NDS takes Gemstar’s EPG licenses
Chris Forrester ©RapidTVNews
| 27-04-2009
NDS has taken a multi-year licence for Macrovision’s ‘Gemstar’ EPG patents. The agreement provides NDS with a licence to use the EPG patents under Macrovision’s Gemstar patent portfolio and allows NDS to offer licensed EPGs to its pay-TV platform operator customers in specified countries.
Until this time last year Gemstar was 41%-owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Macrovision bought Gemstar in December 2007, and the deal closed on May 2 2008. Macrovision paid some $2.8bn in cash and stock for the Gemstar asset. Murdoch needed the money to help him close the Wall Street Journal deal.
“NDS is a true innovator in digital pay-TV technology and applications,” said Fred Amoroso, President/CEO, Macrovision. “Customers of NDS include many of the world’s leading pay-TV operators, and we are delighted to welcome NDS to our patent licensing program.”
“As the market leader in digital TV solutions, NDS strives to help its customers deliver a world-class TV experience to viewers,” said Dr. Abe Peled, Chairman and CEO, NDS Group. “We believe operators will benefit from having the option to license Gemstar’s EPG patents alongside NDS’ own leading technology and service offerings. We are therefore pleased to join Gemstar’s patent licensing program to enhance our market offering for our customers’ benefit.”
© Rapid TV News 2009
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