NDS/Legend designing settops.............................
NDS AND LEGEND PARTNER ON DIGITAL TV SET-TOP BOX FOR CHINA (06.03.00)
HONG KONG, March 6, 2000 NDS Group plc (NASDAQ/EASDAQ: NNDS) - a News Corporation (NYSE: NWS) company and a leading provider of interactive applications for digital television and conditional access systems to over 14 million digital TV subscribers, and China?s Legend Computer Systems Ltd, today announced that they have partnered to create a Legend branded digital set-top box, specifically designed for the Chinese market. The co-developed digital set-top box, enables reception of digital broadcast and broadband services, and is designed for the broadband delivery of pay television, advanced multimedia and interactive broadcasting applications. As part of the agreement, the NDS ?Core? middleware operating system has been integrated into the new Legend Computer Systems branded set-top box.
NDS is supplying the complete software solution for the digital set-top box, including NDS? set-top box operating system (NDS ?Core?), a co-developed Chinese conditional access system for broadcast security, and NDS? Chinese language electronic programme guide (EPG). Further developments planned include the addition of NDS? interactive application software. Legend Computer, one of the largest personal computer vendors in China, will manufacture the set-top box in facilities in Beijing and Huizhou.
?For over a decade, Legend has been the premier PC vendor in China. Leveraging our IT experience, Legend is now poised to attack the Chinese broadband market,? says Mr. Hong Jing, Vice General Director of Legend Computer Systems Ltd.
?This agreement will enable NDS and Legend Computer to become important players in the development of digital broadband services in China,? says Mr. Ren Xiao Yan, Director, Technology Development (China) for NDS Asia Pacific Ltd. ?NDS was the first to market with a Chinese language EPG for added viewer convenience and a co-developed Chinese conditional access system for broadcasting security. Combining Legend?s expertise as a PC vendor with NDS? years of experience in broadcast solutions, we have developed a cost competitive set-top box tailored to the needs of Chinese viewers and broadcasters.?
The set-top box is designed for use across all digital broadcast platforms: cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcast systems. The burgeoning digital cable market in China will be the initial target market and the set-top box will be sold under the well-known Legend brand name.
Rapid integration was possible due to the combined expertise of both NDS and Legend. Leveraging its immense resources, Legend Group has the capability and the capacity to manufacture set-top boxes to satisfy market demands. NDS? conditional access system is open and interoperable and supports highly effective set-top box integration. Over 48 consumer electronic and set-top box manufacturers are already integrating NDS? conditional access into devices around the world for small, medium and large broadcast operations.
About NDS
NDS (NASDAQ/EASDAQ: NNDS) is a leading supplier of conditional access software systems and interactive systems to digital Pay-TV broadcasters and set-top box manufacturers, offering open and flexible software solutions for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to televisions and personal computers.
NDS is also a leading provider of broadcast control software that is essential for managing and operating a digital television broadcasting network. The company supplies leading technology, products and services to enable broadcasters and content providers to profit from digital television and associated interactive services. NDS also supplies software to secure and deliver Internet content via data broadcasting and simplify e-commerce transactions. The NDS range of systems and technology is complemented by a wide range of services, including consulting, systems design and integration, support and maintenance.
NDS customers include leading Pay-TV broadcasters worldwide. In the digital satellite television market, NDS customers include DIRECTV in the US; BSkyB in the UK; Galaxy, NetSat and Innova in Latin America; and DIRECTV Japan, STAR TV, Shinawatra Satellite, Telstra, and Sky TV New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific region. Over 15 million viewers of pay television are currently using elements of NDS supplied technology. NDS? customers provide services, using its conditional access systems and smart cards, to over 50% of the world?s digital satellite subscriber base. In the emerging digital cable market, NDS customers include Cablevision in the US, Matav in Israel and Madritel in Spain.
NDS, with Asian headquarters in Hong Kong and with offices worldwide, employs over 1000 people and continues to make a major commitment to R&D, with over 400 employees dedicated to pioneering development work at research centres in Israel and the UK. NDS is on the World-Wide-Web at nds.com. NDS? largest shareholder is News Corporation (NYSE: NWS), a global media and entertainment company.
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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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