MultiChoice has deployed GeoComply Solutions’ GeoGuard VPN and proxy detection solution in a bid to combat content piracy.
The implementation of GeoGuard onto MutiChoice’s DStv’s app has led to the blocking of “tens of thousands” of pirate viewers each month. At the same time the creation of suspicious user accounts has virtually been eliminated.
“As for all OTT broadcasters, geo-piracy is a major concern, and it was a real coup when we deployed GeoGuard and quickly achieved a great return on investment,” said Greg van Wyngaard, Senior Engineer at MultiChoice’s Connected Video division. “We have been impressed by GeoGuard – it works seamlessly in the background to safeguard our content for legitimate users, ensures territorial exclusivity and helps us comply with our content distribution obligations with rights owners. From an OTT broadcaster perspective, the cost savings and efficiency it’s providing in our streaming infrastructure is a huge bonus.”
“While many OTT operators know that pirates weigh down their infrastructure – and cost them money to boot – it is hard to calculate the full impact until the pirates are blocked,” said James Clark, Director of Global Sales, GeoComply (pictured). “With GeoGuard, MultiChoice has cut geo-piracy and account sharing dramatically and realised impressive savings on infrastructure costs. Plus, it can now support more than double the number of concurrent users for live-streamed events, resulting in a better quality of experience for its paying subscribers.”
GeoGuard is independently rated by Kingsmead Security as 99.6% effective in detecting VPNs and DNS proxies.