Nagravision, the world�s leading independent provider of value-added content protection solutions, and Microsoft Corp., the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions, today announced a joint commitment to enable technology solutions that help provide the secure reception of digital pay-TV programs on personal computers and devices running Microsoft� Windows� operating systems.

Nagravision and Microsoft will work together to enable the development of cost-effective products and services that use both parties� technologies for the delivery of premium television content to personal computers running the Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system and its ecosystem of connected devices, including Xbox 360� and Portable Media Centers. The agreement includes a plan for joint marketing and business development activities.

Today at IBC2005, Microsoft and Nagravision are demonstrating the first results of their collaboration: a proof-of-concept device, implemented on Microsoft�s reference design by Digital Keystone Inc. This demo shows CANAL+ Group�s TV programs being securely broadcasted through Nagravision�s conditional access system before being securely �bridged� into Microsoft�s digital rights management (DRM) content protection technology to enable authorized access on Windows Media Center PCs and their ecosystem of connected devices. This Nagravision CA-to-DRM bridge, shown on Nagravision�s booth #1.420, supports current business models and enables quality-perfect, authorized access of premium TV content. It allows network operators to take advantage of the innovation around media consumption on Media Center PCs and their entire ecosystem of connected devices.