MUMBAI: Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited has announced the trial launch of its digital pay TV service - exTV, based on NDS technology.

While the satellite broadcaster has already commenced the exTV technical pilot on 18 December 2003, the full service is scheduled to start from 18 February 2004.

The service will provide more than thirty channels that cater to the tastes and interests of the Hong Kong TV audience. The channel will bring the audience a unique mix of innovative quality local programming and quality entertainment from around the world, says an NDS release.

According to the release, NDS has supplied conditional access, middleware, set top box integration, a customised electronic program guide (EPG) and two interactive games to the Galaxy service. The new digital offering enables viewers across Hong Kong access to an exciting all-digital multi-channel service.

"NDS is delighted to have assisted Galaxy in bringing its service to market in such a short timeframe. Galaxy's investment in state-of-the-art digital technology from NDS allows them to offer a new level of quality programming services unequalled in Hong Kong to date. It also provides the most secure distribution platform, allowing Galaxy to reassure content providers that their programming is safe," says NDS Asia Pacific vice president and general manager Sue Taylor.

The new-look NDS EPG provided for exTV allows up to seven days of program schedules for all channels. With help of the templates, Galaxy to quickly and easily develop its own look and feel to differentiate its service. Using NDS Core, VideoGuard and Value@TV technologies, it can choose different colors and shapes, such as a border around a scrolling list, as well as add graphic elements such as icons, logos and banners.