TiVo and Conax announce that they have partnered to offer a next generation DVB set-top box platform for deployment by television operators around the world. This relationship brings together two companies known for changing traditional approaches to pay television. TiVo is the gold standard for the delivery of advanced television services through an intuitive, stunning user interface, while Conax's multi-platform security technology forms the underpinning of television services delivered to operators covering over 100 million households in over 80 countries. Through this partnership, the companies will put the TiVo experience, including its revolutionary integration of IP-delivered video into an off-the-shelf package that can be quickly and easily deployed by operators using Conax-certified platforms in Scandinavia, mainland Europe and India, among other geographies. All of this can be done without having to endure a cumbersome, costly middleware deployment that could slow progress and hinder business objectives.

Geir Bjorndal, Executive Vice President of Products & Markets at Conax, said, "While the European market is ripe for VOD and other interactive services, many operators are stifled by the expensive integration efforts needed to convert roadmaps into reality. TiVo has a phenomenal reputation in the US, not only for inventing the PVR, but for creating the market's most comprehensive hybrid broadcast/broadband platform. They are the only player that has successfully integrated top-tier content from diverse Internet sources like Netflix, Blockbuster, YouTube, and Amazon VOD along with linear television into a single, vivid user interface already available to consumers in the United States. Our European customers have made clear that they plan to deploy similar capabilities and we can't imagine a better technology partner than TiVo to help us make it happen, and strengthen our competitive market position."

Bjorndal added that interest in the new solution is already high from key customers connected to TV operations that include security provided by Conax. Integrating TiVo's software with Conax security solutions will reduce certain hardware costs and also allow for deeper assimilation of security within the new platform. Conax's growth has been significant during recent years primarily due to its open standards STB approach, providing a wide selection of certified consumer hardware devices. The new strategy will leverage TiVo's strong brand and more than 10 years of expertise developing advanced television platforms.

Joshua Danovitz, Vice President & General Manager International, TiVo Inc., said, "Conax has amassed a stellar record for helping its customers quickly launch new services in a variety of environments without major startup complexity. Its broad portfolio of set-top box and pay television partners is testament to the value of this approach. We are very enthusiastic about this new relationship with Conax, particularly because it means operators will soon be able to distribute a highly differentiated, next generation user interface that applies TiVo's leadership in marrying broadband delivered content with the traditional television experience."

Importantly, in certain key markets, operators will have the ability to license a solution from a trusted partner like Conax that includes the full breadth of TiVo's interactive platform without having to integrate technology from disparate vendors. This one-stop-shop approach provides a cost efficient solution without having to make do with generic user experiences or highly proprietary hardware platforms.

"As TiVo continues to expand its global distribution, we are increasingly focused on teaming with leading players like Conax that make it easier and faster to implement our products while avoiding cumbersome, time consuming approaches that slow our deployment objectives," said Naveen Chopra, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy, TiVo Inc. "Conax's strategy complements ours in that we share a commitment to reduce time to market and are passionate about the strategic importance of a superior consumer experience."

Conax plans to make the integrated platform of TiVo software and Conax security solution available for commercial deployment in 2011.