conax_conax 10/11/2014 10:36 Page 2
COMPANY CONTRIBUTION
DTT extends the potential for
large volume operations
Terrestrial platform
investments and growth
plans are most successful
backed by highly
reputable security
solutions
Free-to-view and pay-TV operators
collaborate for DTT
Working together, pay-TV, free-to-view
operators and regulators in numerous regions
have transformed key challenges into
successful operations with high growth
potential!
When platforms are based primarily on
public broadcasting content, highlighting
primarily free-to-air content, content security
is not usually a priority. However, one should
keep in mind that as operations grow, pay-TV
content providers will likely show interest in
joint, favourable opportunities for
cooperation. Adding premium pay-TV content
increases platform value for free-to-air
providers and provides a competitive edge
towards satellite and cable platforms. A few
key DTT benefits:
l Additional space for channels within the
same spectrum
l Sharing frequency and equipment
reduces costs
l Ability to offer more channels
According to Saad Mouneimne, director of
business development - Middle East and
Africa at Conax, DTT is expected to have
strong growth following analogue shutdown.
“To optimise platform benefits and prepare for
future expansion, DTT operators are advised
to plan to include a strong, future-oriented
content security solution during the initial
planning phase, in preparation for lucrative
pay-TV services opportunities and potential
platform growth. Early planning will enable
smooth introduction of pay-TV to the platform
at a later stage and for easily deploying
advanced multiscreen services as the platform
and consumer demands grow,” he advises.
DTT - securing a rich selection of
content
“Just five years after launching a free-to-air
platform at one of our customers, the market
had grown to an ample size where pay-TV
became a very interesting opportunity within
the market. Having planned in advanced, a
content coding for
excellent picture
quality, and security
technology including
Chipset Pairing as an
absolute requirement
for the STBs. The
secure platform is
positioned to add new
advanced services and
features - a highly
successful project,
with the entire country
migrated from
analogue to digital
services within 24
pay-TV model was then easily integrated with
the platform without the need to swap set-topboxes, dramatically reducing potential costs
and complicated logistics. Today the operator
is running a highly successful platform
employing profitable and secure pay-TV
subscriptions with the potential to also add
advanced and over-the-top services,” he
reports.
“This European terrestrial operator offers
numerous free-to-view channels and a wide
variety of pay -TV channels. Platform benefits
have included deploying a DTT operation
without legacy, launching with the latest
technology within compression, MPEG-4
About Conax
With a broad
portfolio of national
DTT operations
secured with Conax
technology, content
security provider
Conax is an
experienced leader in the evolving global
content security market within terrestrial
broadcast and is well- suited for both
vertical and horizontal DTT models. A
part of the Kudelski Group, Conax
provides telcos, cable, satellite, IP, mobile
and terrestrial and broadband operations
with the innovative, flexible and costefficient solutions to deliver premium
content securely and positioning to
capture new market segments. Conax
technology enables secure content
revenues for 390 operators in 85
countries globally. For more information,
please visit www.conax.com and follow
us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
months.”
Subsidised set-top-boxes provide great
business benefits
“Subsidised STBs reduces the consumer’s
up-front investment making it easy to jump on
board an operators offering. The revenue
stream comes from a healthy growing base of
monthly subscription over a period of years.
Deploying set-top boxes capable of accessing
both free-to-air and pay-TV makes it possible
to not only reduce set-top box costs and
ensure deployment of high quality set-top
boxes, it also increases wider potential for new
content services and the best consumer
experience – translating to retention of
eyeballs to the platform. Chipset Pairing to
secure content and set-top boxes protects the
platform’s joint return-on-investment,
maximises profit potential and ensures that
the set-top boxes cannot be hijacked for use by
another or illegal service.”
Importance of STB quality
“A key concern of regulators and broadcasters
is ensuring that set-top boxes are of sufficient
quality. DTT operators are encouraged to
establish a test and approval regime for settop boxes to ensure the requirements of the
operator. For best results, experience has
shown that it is necessary to have a testing and
approval regime in place from project start. In
a horizontal market, the emphasis on set-top
box quality and functionality is even more
important to assist consumers in selecting the
best set-top-box,” he adds.
“Proven technology and third party
evaluation ́