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September 12, 2014

DISH and NAGRA redefine pay TV content security with launch of NAGRA anyCAST COMMAND

  • Biggest fundamental change in content security technology since the launch of digital TV in the 1990s
  • Innovative new security client secures CAS and video descrambling in a single device, thereby preventing new forms of piracy and paving the way for ultra-secure 4K services
  • EchoStar Technologies will be first to integrate anyCAST COMMAND

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – September 12, 2014 – NAGRA, the digital TV division of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S) and the world's leading independent provider of content protection and multiscreen television solutions, today announced that DISH Network L.L.C will be the first customer to deploy NAGRA anyCAST COMMAND, NAGRA’s revolutionary new security technology that defeats popular forms of piracy like control word sharing and paves the way for ultra-secure 4K services. The new technology is being developed in close cooperation with EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. (“EchoStar”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, which will be the first set-top box partner to integrate the new technology into its boxes.

anyCAST COMMAND, part of NAGRA’s comprehensive new anyCAST Security Services Platform, changes the paradigm for content security by concentrating both decryption and descrambling into a single, secure NAGRA device. Since the launch of digital TV in the 1990’s, these functions have occurred in two separate devices, namely the Conditional Access vendor’s smart card and the set-top box chipset. This separation of key security elements has led in recent years to new forms of piracy like Control Word Sharing (CWS) that have had a significant negative impact on pay-TV service providers. The unification of decryption and descrambling into a single piece of silicon produced by a security expert like NAGRA not only exponentially increases the security of the CAS system, but also simplifies integration by reducing much of the STB testing and certification that was required when these two elements were separated.

“With this introduction of anyCAST COMMAND at DISH, EchoStar and NAGRA take the decisive lead in providing the highest level of end-to-end content security available on the market today,” said Maurice van Riek, senior vice president, head of content and asset security for NAGRA. “To date, the fight against Control Word Sharing has been a cat-and-mouse game with global pirate networks, which are increasingly sophisticated in their operations. NAGRA’s new approach takes full ownership and responsibility for content security within a single architecture in order to deliver a definitive knock-out punch to this type of piracy by protecting the Control Word by design.”

"As one of the leading pay-TV providers in the world, we constantly look to protect our content and network,” said Vivek Khemka, senior vice president, product management, DISH. “That’s why we decided – as part of our partnership with EchoStar and NAGRA – to deploy a radically different kind of technology, anyCAST COMMAND, to help protect our service and revenues.”

anyCAST COMMAND, in addition to eliminating CWS, will ensure pay-TV service providers are prepared for a potential future launch of 4K-UltraHD services by supporting a variety of different watermarking schemes, a key requirement of the MovieLabs Enhanced Content Protection specification for 4K VOD services.  It will also be available in different form factors, including smart card, STB companion chip and others.

NAGRA will deliver anyCAST COMMAND to EchoStar and DISH in the first quarter of 2015, after which time the product will be available to other NAGRA customers.

For more information about NAGRA anyCAST solutions, please visit NAGRA IBC booth 1. C81.

About NAGRA
NAGRA, a digital TV division of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), provides security and multiscreen user experience solutions for the monetization of digital media. It offers content providers and DTV operators worldwide with secure, open, integrated platforms and applications over broadcast, broadband and mobile platforms, enabling compelling and personalized viewing experiences. Please visit dtv.nagra.com for more information and follow us on Twitter at @nagrakudelski.

Contacts:

Ivan Schnider
NAGRA Marketing Communications
+41 21 732 09 40
[email protected]

Christine Oury      
NAGRA Marketing Communications    
+1 415 962 5433    
[email protected]