UPDATE: Novabase Digital TV Technologies GMBH Selects Sigma Designs’ SoC and HTTV’s Open Middleware for First HDMI Stick Form Factor IPTV STB With HBBTV Capabilities

MILPITAS, CA–(Marketwired – Jan 3, 2014) – Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM), a leading provider of System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions for home entertainment, connectivity and converging multimedia delivery, today announced that Novabase Digital TV Technologies, GmbH, company owned by Novabase, the Portuguese leader in IT, has selected Sigma Designs’ SMP8674 media processor for its HDMI-Stick IPTV STB. The device will debut at the 2014 CES show in Las Vegas 7-10 January 2014, and is the first operator-class HDMI-stick form factor IP-STB that is HbbTV compliant. The advanced, cost-effective solution also runs “httvLink” middleware by the French middleware vendor HTTV.

SMP8674 is a cost-competitive value line SoC solution that operates at very low power making the HDMI stick a reality. The SDK offers support for HTML5 webkit applications and an advanced middleware porting API that has been integrated by httvLink to provide full HbbTV compatibility. The SoC is also certified for multiple CAS like Nagravision and Verimatrix. Novabase Digital TV Technologies, GmbH engineering was able to push the STB design into the HDMI-stick form factor. The Stick includes Wi-Fi and IR control capability. httvLink, is an HbbTV 1.5 compliant open-middleware for connected TV STBs. It makes very effective use of the resources in the HDMI-Stick STB without sacrificing user experience and offers optimal performance for the consumer. The HDMI stick is a perfect candidate for streaming media player for OTT/VOD, a multi-room thin client using SAT > IP protocol, or a full feature IPTV-STB.

“Novabase is excited to partner with Sigma Designs and HTTV in our innovative form factor product, “said Michael Pauli, managing director of Novabase Digital Technologies TV GmbH. “Sigma has a reputation for working with cutting edge solutions for service providers.”

“We are thrilled to announce more deployments with SMP8674 SOCs in partnership with Novabase. Their achievement here with SIP offers a high-value package to operators with a perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and pricing, The SMP8674 “httvLink” solution, offers best-in-class performance for interactive broadcast standards such as HbbTV,” said Mustafa Ozgen, GM of Home Multimedia for Sigma Designs. “Our open framework SDK solution for SMP8674 that supports QT-Webkit enabled the fast port of httvLink middleware, and the partnership between Sigma Designs and httv. Pairing this with cardless CAS solutions then makes a very promising thin client to excite operators looking closely at the HDMI-stick form factor.”

“HTTV is proud to have been chosen by Novabase Technologies TV GmbH and to partner with Sigma Designs for the launch of this first HbbTV compliant HDMI dongle. It proves our strong position on the HbbTV standard and our ability to be at the forefront of innovation,” said Regis Saint Girons, HTTV’s CEO. He added “Their reliable platforms and speed with which we can integrate means that we can get to market quickly with a very flexible customer solution”

A demonstration of the Sigma Designs/HTTV solution can be seen at CES in Las Vegas in Sigma Design’s Suite 2990 in the Las Vegas Hotel. For more information, visit www.sigmadesigns.com.

About Novabase

Over its 24-year history, Novabase has become the Portuguese leader in IT. It has been listed on the Euronext Lisbon stock exchange since 2000. Its turnover in 2012 was EUR 212 million, 29% from outside of Portugal, with business in more than 40 countries and 9 different time zones. Novabase has offices in Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Middle East, Mozambique, Angola and Portugal. It boasts more than 2,000 talented and dedicated employees of 17 different nationalities.

Novabase’s vision is to make life simpler and happier for people and businesses, through technology. Engineering and management combine with human sciences and design to create solutions focused on people.

In the past 3 years, it has invested more than EUR 25 million in research & development for specialized products and services in the Telecoms & Media, Financial Services, Government, Healthcare & Transportation, Energy & Utilities and Manufacturing & Services sectors. Its current business lines are Business Solutions, Infrastructures & Managed Services and Venture Capital.

Please visit http://www.novabase.pt/ for additional information.

About HTTV

HTTV is a leading international software solutions provider for interactive digital TV. The company develops solutions for TV operators and set top boxes that enable the setup of connected TV services: Push VOD, catch-up TV, personalized mosaic, electronic program guides…. HTTV’s products are used by major players of the TV ecosystem: Astra, Digiturk, Eutelsat, France Télévision, Irdeto, Nagra, Reliance, Sky Italia, TDF, Televes, TF1, UPC, Viaccess.

HTTV offers httvLink an open middleware for connected TV receivers: DVB, IPTV and hybrid networks. httvLink implements HTML5 and HbbTV standard, the European standard for connected TV, as well as the software layer for advanced STB. HTTV also markets the head-end equipment necessary for the implementation of interactive services (EIT & HbbTV datacasting, mosaic builder… ).

HTTV is deeply committed to the success of the HbbTV standard. It’s CEO, Mr. Régis Saint-Girons, is the co-marketing chairman of the HbbTV association and the president of the HD Forum, the association who created the specification of the TNT 2.0 project for the French DTT.

About Sigma Designs
Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGM) is a world leader in connected media platforms. The company designs and builds the essential semiconductor technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s leading IPTV set-top boxes, DTV, connected media players, residential gateways, home control systems and more. For more information about Sigma Designs, please visit www.sigmadesigns.com.

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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 Exchange Act of 1934, including statements about the anticipated features and benefits of Sigma’s products and solutions as well as the market opportunities for Sigma’s products and solutions. Actual results may vary materially due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, Sigma’s ability to deploy and achieve market acceptance for Sigma’s products and solutions in its target markets, including the set top box market, the ability of its SoCs to compete with other technologies or products in these markets as well as other risks that are detailed from time to time in Sigma’s SEC reports, including its report on Form 10-Q as filed December 12, 2013. . Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sigma undertakes no obligation to publically release or otherwise disclose the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made as a result of events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.