The NDS Group, a News Corporation company and leading provider of conditional access systems and interactive applications for digital TV, announced recently it had been selected as part of the winning consortium to launch Korea's first digital satellite broadcasting operation. The deal, worth approximately $30m to the consortium, is one of the largest ever of its kind in Asia and will provide the region's first fully interactive satellite TV platform, a company release states.

As part of the consortium led by Ssang Yong Information and Communications (SICC), NDS will supply their Open VideoGuard (conditional access system), StreamServer (for the management control of the digital headend) and provide support consultancy for Ssang Yong in their role as prime systems integrator. In addition to its work with Ssang Yong, NDS will work with Korean manufacturers to integrate interactive technology into set-top boxes and with content developers to make interactive services available to Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (KDB).

"This agreement is yet another endorsement of NDS's technology and systems integration skills," said Dr Abe Peled, president and CEO, NDS Group. "NDS's conditional access systems are used by the world's largest broadcasting operations and we are one of the industry's few providers with a full end-to-end solution. We are confident that our systems and support will meet KDB's needs during the critical development period, at launch and as it grows its subscriber base over the coming years."

Highlights:
* Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting (KDB) to launch digital satellite broadcasting by end of 2001
* NDS to act as consultant to Ssang Yong Information and Communications on systems integration
* NDS Open VideoGuard(tm) digital conditional access and StreamServer( selected for use on KDB.