Highlights:

• The SVP Alliance is launched by leading industry players to promote adoption of SVP content protection technology in digital home networks and consumer electronic devices.
• SVP (Secure Video Processor) is an open specification that can be licensed on fair and non-discriminatory terms by industry players
• SVP integrates easily with existing CA and DRM systems allowing content distributors to manage and control content distribution revenues
• SVP stand at IBC 2004 (Hall 3.411)

London, UK- September 9, 2004: NDS, STMicroelectronics, and Thomson today announced the formation of the SVP Alliance with the aim of making SVP a leading, open specification for secure content protection. The SVP Alliance is open to media and technology industry parties wishing to achieve the broad adoption of SVP content protection technology in digital home networks and consumer electronic devices - such as digital televisions, set-top boxes (STB), PVRs, and portable devices. The objective of the SVP Alliance is to adopt, use and promote the SVP standard and develop interoperability with other content protection solutions.

SVP creates new opportunities to distribute and package digital content while ensuring that content owners' rights are protected, and service operators maintain control of the content within and outside their respective networks. For example, SVP network service operators such as DIRECTV in the US plan to extend their reach by entitling consumers to receive, store and render secured content in home networks and portable consumer devices. SVP also meets the cost and implementation requirements of the consumer electronic industry and preserves the end users' rights to enjoy digital entertainment in the most flexible and convenient way.

SVP is an end-to-end system that allows the content distributor to use existing CA (conditional access) or DRM solutions to manage a secure content protection mechanism available on video processor chips in STBs and consumer electronic devices.

• NDS is developing an SVP Manager that will, by using SVP, extend the reach of its VideoGuard conditional access solution to home networks and portable devices.
• ST is producing the first video processing IC enabled with SVP technology
• Thomson is intending to embed SVP-enabled chips in consumer electronic devices in 2005 and also to integrate SVP with its SmartRight solution.
• Associate members who support SVP and are in the process of becoming full members of the SVP Alliance include chip vendors Broadcom Corporation, Conexant Systems, Inc. and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH.

Abe Peled, CEO and President, NDS said: "Digital technology has turned the vision of moving high quality content between consumer devices into a reality". He continued," "Consumers are willing to pay for quality content as long as they can access it easily when and where they want. In addition, rights holders are eager to take advantage of the new business opportunities digital technology creates while ensuring that premium content offered for wider and more flexible distribution will be protected from unauthorized copying and redistribution. SVP readily and economically extends the ability of the content distributor to more widely distribute high value content for consumers to enjoy while protecting content rights."

"We are delighted to be a founding member of the SVP Alliance", said Christos Lagomichos, General Manager of ST's Home Entertainment Group. "By including SVP functionality in new devices, semiconductor manufacturers will provide the makers of consumer electronics equipment with a cost effective platform on which to develop innovative and secure products."

"The SVP Alliance promotes a standard for securely distributing digital content across home networks and portable devices. The availability of SVP-enabled consumer devices will enable network operators to expand the range of devices and services they can offer subscribers. For the first time, operators will be offered a comprehensive end-to-end solution that optimizes control and increases revenue, while consumers can seamlessly access digital content at a fair price and transfer it from a public domain to their preferred device at home. Furthermore, by promoting the development of interoperability with other solutions, such as SmartRight, the SVP Alliance will help create a coalition of multiple manufacturers that can deploy devices industry-wide ";said Jean-Charles Hourcade, Senior Vice President Research & Innovation CTO, Thomson.

For more information, visit the SVP website at www.svp-cp-org.

About NDS
NDS Group plc (NASDAQ/Euronext Brussels:NNDS) is a leading supplier of open end-to-end digital pay TV solutions for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to television set-top boxes and IP devices. See www.nds.com for more information about NDS.

About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2003, the Company's net revenues were $7.24 billion and net earnings were $253 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

About Thomson
Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) is the leading provider of technology and service solutions for integrated media and entertainment companies. By capitalizing on and expanding its leadership positions at the intersection of entertainment, media and technology, Thomson provides end-to-end solutions to content creators, video network operators, manufacturers and retailers through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, THOMSON and RCA brands. For more information: www.thomson.net

NDS Group plc - Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-looking Statements The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the plans, projections or future performance of NDS, which involve certain risks and uncertainties, including risk of market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, possible regulatory changes, technological developments, the impact of competitive pricing and the ability of NDS and its commercial partners to develop systems and solutions which meet the needs of the broadcasting industry in a timely and cost-efficient manner, as well as certain other risks and uncertainties which are detailed in NDS's filings with the SEC. Company or product names have been used for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

NDS Group plc
Margot Field
Tel: +44 (0) 208 476 8158
E-mail: mfield@ndsuk.com

Shared Value Europe
Alex Dee
Tel: +44 (0) 207 321 5010
E-mail: adee@sharedvalue.net

Breakaway Communications US
Kelly Fitzgerald
Tel: +1 212 590 2555
E-mail: kfitz@breakawaycom.com