Scientific-Atlanta Selects SkyStream's Open DVB Architecture for Conditional Access Integration

Business Wire, Sept 8, 1998

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1998--

Leading Equipment Supplier Augments Broadcast Presence with Flexible DVB-Simulcrypt Interface Product From Silicon Valley Start-up

SkyStream Corporation announced today that its DBN-26 Intelligent CAS Injector (ICI), has been selected by Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE:SFA) to complement their PowerVu(R) and PowerVu Plus(TM) family of MPEG-2 encoders and multiplexers.

SkyStream's DBN-26 enables Scientific-Atlanta's (SA) product line to support multiple conditional access scrambling (CAS) algorithms available from a broad range of third party providers. The DBN-26 also incorporates SkyStream's patent pending Null Packet Optimization(TM) (NPO) technology. The NPO software allows broadcasters to insert Internet and web-cached data content into the null packets of a DVB transport broadcast stream.

Scientific-Atlanta will combine the SkyStream DBN-26 ICI product with its PowerVu and PowerVu Plus products to create an open architecture capable of accommodating scrambled broadcasts generated by different CAS systems. The DBN-26 is seamlessly configured to the output of a PowerVu encoder or mutliplexer, and requires very little customization to support all currently available DVB-Simulcrypt CAS solutions.

"Scientific-Atlanta is pleased that products such as SkyStream's DBN-26 Intelligent CAS Injector are available," said Tim Portland, vice-president and business line manager for Broadcasting Networks for Scientific-Atlanta. "In addition to our own conditional access solution, the Injector enables our encoding and multiplexing systems to work with third party conditional access and subscriber authorization systems. This solution allows our customers to add the CAS system they want to their PowerVu or PowerVu Plus system."

"We are honored to be working with Scientific-Atlanta to augment their PowerVu family of MPEG products with an open conditional access architecture," said Clint Chao, vice president of marketing and sales for SkyStream. "With the DBN-26, a digital video broadcaster can get the best of both worlds in implementing a digital video system: Scientific-Atlanta's robust family of high quality encoders and multiplexers combined with the flexibility to choose their own CAS algorithm and subscriber management system."

The DBN-26 is SkyStream's latest product introduction, designed specifically to address the needs of open broadcast networking. In addition to the IP data broadcasting functionality of the DBN-24 and 25, the DBN-26 adds an industry-standard DVB-Simulcrypt interface to allow the delivery of scrambled video programs to a number of different decoder set top boxes and PC cards that contain different CAS systems. The system has been tested to inter-operate with many different encoder and CAS solutions in the market.

About SkyStream Corporation

SkyStream Corporation is a data and video broadcast networking company based in Mountain View, Calif. The Company's line of SkyStream Integrator products seamlessly enables the integration of disparate digital data sources into an industry-compliant digital broadcast stream.

Through a combination of patented application technologies with open, industry-standard platforms, SkyStream delivers open broadcast networking solutions unmatched in scalability, flexibility, reliability and price/performance in the market today. The Company's website address is http://www.skystream.com.

Visit SkyStream at IBC '98 in Amsterdam, Sept. 11-15, 1998, Hall 11-Booth 557.

About Scientific Atlanta

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE:SFA) is a leading supplier of broadband communications systems, satellite-based video, voice and data communications networks, and worldwide customer service and support. The company's website address is http://www.sciatl.com.

Visit Scientific-Atlanta at IBC '98 in Amsterdam, September 11-15, 1998, Hall 11-Booth 438.

Note to Editors: SkyStream and Null Packet Optimization are trademarks of SkyStream Corporation. PowerVu is a registered trademark of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. PowerVu Plus is a registered trademark of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.

    CONTACT:  Wilson McHenry Company
               Greg Ness, 650/638-3400
               gness@wmc.com
                    or
               Scientific-Atlanta Inc.
               Laurie Sillay Lahr, 770/903-6156
               laurie.sillay.lahr@sciatl.com