CDSA

NAGRA Adds Two Tech Firms to Android TV Fast Track Program

Content protection and multiscreen TV solutions specialist NAGRA has added two new tech firms to its Android TV Fast Track Program, which enables Android TV streaming solutions and hybrid OTT Android TV based services for pay TV operators.

Taiwan’s Realtek Semiconductor Corp., a networking and multimedia tech provider, and China’s Shenzhen Jiuzhou Electric Co., a provider for digital TV equipment and connected home solutions, will work with NAGRA to offer affordable, joint streaming solutions and hybrid cable and OTT Android TV-based services, supporting the Android 10 operating system. Additionally, NAGRA’s content protection solutions will be used to secure content for the platform, with NAGRA’s Security Services Platform being used for the Realtek chipset and Jiuzhou set-top box.

The joint solution figures to be one of the first to support the Android 10 OS, which as of 2020 is a requirement for all Android TV-based set-tops.

“We are excited to expand our Android TV partnership program with Realtek and Jiuzhou to deliver a new solution designed to enable fast time-to-market of Android TV based services and that is one of the first to support the new Android 10 OS,” said Maurice van Riek, SVP and head of content and asset security for NAGRA. “Pay TV operators now have a wide choice of options when it comes to Android TV and we’re pleased to enable that choice with solutions that support the latest features and capabilities of Android, giving pay TV operators and consumers the very best the technology has to offer, while safeguarding premium content assets from piracy.”

The Realtek chipset and Jiuzhou set-top box will be pre-integrated with NAGRA security clients, including NAGRA Connect and NAGRA Protect, and the NAGRA Security Services Platform, to enable the delivery of advanced TV features, in full compliance with Google’s MediaCas framework for Android TV deployments.

“Through deep collaboration with NAGRA, Realtek has successfully brought the world’s first NOCS3.2 4K Set-Top Box solution to the market with Realtek’s RTD1611,”said Realtek VP Yee-Wei Huang. “The close cooperation among NAGRA, Jiuzhou, and Realtek enabled the world’s first NAGRA NOCS3.2 Android TV 10 platform, reducing integration time and costs for set-top box manufacturers and pay TV service providers. Collaborating with NAGRA reinforces Realtek’s commitment to offer pay TV operators the most advanced security solutions.”

Richard Han, CTO of Shenzhen Jiuzhou Electric Co., added: “We are very delighted to cooperate tightly with NAGRA and Realtek to enable this cost-effective and fast-time-to-market hybrid cable and OTT Android TV solution. In this rapidly changing environment, time-to-market is the key. That’s why Jiuzhou is always focusing on providing its clients with customized and effective service along with best-in-class features and reliable products to help them go to market quickly and efficiently.”

Additionally, Jan. 21, NAGRA parent company announced a patent license deal with digital content distributor fuboTV. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This agreement further validates the relevance of the Group’s patent portfolio to the OTT/streaming video market,” said Gilles Rapin, SVP of innovation and business development for Kudelski Group.