FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
Widevine Technologies® To Secure Largest Operating North American Video over DSL Deployment
Selected by Saskatchewan Telecommunications to Provide Widevine Cypher® Content Security
Seattle, WA, April 7, 2004 –Widevine Technologies, the largest provider of content security solutions to the video over IP market and inventor of the Cypher Virtual SmartCard™, today announced that Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) has chosen Widevine to provide security for SaskTel’s video broadcast and video-on-demand (VOD) content.
SaskTel launched its Internet Protocol (IP) broadcast service in 2002 over its existing digital subscriber line (DSL) network, the first ever installed in North America, and launched its video-on-demand service last year. The VOD service is available to subscribers in all nine cities where SaskTel’s video service is offered and is expected to grow to more than 50,000 subscribers by 2006.
The Widevine Virtual SmartCard solution significantly lowers the costs of securing content over video networks while dramatically raising the bar on piracy. Today, the Virtual SmartCard is being deployed in broadband video projects throughout the world.
“We are determined to acquire highest quality, most current content available for our VOD service,” said Bob Turner, SaskTel’s Director of Technology. “This is the primary reason why we chose Widevine to secure our service; access control is not security. Widevine’s VOD security solution allows full protection of media throughout its distribution; it is transparent and provides persistent encryption. The result is the secure storage of VOD titles on media servers as well as secure distribution without affecting trick play functions. The flexibility it provides us will allow us to grow our services and take advantage of new innovations in the video over IP market.”
“Widevine’s technology is quickly being embraced by the global marketplace as studios, broadcasters and service operators recognize the need to protect content and revenue streams in this age of digital piracy,” said Brian Baker, President and CEO of Widevine Technologies. “We are extremely pleased that one of the most ambitious and visionary service providers in the world today—SaskTel—would choose us to solve their security challenges.”
“In the past piracy only meant theft of service,” said John Hoskins, Widevine’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “In the digital age, that piracy now represents the theft and mass redistribution of content. That strikes directly in the studio’s pockets. For new services to offer more valuable digital content, better security technology is mandatory. As SaskTel has clearly indicated through its decision, Widevine’s technology is the answer to that need.”
For the SaskTel video over DSL deployment, Widevine will interface with Media Manager from Alcatel, the video delivery platform provided by Kasenna and set-top-boxes from Pace Micro Technology.
About Virtual SmartCard
Widevine offers the Cypher™ Suite based upon the Virtual SmartCard™ enabling the operator to obtain premium on-demand titles. Cypher Suite contains patented technologies for VOD (Cypher VOD™), digital broadcast (Cypher Broadcast™), conditional access/digital rights management (Cypher CA™) and Digital Copy Protection™ (Cypher DCP™). For more information see Widevine Technologies at www.widevine.com.
About Widevine Technologies, Inc.
Widevine supplies a comprehensive suite of conditional access and digital rights management products to the Telco, Cable, and Satellite Operators enabling the deployment of Interactive Television services such as Digital Broadcast, VOD and PVR. Widevine insures that the content that is watched is paid for and that it is only used for its intended purpose Headquartered in Seattle, Widevine’s products secure video services (VOD, broadcast channels, etc.) over cable, xDSL (Telco), and Fiber optic networks. Comprised of world-class engineers and experts in security and encryption, Widevine has developed a unique suite of technologies and products to secure the transmission of media. Widevine has 1 patent issued and 21 pending.
About Saskatchewan Telecom
SaskTel is the leading full service communications company in Saskatchewan, offering complete wireline, wireless, Internet and e-business solutions over a state-of-the-art, digital network. SaskTel maintains investments in companies that provide a variety of products and services. Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.
Media Contact:
Eric Moser
Ruder Finn Chicago (for Widevine Technologies)
Tel: +1 312 329 3908
mosere@ruderfinn.com
Michelle Englot
Saskatchewan Telecommunications
Tel: 306.777.4476
michelle.englot@sasktel.sk.ca
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