TMCnet News
Siemens to Integrate Widevines Video Content Protection with its SURPASS Home Entertainment SolutionTMCnet Associate Editor Siemens Communications has reportedly inked a deal with Widevine Technologies for the development of an advanced IPTV (News - Alert) content protection solution.
As per the agreement, Siemens (News - Alert) will integrate Widevine’s Cypher content protection system with its SURPASS Home Entertainment solution to create a state-of-the-art forensic digital watermarking solution. Both companies claim that the combined solution will give IPTV service providers more options in protecting premium video content from piracy. “The challenge is not only providing a broadband operator with a great IPTV solution, but also ensuring that a robust content protection system is tightly integrated with that solution,” said Brian Baker, CEO of Widevine, in a company press release. “The agreement enables Widevine to continue to work with Siemens to provide a scalable and mature content protection system, critical for enabling operators to acquire premium broadcast and VOD content.” Widevine’s increasingly popular content protection solution (now used by more than 90 operators, worldwide) uses hardware and software-based encryption to protect digital video content. The Seattle-based, privately held company claims the studio- and broadcaster-approved solution can be used with any network infrastructure, protocols or compression technologies. Widevine invented the downloadable, software-based Cypher Virtual SmartCard client, which enables operators to combat piracy on set-top boxes, personal video recorders and other devices within the home. Widevine claims the Cypher SmartCard protects more IP video set-top boxes and devices in the industry than any other solution. Siemens’ SURPASS Home Entertainment solution is an end-to-end IPTV content protection system which is now deployed with more than 80 operators worldwide. The solution helps service providers increase subscriber revenue by enabling them to offer a range of IP-based video and on-demand entertainment offerings. Based on an open architecture, the solution helps ensure interoperability with all parts of the IPTV content delivery chain, and helps broadband operators to quickly and cost-effectively deploy IPTV services. It also provides back-office management tools, as well as building blocks for the convergence of entertainment, communications and smart home solutions. According to the press release, several contracts are now pending with Widevine’s content protection solution integrated within the SURPASS Home Entertainment portfolio. “Providing true choice and flexibility to IPTV service providers is a hallmark of the SURPASS Home Entertainment portfolio,” said Chris Coles, CEO of Siemens Home Entertainment, in the release. “Through work with companies such as Widevine, Siemens meets today’s market requirements with its capability to integrate industry-leading solutions. Based on the integration and interoperability between Siemens and Widevine, we are excited to extend this solution to our global market.” Widevine made news last week when Cisco Systems (News - Alert) and Telus announced they would be joining several venture capital firms to invest $16 million in the company, bringing the total amount of financing in Widevine to $62 million. Analysts said the recent investment deal brings a big boost to the 75-person company and its global expansion efforts. The investment came right after Baker rebuffed an offer from Microsoft (News - Alert) Corp., which recently introduced its own video content protection solution. Widevine, which was founded in 1999, has attracted a lot of interest lately as cable, satellite, Internet and telephone companies debate over how people should receive digital television broadcasts and movies. In a recent published report, Baker said Widevine has become an “arms dealer” in the war against copyright infringement, selling its encryption technology to carriers both large and small. Included on Widevine’s customer list is CenturyTel, one of the biggest cable companies in the U.S. According to published reports, Widevine’s revenue more than doubled to $12 million last year - and Baker anticipates it will double again this year. As more video content moves online and to portable devices such as iPods, movie studios and television broadcasters are demanding that strict content security systems be put in place. Analysts have said Cisco’s backing of Widevine is a big deal, not only because Cisco is a major supplier of networking equipment to cable and telephone companies, but also because of its recent acquisition of set-top box maker Scientific-Atlanta (News - Alert). Baker confirmed in a published report that Widevine’s content protection technology will soon be added to Scientific-Atlanta set-top boxes. ------- Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page. |