demands; we are already working closely with customers in the region to introduce some of the latest solutions and welcome the government’s decision to set a forthright switch-off date for analogue TV in India.
“At Convergence India we will demonstrate how digital platforms can derive value from the converging TV landscape, showcasing our leadership in delivering a next-generation converged TV viewing experience for subscribers, and our position as a pioneer of new digital-TV opportunity.”
NDS will showcase its technical expertise in enabling next-generation convergence solutions including:
¨ NDS XTV™
NDS will showcase its market-leading digital video recorder (DVR) technology, NDS XTV™, which is deployed in over 35 million units worldwide, alongside DVR Lite, a technology that converts an ordinary set-top box (STB) into a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), with the use of an approved external hard drive. This technology dramatically reduces the cost for subscribers as they are able to record, play-back, fast-forward, and rewind programmes without purchasing a new DVR. Also, on display will be the Progressive Download (PDL) solution which enables live content download using a USB flash key or external hard drive on a hybrid set-top box for two- way networks.
¨ NDS EPG Framework™
NDS will demonstrate advanced user interfaces and EPG solutions including NDS EPG Framework™, a solution that allows operators to update and customise their EPGs without having to download software to the STB. With NDS EPG Framework™ customers can create new revenue streams by incorporating seasonal promotions, advertisements, and sponsorships in the EPG, as well as by targeting audiences with personalised messages and content
¨ Publishing on Companion Devices
NDS’ Publishing project explores the role of new companion devices such as the iPad and their interaction with the TV viewing experience. The publishing demonstration shows a digital version of an operator’s Subscriber Magazine on a companion device, the user can browse through the TV Magazine content just as they would with the print version but can also interact with the content and tune to the relevant channel via the set-top box, flick video and /or images from the device to the TV and perform remote DVR recordings. This demonstration optimises the “companion screen” and uses it to the operator’s advantage.
¨ iPad DVR
This application enables viewers to use the iPad to view their EPG and remotely record programming to their DVR, with the ability to watch content on the device and make recommendations to friends.
This demonstration showcases the type of flexibility possible on a pay-TV platform using the newly launched NDS Service Delivery Platform which enables the development of third party companion device applications for pay-TV platforms using open application programming interfaces (APIs), maintaining the integrity of the content security and enabling consumers to achieve the epitome of convergence – watching content anywhere, at any time and on any device.
Commenting on NDS’ focus at Convergence India 2011, Sue Taylor, Senior VP, GM and MD Asia Pacific, said: “As we rapidly move towards the digitisation of India’s pay-TV industry, we believe that there is great opportunity for the introduction of innovative technologies that will unlock the huge potential of the Indian Cable TV market. We have made significant investment in our R&D centre in Bangalore which has enabled us to focus on the market on a local level and tailor applications for its unique demands; we are already working closely with customers in the region to introduce some of the latest solutions and welcome the government’s decision to set a forthright switch-off date for analogue TV in India.
“At Convergence India we will demonstrate how digital platforms can derive value from the converging TV landscape, showcasing our leadership in delivering a next-generation converged TV viewing experience for subscribers, and our position as a pioneer of new digital-TV opportunity.”
NDS will showcase its technical expertise in enabling next-generation convergence solutions including:
¨ NDS XTV™
NDS will showcase its market-leading digital video recorder (DVR) technology, NDS XTV™, which is deployed in over 35 million units worldwide, alongside DVR Lite, a technology that converts an ordinary set-top box (STB) into a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), with the use of an approved external hard drive. This technology dramatically reduces the cost for subscribers as they are able to record, play-back, fast-forward, and rewind programmes without purchasing a new DVR. Also, on display will be the Progressive Download (PDL) solution which enables live content download using a USB flash key or external hard drive on a hybrid set-top box for two- way networks.
¨ NDS EPG Framework™
NDS will demonstrate advanced user interfaces and EPG solutions including NDS EPG Framework™, a solution that allows operators to update and customise their EPGs without having to download software to the STB. With NDS EPG Framework™ customers can create new revenue streams by incorporating seasonal promotions, advertisements, and sponsorships in the EPG, as well as by targeting audiences with personalised messages and content
¨ Publishing on Companion Devices
NDS’ Publishing project explores the role of new companion devices such as the iPad and their interaction with the TV viewing experience. The publishing demonstration shows a digital version of an operator’s Subscriber Magazine on a companion device, the user can browse through the TV Magazine content just as they would with the print version but can also interact with the content and tune to the relevant channel via the set-top box, flick video and /or images from the device to the TV and perform remote DVR recordings. This demonstration optimises the “companion screen” and uses it to the operator’s advantage.
¨ iPad DVR
This application enables viewers to use the iPad to view their EPG and remotely record programming to their DVR, with the ability to watch content on the device and make recommendations to friends.
This demonstration showcases the type of flexibility possible on a pay-TV platform using the newly launched NDS Service Delivery Platform which enables the development of third party companion device applications for pay-TV platforms using open application programming interfaces (APIs), maintaining the integrity of the content security and enabling consumers to achieve the epitome of convergence – watching content anywhere, at any time and on any device.
