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Foxtel Selects NDS Digital TV Systems

Announcement posted by NDS 07 Apr 2003

Highlights:
NDS VideoGuard conditional access system selected by FOXTEL to secure content on its digital cable and satellite TV platforms.
NDS to co-develop an Electronic Program Guide for FOXTEL digital viewers.
NDS Value@TV and interactiv
NDS Group plc, a News Corporation company and the leading provider of technology solutions for digital subscription television, today announced that FOXTEL will use NDS systems for the launch of FOXTEL's full digital service.

FOXTEL is Australia's leading subscription television provider servicing more than one million subscriber homes on cable and satellite through retail and wholesale distribution. FOXTEL intends to commence new digital television services by early 2004.

FOXTEL has selected NDS as its prime systems integrator and provider of key digital technology solutions that will deliver secure subscription broadcasts and enable exciting interactive services in Australia.

FOXTEL's Chief Executive, Mr Kim Williams, said: "FOXTEL is leading the development of digital television in Australia and our alliance with NDS will enable us to deliver innovative new services reliably and securely with maximum ease of operation for our subscribers. NDS is a world leader in digital broadcasting technology and their proven systems offered the best solutions for FOXTEL."

Mr. Peter Iles, General Manager of NDS Australia and New Zealand operations said: "VideoGuard conditional access is established with broadcasters around the world as a reliable and secure DVB conditional access system. In addition, the NDS technology chosen by FOXTEL creates a digital interactive platform that will enable FOXTEL to offer numerous value added TV services to its viewers."

NDS solutions chosen by FOXTEL include the VideoGuard digital conditional access system, the StreamServer digital broadcasting playout management system, the Value@TV interactive TV headend, the iVG (interactive VideoGuard) providing conditional access service to interactive applications and an NDS and FOXTEL co-developed electronic program guide.

In addition, FOXTEL, in a later phase of its digital roll-out, will introduce the NDS XTV(tm) Personal Video Recorder (PVR) to enhance its digital system. It is anticipated that FOXTEL will offer the PVR approximately 12 months after the launch of the first phase of its new digital services.
The NDS VideoGuard conditional access solution will provide secure broadcast of digital subscription television services to cable and satellite subscribers of the FOXTEL network. The agreement provides for the installation of the VideoGuard conditional access system to the existing cable subscribers who will be transitioned to digital over an expected period of two years. On satellite the VideoGuard system will simulcrypt with FOXTEL's existing Irdeto conditional access system and provide the enhanced FOXTEL digital services on satellite as well.

NDS will also be the prime integrator for the introduction of new digital set-top boxes to the cable and satellite environment.

The FOXTEL EPG will assist viewers to easily access program schedules, synopsis and summary information at the click of a remote.

About FOXTEL
FOXTEL is Australia's leading subscription television provider and is connected to more than one million homes on cable and satellite through retail and wholesale distribution. FOXTEL is owned by Telstra Corporation Ltd (50%), The News Corporation Ltd (25%), and Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd (25%).

About NDS
NDS Group plc (NASDAQ/NASDAQ Europe:NNDS) is a 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 http://www.nds.com/ for more information about NDS.


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