Conax integrates with NexGuard and demonstrates end-to-end Conax Contego™-secured forensic watermarking solution

• Demonstrating end-to-end watermarking solution combining Civolution’s NexGuard, a SmarDTV UHD Gateway and secured through leading Conax Contego™ content protection technology
• The complete architecture features forensic detection services provided by cyber-security specialist Kudelski Security

IBC Expo, Amsterdam, September 8th, 2015: Conax, part of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD:S), and a leader in total service protection for digital TV and entertainment services via broadcast, broadband and connected devices, announced today at IBC Expo a cross-technology cooperation with Civolution’s NexGuard to demonstrate forensic watermarking creating an enhanced architecture for protecting premium content revenues. The solution provides the combined capabilities of a SmarDTV UHD Gateway, integrated with Civolution’s market-leading NexGuard forensic watermarking technology and featuring watermark detection services integrated with the anti-piracy services of specialist Kudelski Security based on a team of 150+ experts with over 20 years of experience in fighting pay-TV piracy. All elements of the complete watermark architecture are fully secured in the device and controlled by robust Conax Contego™ content protection, leveraging Conax’ leading technology to provide ultimate protection of premium content for OTT and broadcast content - in addition to premiere tools for tracking, identifying and preventing illicit distribution of content at its origin. The security provider will add support for additional watermarking technologies and devices in the future based on market demands.

Note to editors attending IBC Expo: A press briefing will be held September 11th at Conax’ booth for industry media. Live-content watermarking demonstrations will be available throughout IBC for visitors (Conax booth #1.C81 in Hall 1).

Tapping the combined strength and expertise of NexGuard, Kudelski Security and SmarDTV, each a unique ecosystem partner, the Conax solution is targeting pay-TV operators heavily investing in premium content rights. By endorsing Ultra HD content licensing prerequisites, the solution enables operators to meet the MovieLabs Enhanced Content Protection requirements sanctioning access to high value 4K and Ultra HD content from Hollywood studios. The partnership provides operators with the comprehensive tools for forensic monitoring and tracking the sources of illicit distribution of next generation video content combined with a strong content security solution for preventing content redistribution - a complete architecture for protecting a service provider’s platform revenues, making watermarking an important additional option to an operator’s overall security portfolio.

"We are working closely with our customers to provide the best overall framework for protecting the varied elements of their platform revenues and we are aware that the market has shown interest in forensic watermarking for some time”, says Tor Helge Kristiansen, EVP Principal Architect in Conax, “Conax  sees increasing demand from pay-TV operators for watermarking solutions for procuring high-value Ultra HD content from the major Hollywood studios. In a holistic security scenario, forensic watermarking is becoming an important component in the overall solution we offer to pay-TV operators.”

“Working with the forensic watermarking specialists at NexGuard and anti-piracy experts from the cyber security team at sister company Kudelski Security to create this enhanced security architecture has been a thrilling experience. The combined expertise of these industry-leading companies, and the integration with SmarDTV’s latest 4k UHD set-top-box, enables Conax to further enhance its security solutions portfolio with additional services for fighting premium content piracy with a best-in-class solution that we are proud to offer our customers.”

“For premium live and VOD content delivered to operator-controlled devices, forensic watermarking is the only proven means of tracking illicit re-distribution back to its source”, says Jean-Philippe Plantevin, Senior Vice President Products & Solutions, NexGuard. “We are pleased to be working with leading technology providers Conax, Kudelski Security and SmarDTV to leverage a complete security ecosystem from A-Z for operators to track and identify illegal re-distribution and, in turn, protect their premium content revenues.”

-Christophe Nicolas, Senior Vice President of Kudelski Security added:,“It’s been an exciting endeavour to participate in this first cross-group cooperation together with sister company Conax. Through the integration and new joint offering, Conax customers can now benefit from the forensic and anti-piracy services required to track down the source of watermark-protected content and pursue the necessary actions required to limit further damage to service provider businesses.”

Pre-book a meeting at [email protected], or stop by the Conax booth for a preview of the Conax Contego™-secured UHD watermarking solution at IBC Expo 2015: Conax booth #1.C81 in Hall 1 of the RAI Convention Centre, September 11-15, 2015, in Amsterdam.


About Conax
A part of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD:S), Conax is a leading global specialist in total service protection for digital TV and entertainment services via broadcast, broadband and connected devices. The Conax Contego™ unified security hub provides telcos, cable, satellite, IP, mobile, terrestrial and broadband operations with an innovative portfolio of flexible and cost-efficient solutions to deliver premium content securely. Conax’ future-ready technology offers modular, fast-time-to-market solutions that enable easy entry into a world of secure multiscreen, multi-DRM content delivery. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, ISO 9001 & 27001 certified Conax technology enables secure content revenues for 400 operators in 85 countries globally. For more information, please visit www.conax.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Kudelski Security
Kudelski Security, a division of the Kudelski Group, is an innovative independent Swiss provider of tailored cyber security solutions and services to enterprises, financial institutions, government administrations and the media industry. Its team of cyber security professionals boasts extensive expertise in the delivery of end-to-end digital security solutions built upon real-life experiences in advanced threat detection, security assessments, asset and reputation protection, as well as piracy risk mitigation. Kudelski Security’s global reach and multi-disciplinary incident response is reinforced by strategic international partnerships. Kudelski Security is headquartered in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. For more information, please visit www.kudelskisecurity.com

About NexGuard
NexGuard (www.nexguard.com), a Civolution company, provides the most widely deployed forensic watermarking solutions in the movie and entertainment industry across the globe. Civolution is the leading provider of technology and solutions to identify manage and monetize media content. The company offers an extensive portfolio of cutting edge digital watermarking and fingerprinting technologies and applications. NexGuard will demonstrate its forensic watermarking solutions at IBC on booth #2.B41 in Hall 2.

Conax media contact
Leslie Johnsen
Head of Public Relations & Communications, Conax
Mob: +47 41 45 80 43
[email protected]

NexGuard media contact
Segolene Roche
Platform PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7486 4900
[email protected]