The emergence of multiscreen television and the TV anywhere concept has forced a reappraisal by operators and CA vendors alike on how they manage and protect their content.
CA itself as a term as been pushed back in favour of security, which for Nagra shows itself in the new Anycast suite of security solutions launching at IBC 2014. It combines security for broadcast, IPTV and OTT networks into a single Security Services Platform (SSP). Significantly, it also works with third-party DRM systems when required in order to provide a single interface for subscriber management and product definition.
“We think the market has clearly reached the point where almost everyone we work with is a multi-network operator, whether it’s broadcast and OTT, or if its multiple content offerings each of which requires a different protection strategy,” Christopher Schouten, senior marketing manager, Nagra, told Broadband TV News. “You’re going to have to perhaps manage multiple DRMs for your subscribers to watch all the content you’re offering them on. It’s about managing risk, managing complexity.”
Previously a patchwork of different systems have been required to accommodate content delivery to various different types of devices. CAS for broadcast, Nagra PRM for PC/Mac and iOS/Android, and third-party DRM for connected TVs and game consoles. Nagra’s plan is to simplify that by allowing service providers to address all those devices using a single SSP, but recognising that each device may require a different security client.
One of the difficulties for the security companies to manage is that while the content may be completely secure, there are still those people willing to pull that secure signal from the platform and rebroadcast it, illegally, over the internet. Nagra is working with the operators to try and best protect them against near impossible circumstances.
“It’s not strictly our responsibility, but if you look at the shift in the conversation that we’re trying to create, by starting to refer to this area not as content security, but as media risk management,” says Schouten. “You have to protect the content with technology, but that’s no longer enough, you have to provide anti-piracy services in order to be able to conquer the problem of content sharing.”
In Latin America Kudelski Security has been working with The Alianza contra Piratería de Televisión Paga, a group of content providers, pay-TV broadcasters and technology providers to look at the problem – not all of them customers – but sharing a collective interest. “This isn’t start from scratch consultancy, but the decades of experience we’ve had in the area, and this is the next evolution, says Schouten.
The distinctiveness of the two offerings between Nagra and Conax are beginning to become apparent. Nagra itself continues to focus on the larger bespoke solutions, while Nagra technology is beginning to make its presence felt in the expanding Conax line. Schouten says further synergies will become visible over the next six months.
On the Nagra stand a touchscreen demo will highlight both the consultancy and the Nagra Anycast under the banner Entertainment Protected.
Open TV 5 including the latest implementations and the 4K user experience are also on display.
