Sydney – Video Ezy, Australia’s video and DVD rental chain store will roll out an IPTV platform and set-top box (STB) software to deliver electronic video rental services to more than 1,000 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The electronic rental service will include an in-store kiosk with movie library, a branded USB or iPod-type storage system and an in-home Java-based STB software. Users have to plug the USB or iPod into the kiosk to rent the content for playback on the Java STB software. IPTV delivery solutions specialist Digisoft will provide the IPTV platform and STB software. The STB software provides a range of features including encryption and watermarking technologies, as well as support for high definition, and eliminates the need for traditional middleware to lower cost of ownership, and speed up returns for providers. Video Ezy runs 500 stores in Australia, 161 in New Zealand, 130 in Thailand, 143 in Indonesia, 29 in Singapore, 12 in Malaysia and three in Fiji. October 2007 saw Video Ezy acquire the master franchise rights for the Blockbuster home entertainment stores to add 360 stores to its portfolio, to total 900 stores in Australia.