News Corp's NDS and Amino Communications have signed an agreement. As per the agreement, NDS's content protection and rights management software VideoGuard will be integrated into Amino's AmiNET series of small, low cost, high functionality IP set-top boxes (STBs).

An official release informs that the agreement with Amino further expands the range of STBs available to operators who want to deploy secure broadband IP services with the integration of NDS's industry leading content protection and rights management. The AmiNET series of STBs includes an option for a broadcast tuner combined with an IP interface that will be attractive to a broadcaster who wants to add revenue generating on-demand services to their existing broadcast lineup.

The release adds that operators, whether broadcast or broadband, need content security to protect their revenues and get high value content. Collaboration between broadcasters and broadband operators will enable innovative new services based on a combination of broadcast and IP based broadband services such as video on demand, games and interactive applications.

The AmiNET500 is a STB that incorporates an internal disk drive for personal video recorder (PVR) functionality. This gives broadband operators great flexibility to deliver content securely to their customers either in real-time or downloaded to the hard disk for future playback. For a satellite or terrestrial broadcaster, the AmiNET213 STB incorporates a broadcast tuner in addition to a broadband IP interface. This enables it to support broadcast TV as well as the video on demand, interactive online services and Internet access over the IP interface.

Amino is an electronic systems designer specialising in products for multimedia distribution such as on-line digital video and audio, as well as data reception. Its range of small, low cost, high functionality set-top boxes and gateway products are available as manufactured units or as licensable designs for hotels and hospitality markets, healthcare, retail and education as well as networked and broadcast markets.