Verimatrix Extends Premium Video Delivery Options With Next-Generation ViewRight PC Player

LONDON--(Marketwire - March 10, 2008) - IPTV World Forum, Stand #117 -- Verimatrix, setting the standard in content security technologies that enhance the value of pay-TV networks, today announced the availability of ViewRight™ PC Player 2.0 -- a next-generation IP client application that incorporates advanced Digital Video Recorder (DVR) functionality, mirroring the best time shifting features on TVs. Consumers are now able to perform popular trick play functions on live premium IP broadcast streams and record up to four simultaneous programs. As the industry's only independently-audited secure client, ViewRight PC Player PC player enables pay-TV network operators to offer premium content packages across a range of home network devices, while also creating new revenue streams with tiered pricing.

"The networked PC has a huge role to play as a pay-TV device alongside the set-top box," said Bob Larribeau, principal analyst at TelecomView. "However, the PC can only become an integral part of pay-TV services if the content owners believe that their assets will be protected. Products such as the ViewRight PC Player from an established content security company like Verimatrix have the credibility to enable an exciting new range of PC-based pay-TV service models."

The Verimatrix ViewRight PC Player turns any broadband-connected PC into a fully functional, interactive IP client that complements the use of set-top boxes (STBs) in today's networked household. ViewRight PC Player can display Standard Definition and High Definition MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 content, which is protected by Verimatrix VCAS security and can be paused, rewound and recorded through an intuitive user interface. Recorded streams retain the full VCAS encryption, ensuring they remain protected and subject to operator playback entitlement.

For an additional layer of security for premium content, ViewRight PC Player also integrates the unique Verimatrix VideoMark™ user-specific watermarking technology. This patent-pending forensic watermarking extends the realm of anti-piracy measures by enabling the tracing of unauthorized copies of content back to the time and place they were created. The system has been audited by the independent third-party Telcordia labs that found zero security exposures across the entire end-to-end implementation.

The addition of the DVR features in a secure IP application opens new revenue opportunities for network operators by increasing ARPU and providing incremental value to their subscribers. Furthermore, operators are able to differentiate their services in the increasingly competitive pay-TV market by offering premium and diverse content via the PC. As a supplement to the STB, consumers' PCs offer a cost-effective solution that does not require any additional hardware, deployment logistics or maintenance responsibilty.

"The competitve nature of the pay-TV business demands innovative products that match the new demands of consumer lifestyles," said Bob Kulakowski, chief technical officer, Verimatrix. "We are seeing signficiant demand from not only IPTV operators, but cable operators that also see the PC as a premium delivery model. Our PC player approach adds device flexibility for operators while offering a unifed content security solution."

About Verimatrix

Verimatrix sets the standard for software-based content security and revenue enhancement technologies in pay-TV networks, with a global customer base of telecommunications providers. The Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) offers a suite of next-generation technologies that has been independently audited and ranked as the global leader in IPTV content protection. VCAS was designed for two-way and hybrid networks to protect content and enhance revenue streams, while combating digital piracy wherever it occurs within the distribution chain. The company's content security experts maintain close relationships with the major studios and broadcasters to help address the challenges facing pay-TV networks of today, and those of tomorrow. Verimatrix customers benefit with most favorable access to premium content, enabling the richest, most versatile viewing experience for their digital video subscribers. For more information on why VCAS is the most widely deployed IPTV content security system with tier one operators, please visit www.verimatrix.com.