NDS Snowflake falls on Zon
September 11, 2010
From Nick Snow in Amsterdam
NDS announced that leading Portuguese pay-TV operator ZON Multimedia will field trial its new TV platform, based on the NDS Snowflake User Interface (UI).
In the first ever field trial of NDS Snowflake, ZON Multimedia will use the designer UI to deliver next generation TV services to its viewers across Portugal. The operator’s agreement with NDS also covers other aspects of the new platform build including the use of NDS MediaHighway set-top box software.
ZON Multimedia operates a number of consumer-facing brands including ZON Cinemas, ZON Net , ZON Mobile and its pay-TV platform ZON TV Cabo. Working with NDS to define its complete TV platform roadmap, ZON selected MediaHighway set-top box software and NDS Snowflake to enable access to a range of content and services such as DVR library programming, VOD assets, Catch-up TV, recommendation engine searches and widgets for social networking. The flexibility of NDS’ MediaHighway to support the launch of these types of services quickly, efficiently and smoothly proved an important factor in ZON Multimedia’s decision to deploy the NDS set-top box software solution.
Customised with branding to the operator’s own specifications, the award-winning NDS Snowflake UI provides ZON TV Cabo viewers with an enhanced user experience characterised by smart navigation and an ergonomically designed, easy to use, intuitive interface that will provide faster, simplified access to content and connected services. As the first example of a new way of watching television, ZON TV Cabo viewers will also be the first to appreciate the benefits of a holistic user experience that incorporates a new design of set-top box and remote control.
Designed by NDS Studio Design, NDS Snowflake provides a robust UI backbone for operators looking to launch a branded interface offering improved ease of use to the viewer including the ability to control TV content remotely via smartphones and other connected devices. Able to enhance the TV experience across numerous devices, NDS Snowflake can also deliver new community based social networking features, applications and widgets to subscribers via content driven recommendations. This capability means that operators are then able to generate increased revenue from premium content and other recommendations relevant to subscriber interests.