Tata Sky appoints Irdeto for next generation over-the-top media services

Irdeto will enable Tata Sky to launch a secure OTT service, supporting a variety of connected devices

IBC 2017, AMSTERDAM - 16 September 2017 - Irdeto, the world leader in digital platform security, has been selected by Tata Sky, India's leading content distribution platform providing pay TV and over-the-top (OTT) services, to enhance its end-to-end solution for OTT services. Tata Sky aims to launch the most innovative online video service in India to give consumers greater choice and convenience. Irdeto’s OTT solutions simplify the operations and workflow of supporting multiple digital rights management (DRM) systems, configuring consistent business policies across different devices and managing a massive library of media assets. Irdeto will enable Tata Sky to not only rapidly re-launch their service, but also have the flexibility to easily adapt their service and business model to meet changing demands.

The pay TV market in India is highly competitive, yet there is tremendous growth potential for OTT services as disposable incomes rise. According to Tetra Pax Index 2017, 82% of the Indian population spends their time on mobile phones, and 2017 saw a 23% rise in internet users who spend an average of eight hours a day online compared to 2016.

“To take advantage of the growing trend of consumption of video on-the-go, in India, it is important for us to offer our customers the best user experience on their devices. This means a high quality, multi-lingual viewing experience of live channels and on-demand content with superior navigation within a reliable and scalable service,” said Pallavi Puri, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Sky. “We are confident that we can deliver the best Tata Sky OTT experience to our customers quickly with the help of Irdeto’s solutions, expertise and support. Irdeto’s long-standing presence in India is also a testament to their strong commitment in helping the industry mature and develop.”

“There is a tremendous growth opportunity for OTT services in India, which brings about fierce competition in the industry. As such, it is crucial for operators like Tata Sky to have the freedom to innovate and the confidence to take risks and be in control of their future,” said Bengt Jonsson, Senior Vice President of Sales & Services, Irdeto. “This will be our first time working with Tata Sky and we are heavily invested in helping them meet their business goals. We can offload the complexity of managing security, fragmented technologies and backend workflow for them, and enable them to focus on delivering value to their customers.”

The first phase of the project has been launched with Android devices, and the follow-on phases will extend Tata Sky’s OTT service to PC and iOS devices. Irdeto manages the planning and deployment of the project for Tata Sky, including both implementing Irdeto’s own solutions and working with third parties to ensure successful end-to-end integration.

Tata Sky and Irdeto sign contract to launch next generation OTT media services at IBC 2017. From Left to Right - Sanjiv Kainth, Country Manager for India at Irdeto; Doug Lowther, CEO of Irdeto; Harit Nagpal, CEO of Tata Sky; and A. Arun Kumar, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Services at Tata Sky.