Sources inform ''Globes'' that Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ) satellite broadcasting subsidiary YES will launch a computer-based television service using NDS Group plc (Nasdaq: NNDS) technology during the fourth quarter of this year. It is not yet known which shows will be aired, whether the service will offer content airing on TV at the time, or only content on demand, with the security system allowing YES to also air shows by the major studios. Whatever the case, competition will intensify in Israel this year.
18 months ago, NDS launched a product designed to help multi-channel television operators to broadcast right-protected shows online, where the operators have virtually no presence at all, let alone for copyrighted shows.
NDS marketing manager Amir Eilat said, “18 months ago, we launched the first product for both laptop and desktop computers, which enables users to access video from the television. In effect, we’re talking about convergence in the full meaning of the word between the television and the laptop, with the television solution fully installed in the computer.
“It was obvious to us that we had to bring an element of security in order to overcome the dichotomy between secure television as it relates to aired content, and the computer and the utterly unprotected internet. Our solution is akin to a smart card in the set-top box, only here it’s inserted into something resembling a disk-on-key for the computer, which ensures a solution identical to the one in the television. On the other side, the computer has software that, with the press of a key, creates a link to your television provider.”
“Globes”: Isn’t bandwidth a problem?
Eilat: “Only 1.5-2 megabytes is needed for viewing with a good resolution. This is the minimum. Of course, the greater the bandwidth increases, it’s possible to transmit broadcasts with a better resolution. HDTV broadcasts needs double the bandwidth of ordinary broadcasts; we usually talk about 5-6 megabytes. Another common solution for desktop computers, is to attach the television’s coaxial cable directly into the computer, which eliminates the bandwidth problem. However, you lose the advantage of mobility and viewing shows wherever there’s an internet connection, as if you were at home.”
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 10, 2007
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