STEETON, UK -- 11/09/09 --
EchoStar Europe (www.echostar-europe.com), the
leading supplier of added-value, connected device solutions to the digital
television industry, announced today that it has integrated its
state-of-the-art HDX-600, high definition (HD), hybrid digital video
recorder (DVR) with Latens' card-less conditional access (CA) system and
ECO middleware solution to provide operators with an advanced platform for
delivering secure, interactive IP-based television services and
applications including video-on-demand (VOD).
"In order to support our strategy in Europe, it is imperative that we
partner with a number of the industry's leading conditional access and
middleware solutions", commented Rick Smith, VP Sales and Marketing for
EchoStar Europe. "This is one of our first planned integrations in the IP
space and provides a middleware and CA platform for adaptation and
deployment by IPTV and hybrid IPTV operators".
"This integration provides IPTV and broadband TV operators with a proven
and tested integration between the core elements of the pay TV network,
assuring operators that the service they deploy will be a success, while
reducing the additional cost and pain of integrations", said Jeremy Thorp,
CEO, Latens. "Integrating Latens CAS and ECO middleware with EchoStar
Europe HDX-600 gives operators a strong choice for the deployment of their
IPTV services".
EchoStar Europe announced its first IPTV product, the HDX-600, at IPTV
World Forum in March 2009. The HDX-600 series DVR combines state-of-the-art
cosmetics with HD reception, advanced video coding (AVC) and hybrid
functionality, providing IPTV operators with an added-value product
solution. EchoStar Europe ensures that its solutions are interoperable with
the industry's leading suppliers to the IPTV market and has successfully
integrated on this occasion with Anevia's Toucan VOD server (also available
as ViaMotion for the broadcast and telecom markets).
Available with either an integrated hard disk drive, or as a stand alone
set-top box (HDX-400) with an upgrade path to DVR via plug in hard disk
drive, the unit offers a great deal of flexibility to IPTV operators
wishing to offer personalised digital television services. The platform has
been designed to complement IP entertainment delivery with the addition of
cable, satellite or terrestrial tuners to support traditional broadcast
services in a single 'convergent' or hybrid product format. A build option
for integrated SlingLoaded(TM) is also included allowing digital TV and
IPTV operators to fully embrace consumers' needs for ubiquitous media.
SlingLoaded(TM) enables users to take their TV content and place-shift it
securely, using a one-to-one client, to other devices inside or outside the
home, including mobile phones, portable media players (PMP) and laptop
computers.
The HDX-600 supports AVC to reduce bandwidth requirements for video-based
services, and is compatible with the industry's leading digital rights
management (DRM), conditional access and middleware solutions. The addition
of a touch-sensitive front panel and stylish cosmetics provides IPTV
operators with a unique consumer proposition.
Latens ECO is an advanced middleware platform, with pre-integrated
conditional access software, that brings true multi-media networking to the
home. Offering IPTV and broadband TV operators the major features that help
them increase subscribers and reduce churn, ECO broadens the scope for
operators enabling a truly interactive and feature rich IPTV service,
supporting a variety of features including DVR, Remote DVR and over-the-top
TV.
Having debuted at IBC2009, the combined HDX-600 featuring Latens' CA system
and ECO middleware will be showcasing at EchoStar's booth #925 at TelcoTV09
Orlando, Fla., USA. EchoStar Technologies, the U.S. parent of EchoStar
Europe, will be demonstrating an IPTV set-top box platform for use in the
U.S. that is also compatible with the industry's leading conditional access
and middleware solutions.
Contact viptv@echostar.com to book a customer demonstration.
About EchoStar Europe:
EchoStar Europe (www.echostar-europe.com) is dedicated to enabling cable,
IPTV, satellite and terrestrial operators to optimise network revenues by
delivering added-value connected device solutions, services and
applications. Through a comprehensive product range, including STBs, DVRs,
home networking and place-shifting technology, our solutions enable the
provision of state-of-the-art and cost effective entertainment services.
The company combines best-in-class engineering, VIP account management,
supply chain, manufacturing and customer service into one dedicated and
experienced team, to provide customers with innovative technology solutions
that enable new revenue opportunities and reduce operational costs.
EchoStar Europe is headquartered in Steeton, UK with European based
operations in Almelo, Holland, Kharkov, Ukraine and Madrid, Spain. EchoStar
Europe is a business unit of EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
(www.echostar.com), an operating entity of the publicly traded EchoStar
Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS).
EchoStar has shipped over 70m+ connected devices to digital TV operators
around the world and secured a number of industry awards and market firsts
for its technology.
EchoStar's SlingLoaded(TM) 900 Series DVR won 'Best Consumer Premises
Technology' in Cable and Satellite International's Product of the Year
Awards 2009.
Go beyond the box.
About Latens:
Latens is leading the way in fully DVB® compliant software Conditional
Access and Middleware, enabling operators of broadcast and broadband Pay TV
networks around the world to securely deliver next generation entertainment
services to set-top boxes, PCs, mobile devices and home networks. With
offices in the US, UK and India Latens' customer base stretches to over 100
installations in more than 20 countries. For more information about Latens
please visit www.latens.com
EchoStar Europe media contact:
Mark Goodburn
Email Contact
Director of Marketing and Communications
+44 7595 106276
Latens media contact:
Oonagh Lindsay
Email Contact
Marketing Manager
+44 2890 998240
