Top Up TV Taps SCM Microsystems for Digital TV Security Modules
May 18 2004 - 3:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Top Up TV Taps SCM Microsystems for Digital TV Security Modules
ISMANING, Germany and FREMONT, Calif., May 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. announced today
that U.K. digital TV start up Top Up TV has selected SCM to supply
security modules using the Nagra conditional access security system
for its new digital broadcasting service in the U.K. Delivery of
the modules, which will be used to securely decrypt Top Up TV
broadcasts, will begin in May 2004. "With the modules provided by
SCM, we see a great opportunity to enable U.K. consumers with
integrated digital televisions and those with compatible Common
Interface set-top boxes to be able to watch additional channels on
Top Up TV. This technology moves digital TV through your aerial to
a new stage, and we see the benefits of using Common Interface and
removable security modules to help us get there," said Ian West,
vice-chairman and chief executive officer of Top Up TV. "SCM's
reputation for technology leadership, high quality and customer
satisfaction over many years of providing security to the broadcast
industry was the main reasons we selected them as our partner." Top
Up TV is a great example of how the Common Interface (CI) standard
gives consumers more choices, providing subscribers with 10
additional high quality channels for the price of just 7.99 pounds
Sterling per month. Top Up TV is the U.K.'s first venture into
multi-channel pay TV after the launch of Freeview in 2002. Top Up
TV was able to take advantage of the existing installed base of
ex-ITV Digital (On Digital) receivers, estimated to be in the
region of 600,000-800,000 units, by using the receivers' built-in
security hardware with compatible security modules from SCM. Many
other digital receivers and IDTVs also currently allow the use of
security modules to decrypt broadcast content, meaning consumers
can also purchase new devices to receive Top Up TV. Currently
compatible devices include the majority of IDTVs and set-top boxes,
such as the Nokia 221 and Netgem I-player, with manufacturers
bringing more and more models to market that will be able to take
advantage of the new Top Up TV service. "Top Up TV has an
innovative service-pricing package that requires strong security
and leverages a ready base of consumers. Seizing this type of
opportunity is precisely why we've positioned our line of digital
TV security modules for the Common Interface," said Robert
Schneider, chief executive officer of SCM Microsystems. "Today the
U.K. leads in using this model, but we see this as a trend that has
global appeal." U.K. distributor Turbosat has been chosen to manage
the sale of Top Up TV security modules in the U.K. through major
retailers such as Dixons Stores Group. SCM has already received an
initial order of 10,000 Top Up TV modules from Turbosat. More than
half of the 24.3 million U.K. households now receive digital TV.
The U.K. has been seeing very strong demand in digital terrestrial
set-top box sales, with 2003 holiday sales rising to 500,000 units
and 866,000 households for that quarter, resulting in around 3
million digital terrestrial households by January 2004. The U.K.
digital terrestrial television installed base is expected to
continue rising rapidly with an additional 7 million households
converting by 2007. U.K. IDTV sales have continued to grow, with
prices dropping by an average of 93 pounds between March and
December 2003. Global sales of IDTVs are expected to rise from 17.4
million units in 2007 to 116 million units in 2015, by which time
the majority of TVs will include a digital tuner. About SCM
Microsystems SCM Microsystems is a leading supplier of solutions
that open the Digital World by enabling people to conveniently
access digital content and services. The company markets and sells
its smart card reader technology for network and physical access
and conditional access modules for secure digital TV decryption to
OEM customers in the government, financial, enterprise and
broadcasting markets worldwide. Global headquarters are in Fremont,
California, with European headquarters in Ismaning, Germany. For
additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems web site at
http://www.scmmicro.com/. NOTE: All trade names are either
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
DATASOURCE: SCM Microsystems CONTACT: Manfred Mueller of SCM
Microsystems, +49-89-95-95-5140, or ; or Deb Montner of Montner
& Associates, +1-203-226-9290, or , for SCM Microsystems Web
site: http://www.scmmicro.com/
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