Sigma Designs and Civolution Simplify Content Protection by Integrating Watermarking in New Sigma STV770 and STV770 UltraHD Chipsets

January 7, 2015 - Industry leaders collaborate to improve delivery of high quality and secure Ultra HD video to Smart TVs

MILPITAS, CA - January 06, 2015 - Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM), a leading provider of intelligent system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for Smart TV, Internet of Things for Smart home and IP-based set-top-boxes (STBs), today announced that it has integrated Civolution NexGuard forensic watermarking technology in Sigma's latest generation new STV7701 and STV7703 Smart TV chipsets. Supporting resolutions up to 4K Ultra HD (UHD) in both HEVC (H.265) and VP9 codecs, as well as high dynamic range (HDR) technology, the STV77XX family of SoCs is a highly advanced solution for smart TVs. This collaboration between industry leaders Civolution and Sigma Designs allows content owners to offer consumers valuable content with the best quality of experience possible, while maintaining the highest level of confidence in its security.

Civolution is the leading provider of technology and solutions for identifying, managing and monetizing content. The integration of Civolution's NexGuard technology in the STV7701 and STV7703 SoCs enables industry-leading forensic watermarking to be seamlessly incorporated in all video playback, at any resolution up to 4K. Forensic watermarking is the means by which a unique and imperceptible identifying code is inserted into a media asset, whether a movie, video or any other type of content. By adding a unique identity disseminated throughout a piece of media, that content, along with its owner, becomes identifiable. Digital watermarks are used to enforce contractual compliance between a content owner and the intended recipient. It provides proof of misuse and a link back to the source of a leakage. Forensic watermarking is now commonly required by content owners to enhance the security of premium assets such as 4K or HDR video.

The Smart TV is becoming a new hub for consuming high-quality video content in the home, whether it is delivered via a set-top box, an HDMI stick or through an over-the-top (OTT) app, said Alex Terpstra, CEO, Civolution. In any case, we know that content owners highly value the anti-piracy protection their content receives from Civolution's NexGuard forensic watermarking. By integrating this capability directly into the STV7701 and STV7703 chipsets, Sigma will simplify the process of deploying forensic watermarking widely to consumers. At the same time, it gives their CE partners a real edge in attracting the best possible apps and content.

The new STV77XX family single-chip UltraHD TV SoC solutions support channel decoding, audio decoding/encoding, video decoding, advanced audio/video post-processing, 3D, and smart TV functionality, enabled by high-performance CPU and GPU technology. Support for HDR and UHD video at 60fps, as well as Civolution watermarking, make the STV77XX family an ideal solution for next generation big-screen TV sets, providing the processing and protection required for the Ultra HD experience, including intensive high-motion and premium content.

Our latest generation STV77XX family of chipsets brings the best yet in terms of performance and quality, and now security, thanks to the addition of Civolution NexGuard watermarking, said Mustafa Ozgen, Vice President and General Manager of the multi-media business unit at Sigma Designs. Smart TVs are truly becoming even smarter with this built-in capacity to protect content, which is a critical capacity for valuable UHD services such as live sports events and premium VOD. This collaboration between two industry leaders can provide confidence to content owners and service providers that TVs powered by Sigma STV77XX chips are delivering outstanding quality while minimizing illegal content reproduction.

Sigma Designs will showcase its new STV7701 and STV7703 processors at CES 2015, January 6-9 in Las Vegas, at the Westgate Hotel (formerly LVH), Santa Fe suite #2990. To schedule a demonstration, please send your request to pr@sigmadesigns.com.

For more information about Sigma Designs, visit www.sigmadesigns.com. Follow us on Twitter: @sigma_designs

Join us on LinkedIn: sigma-designs

About Civolution

Civolution (www.civolution.com) is the leading provider of technology and solutions to identify manage

and monetize media content. The company offers an extensive portfolio of cutting edge digital watermarking and fingerprinting technologies and applications, which are provided by two business units:

The Teletrax business unit provides real time TV analytics and synchronized advertisments, servicing the broadcast and digital media industry.

The NexGuard business unit is the world leader in forensic watermarking, providing solutions for forensic marking of media assets in pre-release, digital cinema, pay TV and OTT streaming.

Follow us on Twitter: @Civolution.

For more information, visit www.civolution.com.

About Sigma Designs

Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGM) is a world leader in enabling smart home convergence. The company designs and builds the essential semiconductor technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's leading IPTV set-top boxes, Smart TV, connected media players, Internet of Things (IoT) for smart home devices and residential gateways and whole home media connectivity . For more information about Sigma Designs, please visit www.sigmadesigns.com

Sigma Designs, Secure Media Processor, and the Sigma Designs logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sigma Designs, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are believed to be trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities

Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities E

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