- Accelerating the deployment of set-top boxes that deliver next-generation user experiences with the industry's first verified drivers

December 23, 2011, Seoul — STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor company in various electronic device applications and a leader in set-top box ICs, has launched the industry's first verified driver for Nagra's Open TV 5, a premium set-top box middleware featuring the latest technology. Nagra is an affiliate of the Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S) and a global provider of value-added content protection and multi-screen television solutions.

The new driver provides a porting platform that shortens time-to-market for operators and OEMs deploying Open TV 5 on all classes of set-top boxes equipped with ST’s STi7105 and STi7108, or on Orly, a recently released high-performance broadband system-on-chip IC. By leveraging support for Open TV’s open architecture and ecosystem, as well as an advanced user interface, projects can be completed quickly, and customized network integration can be executed rapidly and easily with minimal customization.

Open TV 5 set-top box middleware provides core functions necessary to support a wide range of services, from basic television to on-demand content and OTT (Over-the-top) internet video. These functions include support for standard television services, video/audio control, a Personal Video Recorder, security, home networking, an advanced program guide, and IP-based services. Middleware such as Open TV 5, which makes full use of Linux, open standards, and recently developed chipsets, shortens time-to-market while enabling service providers to manage and quickly deliver customized services, thereby allowing them to maintain independence from equipment vendors.

Open TV 5 expands the role of the set-top box as a central home device for accessing TV, the Internet, and personal content. Equipped with the hardware capabilities of ST’s existing and upcoming chipsets, Open TV 5 enables developers to create differentiated finished products. ST’s chipsets provide features such as powerful video processing, advanced user interfaces and 3D graphics for gaming, and hard disk and USB connectivity, and are compatible with standards such as HTML5 and the Digital Living Network Alliance for the content sharing supported by Open TV 5.

Verified ST chipsets with drivers for Open TV 5 provide built-in NAGRA On-Chip Security with hardware Root of Trust to ensure the integrity of customer devices. When used with NAGRA Conditional Access and NAGRA Digital Rights Management software, ST’s NOCS-certified chips enable a robust content protection environment.

Laurent Remont, General Manager of STMicroelectronics’ Connected Home business unit, stated, “ST, having developed and validated the industry’s first drivers for Open TV 5, will provide customers with the diverse capabilities, flexibility, and robustness of middleware to be applied to building next-generation set-top boxes that will increase broadcasters’ average revenue per subscriber (ARPU).”

Samir Mehta, Senior Vice President of Solution Engineering R&D at Nagra, stated, “Open TV 5 supports the role of the set-top box as a hub that allows access to services and content sharing from anywhere in the home, and demonstrates groundbreaking innovation at the middleware level,” adding, “The collaboration between Nagra and ST is accelerating the development speed and market entry of Open TV 5.”

The two companies plan to launch Open TV 5 middleware with embedded ST Silicon in the first half of 2012 using ST's porting platform. This will shorten the time to market for operators and set-top box OEMs. ST driver source code will be provided for free and can be applied to existing platforms via Over-The-Air (OTA) upgrades.