Microsoft has integrated Harmonic’s ProMedia Origin and ProMedia X Origin multiscreen media servers into its PlayReady digital rights management (DRM) system.
Playready enables content consumption via browsers and/or apps running most major mobile operating systems, including Windows, iOS, Android and Linux. In addition to mobile devices, it can be used in a range of consumer electronic devices, including implementation for game consoles, Blu-ray and DVD players, smart TVs, set-top boxes and other products.
Last month, Microsoft added Playready as a DRM option for its Azure Media Services; Azure had been offering only AES for DRM.
Harmonic’s ProMedia Origin and ProMedia X Origin were designed to provide content protection solution for live and time-shift TV, cloud DVR and VOD OTT services, also on a similar range of connected devices, including mobile phones, tablets, game consoles and set-tops.
The combination of ProMedia Origin solutions with Microsoft PlayReady, Harmonic said, can enable video content and service providers to distribute secure content to a wide range of devices via a single DRM technology. That can significantly reduce the time to market for while minimizing workflow complexity and points of failure, the vendor added.
“Consumer demand for OTT multiscreen services continues to grow at a rapid pace, making it challenging for content owners and service providers to protect and deliver content to an increasing array of platforms and device types,” said Chris Santini, director media strategy, Microsoft. “This technology collaboration plays off the strengths of both companies, simplifying the security and delivery of live, VOD, and cloud DVR services while ensuring enhanced protection of high-value content.”
Microsoft’s PlayReady technology includes a variety of features for live TV applications including key rotation, which is designed to provide more robust content protection for OTT multiscreen services, while simplifying operations, minimizing service interruption, and reducing costs.
ProMedia Origin and ProMedia X Origin are software-based all-in-one media servers that support the industry’s leading OTT standard protocols, such as Apple® HLS, Adobe® HDS, Microsoft Smooth Streaming, and MPEG-DASH, to enable high-volume, live, adaptive bitrate streaming and the delivery of time-shifted services such as catch-up TV, start-over TV, and cloud DVR to connected devices. By providing video content and service providers with a comprehensive multiscreen media server, they dramatically reduce rack space, simplify workflows, and maximize cost savings.
