The explosion in content and devices we’ve seen with the advent of the new-generation of Pay TV services has brought fresh challenges for operators tasked with managing digital rights and security in the most cost and time efficient way. As the channels for home network delivery diversify, it brings huge benefits for the user but also new risks and new responsibilities for operators in securing content delivered either through the set top box, throughout the home or OTT direct to a multitude of connected devices.
Operators require an approach which not only enables them to deliver a consistently high user experience but also ensures content is delivered securely to all devices in the connected home. Users will quickly switch-off to an experience that blocks them from content, or requires them to re-enter authentication details as they switch between devices within the home.
With Choice Comes Complexity
Delivering a consistent and compelling user experience to every subscriber, across every device and every screen is now a competitive necessity so how can operators close any security gaps so that the overheads of management do not erode profits, whilst offering an experience which will engage rather than alienate their customers?
The challenges are manifold, for example:
– Securing content delivered over different networks to a wide range of devices across both Pay TV and OTT platforms. Operators need one policy which manages different formats providing content protection across all devices as well as the ability to add devices.
– Content portability across different operating systems. Solutions must be simple so that the operator has a consistent method of enforcing content protection across different platforms; Windows8, iOS or Android. Equally, there are different formats of the same content which need to be delivered, from HD and SD to Blu Ray and mobile.
– Usability: consumers require one solution that doesn’t impact on their viewing experiences – which is non ambiguous, allows them to pay once and access content on any device, anywhere. They want a consistent look and feel on their mobile phones, tablets and TV screens. If the user has to authenticate every time they use a different device, there’s a greater risk that they’ll switch off entirely.
Closing the Security Gap
Universal Rights Management (URM) offers a way forward, enabling operators to secure content and manage rights over any network to any type of end-user device including set-top boxes, PC’s, tablets, smartphones, game consoles and connected TV’s. Bridging traditional Conditional Access (CA) and Digital Rights Management (DRM), viewing rights can be tailored to specific content and devices enabling and disabling rights through a single account.
A software based URM solution brings further advantages as it removes the need for smartcards, reducing the cost of ownership and complexity of rights management and operators can more rapidly and effectively respond and react to threats.
URM enables operators of all sizes to compete and deliver a seamless experience in any home across any device without causing resource and management headaches. As the demand for multi-screen viewing continues to escalate, URM will become of increasing strategic importance as freedom of choice and flexibility become the bywords in this new competitive landscape.
