 Your new post is loading...
Your new post is loading...
DENIVIP Media has been creating video platforms since 2008 (usually in conjunction with services, portals and applications). Over the 4 years of developing ad-hoc video platforms for different projects, we have accumulated a decent expertise and information on many hindrances that are almost inevitable in video projects. In this post, I would like to brief you on how we design video platforms and what drivers have to be taken into account when creating a new or upgrading an old video platform. Also, I would like to note major forthcoming trends in the development of video platforms foreeable for the near future.
Farncombe and Intertrust Technologies have implemented a common encryption system for IP multicast. The move potentially enables IPTV companies to adopt a ‘Simulcrypt’ model over their networks combining both Conditional Access (CA) and Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies, thereby enabling seamless secure content distribution to a variety of devices using different content security solutions. The implementation is the result of a joint development between the two companies. Farncombe carried out the architecture design and integration while Intertrust provided its Content Packaging Tools and Marlin content protection solution. Farncombe says the move will help to remove the barriers dividing the DRM domain, generally used to protect on-demand services, and the CA one, usually limited to securing broadcast services. Intertrust’s Content Packaging Tools are part of a suite of easy-to-use technologies that provide Marlin DRM functionality for services and devices. They allow existing video content to be packaged into the Simulcrypt-compatible Marlin Broadband Transport Stream (BBTS) format.
Fraunhofer IIS, the world’s renowned source for audio and multimedia technologies and BuyDRM, the premiere provider of multiscreen media technologies collaborated with HBO Europe's HBO GO broadband SVOD service to showcase the full potential of the new MPEG-DASH ISO standard. As part of the showcase viewers experienced scenes from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire via an Android phone utilizing built-in AAC surround sound technology from Fraunhofer using BuyDRM’s secure video playback client. In combination with MPEG DASH, Android devices become true and trusted consumer platforms allowing HBO Europe to easily offer content in the most efficient, highest-quality way using the AAC Multichannel solution from Fraunhofer. Subscribers to HBO GO on Android can benefit from foolproof surround sound delivered as easy and convenient as watching a BluRay or DVD. Using a variety of KeyOS technologies, BuyDRM’s MPEG-DASH client implementation provides stutter-free streaming as network conditions change. BuyDRM integrated MPEG-DASH support and Microsoft’s PlayReady DRM in the showcase using MPEG video and audio codecs that ship natively with the new Android 4.1 operating system.
During last week's Video Infrastructure Summit, held in conjunction with Streaming Media Europe, Tim Siglin had yet another opportunity to host an annual panel looking at the state of applications, including streaming servers and platforms. Representatives from five companies—Adobe, Anevia, CodeShop, Microsoft, and RealNetworks—shared insights into their products and applications. The panelists had four questions to answer, and each company contributed equally to the discussion : - What's New in Streaming Servers? - New Features, New Opportunities - Barriers to Adopting MPEG DASH - What's Next in Streaming Servers?
Intertrust Technologies Corporation today released Wasabi Express, a standards-based next generation DRM platform for mobile and desktop applications. Wasabi Express together with the Company’s DRM Cloud Services provides a single solution for service providers that want to distribute content using a Marlin DRM-compliant media player. Service providers, technology solutions providers and developers using Wasabi Express will have access to technologies that enable them to implement new content distribution business models for delivering over-the-top content to mobile and PC platforms. Wasabi Express offers extensive support for download and adaptive streaming media distribution models (including MPEG-DASH and HLS). It also enables content portability and compatibility with other Marlin clients and services. Wasabi Express is protected by tamper resistance technology from Intertrust’s whiteCryption subsidiary. Additional details on Wasabi Express are available at: http://www.intertrust.com/solutions/wasabi_express
TDF Media Services has announced the launch of the first end-to-end HbbTV platform. This new platform for broadcasters and media companies is able to support any kind of video-based hybrid TV services. Thanks to the HbbTV technologies, it is now possible to enrich a live broadcast stream with additional internet content delivered directly through the TV set. The platform is compatible with HbbTV1.1 and HbbTV1.5 and supports both Marlin and Microsoft Playready DRMs. It also provides a full end-to-end solution, including metadata management, video processing, content monetisation. Content Delivery Network provided by SmartJog enables a smooth and very high quality video streaming to all connected devices including HbbTV connected TV sets. Other advanced features have been integrated to enrich the end-user experience, such as a recommendation engine provided by French technology company Cognik, an artificial intelligence engine which selects and proposes relevant content to a specific user.
Deployed Jointly by Abertis Telecom and Nagra, the Live and VOD Multiscreen Cloud Service Leverages Harmonic ProMedia Suite and Nagra MediaLive Multiscreen. Harmonic, the worldwide leader in video delivery infrastructure, today announced that it has teamed up with Nagra, the digital TV division of the Kudelski Group and world's leading independent provider of content protection and multiscreen television solutions, to power an innovative cloud-based OTT video service for broadcasters and pay-TV service providers offered jointly by major Spanish infrastructure telecom operator Abertis Telecom and Nagra. The multiscreen hosting service is already in use by Spanish broadcasters for their HbbTV based services and will be enhanced to become what is expected to be the world's first commercial deployment of MPEG-DASH, a standards-based adaptive streaming protocol that supports multiple DRM systems via common encryption, as well as the first deployment of HbbTV 1.5.
HTTP Live Streaming (HTTP LS) is a protocol strongly recommended and actively promoted by Apple as the best solution for online video delivery to mobile devices. But neither the protocol itself, nor its tools offered by the iOS API, implement a full-fledged DRM support. The new version of Adobe Access 4.0 adds this missing functionality to the iOS-devices.
Now that you intensively crawled through part 1 of this blog-post and asked yourself all the right questions intended to avoid common OTT-traps, we can safely presume that you are ready to spend some (or a lot of) time and money on launching your own multiscreen OTT service. So it’s definitely time to choose your bricks, mortar and trowels... As multiscreen OTT/TV Everywhere offers do proliferate while each video tradeshow approaches and connected devices multiply, it’s difficult to monitor all of them and get a 100% accurate idea on who’s got the best offer. Basically your ideal technical partner will most likely be a unique target depending on your background (telco/content owner/TV channel…), your needs (target devices, business models, time to market…), your workflow constraints (CMS, billing, deployed transcoding engines, already deployed apps…) and your budget. Nevertheless, what I tried to do first is to isolate a list of actors whose offer is end-to-end and sufficiently versatile to cover the most common use cases and devices, then provide a complementary list with actors who provide less information but are also known in this market, and then wrap up the post with a bunch of ideas on how you could DoItYourself with less integrated/locking-in solutions. This way, you will end-up with a complete panorama of available technical solutions in mind.
BuyDRM now has 'more tools in our toolkit,' as it faces an increase in demand for mobile rights management. Today's premium content providers care more about protecting their assets on Apple iOS and Google Android devices than they do on Windows and Macintosh PCs, says Levy. His team hasn't been able to advance their DRM mobile technology as fast as they'd like, but being a part of Inisoft should change that. The industry is changing dramatically, he adds, and DRM needs to support iOS and Android natively. As a result of the acquisition, BuyDRM will no longer be a software-as-a-service offering delivering encryption and licensing, but will expand into a software platform that can offer software agents that enable the delivery of encrypted content.
When we covered Windows Azure Media Services at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show a month ago, one partnership highlighted in the mock-up demonstration that caught our eye was Digital Rapids' new Kayak technology. At this week's Streaming Media East show, we asked Mike Nann, Digital Rapids director of marketing, to expand a bit on the tie between Kayak and Azure. "At NAB, we demonstrated our solutions working with Windows Azure Media Services in two different ways," said Nann. "One way is in the context of Transcode Manager, and one is in the context of the Kayak workflow platform itself. While Kayak is our new workflow platform, Transcode Manager 2.0 is a specific solution built on the much-broader Kayak platform that can also run on Windows Azure." Nann explains that Digital Rapids sees the tie-in to AMS taking on two forms when Transcode Manager 2.0 and Azure Media Services (AMS) are both launched later this calendar year.
As the dust has finally settled from NAB, I’d like to reflect on the key themes we saw from this year’s show : - multi-network, multi-screen video services have continued to serve as “must have” features - Multi-screen security was quite the hot topic - Standards MPEG-DASH, UltraViolet & HTML 5 have made great strides in simplifying life - Future-proofing your network has never been more important in a multi-DRM world.
The HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) consortium has announced the publication of version 1.5 of its hybrid TV specification. Building on existing standards and web technologies, the HbbTV specification provides the features and functionality required to deliver feature rich broadcast and internet TV services. Version 1.5 of the HbbTV specification notably introduces support for HTTP adaptive streaming based on the recently published MPEG-DASH specification, improving the perceived quality of video presentation on busy or slow Internet connections. It also enables content providers to protect DASH delivered content with potentially multiple DRM technologies based on the MPEG CENC specification, improving efficiency in markets where more than one DRM technology will be used. Version 1.5 significantly enhances access to broadcast TV schedule information, enabling operators to produce full seven-day electronic programme guides as HbbTV applications that can be deployed across all HbbTV receivers to provide a consistent user experience. The latest advances are based on activity within the HD Forum in France as part of the development of the TNT 2.0 specification
|
Adaptive streaming protocols need to be integrated with content protection schemes. PlayReady was originally designed to work with Smooth Streaming. It has also been integrated with HLS, which is probably the most popular of the proprietary adaptive streaming schemes. Integration of PlayReady with MPEG-DASH is likely to be viewed as a safe choice, in line with the way the industry is going. That solution came into view this month as BuyDRM and Fraunhofer IIS announced an integration of MPEG-DASH with PlayReady for the HBO GO service in Europe. HBO GO is HBO’s “over the top” service for subscribers.
It is possible to overstate the complexity of multi-screen video, but the absolute number and types of display devices are indeed increasing, which means that efforts to promote standards and greater simplicity address a live concern. A current initiative, playing out within the MPEG-DASH Industry Forum, among other places, to enable digital rights management (DRM) interoperability is a case in point. Building his case for a common downloadable DRM framework that is independent of but compatible with CE devices of all shapes and sizes, Tranter (VP at NDS, now part of Cisco) names three standards that could play a foundational role, namely: * Simulcrypt—the long-standing DVB protocol published by ETSI used to enable multiple key management systems;
* MPEG-DASH—Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), which became an ISO standard in late 2011; and
* UltraViolet—an authentication and cloud-based rights system deployed over the past few years by a consortium of studios, manufacturers and service providers.
Helix v15 offers DASH support for both live and on-demand profiles. More interestingly, it will also offer support for both ISO Base Media File Format (ISO BMFF, or fragmented MP4) as well as MPEG-2 Transport Streams (M2TS). The Helix Client SDK for Android can be used in Android applications to create an end-to-end delivery solution that includes the Helix server and a client app. Interestingly, the Helix SDK can be used to deliver HLS content to Android OS 2.2 and higher. Google has added integral support for HLS in Android OS version 3 or higher, but has not addressed the larger addressable market of pre Android OS 3.0 devices. Finally, Helix has digital rights management (DRM) support for a number of device types, including devices based on several key operating systems: Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows. Real's DRM leans heavily on Verimatrix's DRM solutions, using Verimatrix VCAS for HLS devices—via the ViewRight plug-in—as well as the ViewRight Client on PCs and set-top box devices. In addition, Real says that PlayReady support should be available in an upcoming dot release. HELIX SDK for Android : http://www.realnetworks.com/helix/helix-sdk.aspx
At first glance, I thought UltraViolet was just what I needed to put my movie collection online. I was wrong. UltraViolet sounded good. "UltraViolet is DVD for the Internet. Just as the DVD logo means that you can buy a DVD from any seller and expect it to play in any player with a DVD logo (DVD players, DVD PCs, DVD entertainment systems in automobiles, and so on), the UltraViolet logo means you can buy UltraViolet movies from any seller, keep track of your 'online locker' or 'virtual collection' of movies, and expect them to play on anything with the UltraViolet logo (PCs, tablets, smartphones, Blu-ray players, cable set-top boxes, and so on)." Oh well, lots of things sound good at first.
With EDC Private Cloud, Jeff Malkin, president of Encoding.com, says his company has solved the problem of premium content, finally bringing cloud encoding to major players. The solution includes fast and secure file ingest and upload (with partner Aspera), high-end processors, and vast storage. One key advantage is EDC Private Cloud's ability to move files quickly: Malkin says it can move files five to six times faster than Amazon can from S3 to EC2. EDC Private Cloud offers Dolby Surround Sound audio, Widevine DRM, and UltraViolet compatibility. Besides winning on speed, Malkin asserts that EDC Private Cloud, which uses an automated workflow, also wins on price. In its beta period, he says, it won RFPs with Synacor and Midwest Tape, turning in prices that are 20 percent of current market pricing.
SyncTV, the leader in delivering television services to the largest set of Internet-connected TVs, mobile devices, and other media-enabled devices, today announced it will showcase a Hybrid Broadcasting TV (HbbTV) 1.5 solution demonstration, in conjunction with Harmonic, at International Broadcasting Convention 2012. SyncTV will showcase a live MPEG-DASH demo and multi-screen solution along with TF1 and MStar at IBC 2012 at the Harmonic booth (1.B20). The solution uses Marlin DRM with MPEG-DASH adaptive streaming, and feeds off an industry-leading encoder, developed by Harmonic. By combining HbbTV and Marlin DRM, the standards-based over-the-top (OTT) TV solution offers a flexible platform for streaming broadcast content across multiple screens. Read also : http://intertrust.com/ibc2012_demo
SmarDTV and NAGRA, both Kudelski Group companies and Samsung Electronics today announced that they have successfully combined CI Plus and HbbTV with DRM to enable video-on-demand for over-the-top (OTT) networks directly to iDTVs without the use of a set-top box. The system integrates the popular NAGRA Gravity User Interface running in HbbTV on Samsung 2012 TV models allowing NAGRA PRM protected content be streamed over IP to the TV using adaptive bitrate streaming and then descrambled by the CI Plus SmarCAM module from SmarDTV. The solution is fully compliant with CI Plus v1.3 and uses open standard interfaces including the Open IPTV forum (OIPF) DRM interface.
The evolution of broadcast : HbbTV worldwide deployment status and DRM challenges
Already reaching maturity in Germany, HbbTV is not only set for rollout across Europe but also in other parts of the world, says Adrian Pennington. Despite some criticism from certain quarters, HbbTV has been accepted by Europe’s national broadcasters as a de-facto standard with interest spreading to commercial operators and to other parts of the globe on the back of new DRM and adaptive streaming capabilities. With estimates of 60 million HbbTV compliant TV sets in Western Europe by 2014, HbbTV appears to have settled as a ‘must have’ industry standard. Almost every European country has endorsed and/or adopted the standard, and the remaining countries are trialling HbbTV or have near-term plans to deploy it. Support of multiple DRM with a common encryption will allow service providers to provide secure streaming to HbbTV 1.5 sets, and is a major step in making CTVs useful devices for pay- TV services and VoD. However, warns Jean-Marc Racine, managing partner, Farncombe, retail devices are not pay-TV devices, and the control and maintenance of the security of the device will be a challenge. “The industry has to take it into account and integrate it in its operating mode. This is not yet the case, and HbbTV and the device manufacturers integrating it with DRMs or Ultraviolet are facing similar challenges that will need to be addressed,” he says. READ THE ARTICLE HERE : http://www.digitaltv-labs.com/news_articles/HbbTV_CSImagazine_June12.pdf
Adobe's updated media server takes the focus off Flash and offers enhanced HLS support. But what about DASH? With the ship date just around the corner, what features will make AMS 5 different from FMS 4.5 for Adobe's target customer base? Towes provided a list that highlights Adobe's continued support for Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) for iOS devices: - Protected HLS support via a content license technology embedded in AMS - Additional digital rights management support for HLS using Adobe Access 4 licensing server (a separate purchase) - The ability to segment HLS content for on-demand playback, using an offline HLS segmenting tool, which also supports encryption via Adobe Access 4 - Improvements for HTTP streaming failover and fault toleranceEIA-608 (line 21) closed caption support that will meet FCC requirements Finally, what about MPEG-DASH support? "Adobe is committed to supporting DASH in AMS in the future," says Towes. "Adobe has committed that our video streaming products will support MPEG-DASH, and we were one of the first companies to publicly demo DASH support at NAB this year, but we have not announced a timeline.
VisualOn, Inc., a multimedia software company that provides solutions enabling high quality video and audio on any mobile platform, announced today that it has incorporated MPEG-DASH into the company's mobile media player, OnStream MediaPlayer+. This will allow operators and content providers to employ new multimedia streaming capabilities, including MPEG-DASH streams and components of the OSMP+ framework that allows easy DRM integration. PRODUCT PAGE : http://www.visualon.com/products.php
In an opening day keynote to the Streaming Media East conference in New York City, Matt Frost, senior business product manager for Google Chrome, guided the audience through the past and the possible future of online video. Google's approach to HTML5 solves many of the problems facing content owners today, Frost asserted, explaining how the Chrome team is devoted not only to making sure HTML5 video works well in Chrome, but also in other browsers. Its goal is to improve HTML5 video so that it can fulfill the same role that only Flash plays today. Frost listed key areas where HTML5 needs improving: content protection, adaptive streaming, and captioning. The first two are especially important to premium content owners, he said, and Google is making progress on all three.
NAB 2012 closed its doors two weeks ago, so it’s a good time to draw an appraisal on various themes concerning OTT issues, and especially premium OTT issues, that have been handled through industry technology offer during the tradeshow. Here we’ll go from production to distribution and examine the salient NAB facts and products, at least the ones which have a potential influence on OTT workflows evolution in the coming months (or years ?).
|
![Fraunhofer IIS and BuyDRM Demonstrate First-Ever Surround Sound Player for Android Phone with MPEG-DASH and PlayReady [PR] | Video Breakthroughs | Scoop.it](https://img.scoop.it/XstKs1HSBveYn4cev7TW7Tl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVvK0kTmF0xjctABnaLJIm9)
![Intertrust Introduces Wasabi Express, a Standards-based DRM Platform for DASH/HLS Mobile and Desktop Applications [PR] | Video Breakthroughs | Scoop.it](https://img.scoop.it/CKJjovcQHO3rwqxRVxfeTjl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVvK0kTmF0xjctABnaLJIm9){kind=small}
![VisualOn Integrates MPEG-DASH, providing easy DRM integration [PR] | Video Breakthroughs | Scoop.it](https://img.scoop.it/Pdk726HFFQ-wOyuAMZ3_fjl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVvK0kTmF0xjctABnaLJIm9){kind=small}
