The worldwide content distribution industry - from traditional cable, telco and satellite TV providers to the growing number of direct-to-consumer (DTC) players - will go through a transformation phase in the coming years. As digital transformation and greater consumer choice take hold, existing offerings have to rush to keep up with new entrants, differentiating themselves to create a compelling offering for the consumer.
Part of that offering has and continues to be the range of content they give to consumers, and that has relied on partnerships with the content owners. However, as the owners, such as HBO and Disney launch their own services, they're increasingly reserving that content for themselves. Disney for example, has pulled its content from Netflix, encouraging consumers to sign up and get access its movies.
But with so many providers, consumers are forced to effectively create their own bundles - often at greater cost than if it was still available through one provider. For some this content stacking will simply be too expensive, and they will look for substitutes - including pirate services. The problem is that, until operators re-aggregate and re-bundle content and services that can be more cost-effective to the consumer, the issue will only get worse as consumers will just pick up their smartphones, search for what they want to watch and find illicit options.
And it's not just lone wolves, sharing with their friends. Commercial pirates pose a two-pronged threat of stealing the content and enticing subscribers away with cheap offerings that mimic legitimate pay-TV services. Usually found as apps on Android devices, or even on set-top boxes and smart TVs available to purchase in store, pirate services can look legitimate to the average user, making this the real competition as they steal the content for free while enticing subscribers away from legitimate services.
The problem doesn't lie with one type of content either, now that we are fully operating in a globally-connected consumer market, where the internet can be easily misused by pirates. But that doesn't mean it all has the same value, live and premium shows will obviously have greater value for consumers and therefore for the pirates too. Even free-to-air is at risk as, when stolen, pirates can remove advertising or time restrictions, all packaged in what appears to be a convenient service for subscribers.
According the 2019 Pay-TV Innovation Forum, industry executives estimate that 17 percent of households worldwide now use illegal TV services on a regular basis, up from 11 percent in 2017. This significant acceleration in pirate services consumption is driven by apps and devices that can give easy access to the so-called grey-market services, which creates a business risk for the whole content creation industry. Ultimately, it hurts the consumer too, as operators and content providers will have less finance to develop new shows.
And, like the open internet, piracy doesn't recognise country borders, meaning containing international distribution rights is also an issue. Saturday afternoon football distributed in the USA are re-streamed back to Europe and around the world - all for free. With live sports one of the most expensive and greatest revenue generators, such activities are a major thorn in operators' sides, and anyone around the world is potentially at risk of having their content stolen. And, with the growth of 5G, executives expect to see this trend continue according to the Global Market for Premium Sports OTT Services report. As content security specialists, we're seeing the growing trend of innovative pirate services stealing content and subscribers, and it's clear that content owners and distributors should be concerned. Not that security technology isn't used, but the new nature of pirate services is calling for a holistic response that goes beyond what has been done in the past.
For the casual pirates, a mix of hardware and software solutions, from encryption technology in chipsets, to an intelligence-based approach comprising of content watermarking, monitoring and taking down infringing services, can prove powerful deterrents.
For the more organised criminal groups stronger actions is required, focusing on a three-pronged, intelligence-based approach that focuses on:
Identifying and shutting down leaks using technologies such as watermarking, which adds an invisible digital signature' to the content that enables us to track any illegal redistribution
Monitoring streaming servers and removing any illegal services with the help of hosting companies
Disrupting pirate services through blocking access to specific servers needed by the pirates
From our experience, we believe that all stakeholders such as content owners, governments, service providers and consumer groups all have a part to play in addressing the piracy problem. Through challenging the pirates from multiple angles such as, investing in consumer education, legislation and anti-piracy technologies alongside creating smart packages of products which address consumer needs, should create a landscape which is increasingly difficult for pirates to operate.
We need to come together. Addressing the piracy challenge has now become an executive level issue for the technology, media and telecoms industries. It is no longer a question of asking should I do something? but am I doing the right thing? and is this being reviewed on a consistent basis that will ensure my business model is being preserved?
As we stated in a recent Newsweek article: All valuable content is at risk. Consumers want to have access to content, and if they cant, they just pick up their phones and search for it. Competing with free is just not sustainable.
Europe Stories
05/08/2020
ICVFX Delivers Australias First Full Service LED Virtual Production Solution
Sydney, Australia
|
August 5, 2020...
05/08/2020
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, Galaxy Note20 5G and Galaxy Tab S7 5G available to pre-order
Save £360 on 25GB data plan with Unlimited Calls & Texts
Sky M...
05/08/2020
BACKENTERTAINMENT ONE CELEBRATES 17 NOMINATIONS FOR THE 35TH STELLAR GOSPEL MUSI...
05/08/2020
BACKDR. DRES TRAILBLAZING DEBUT ALBUM THE CHRONIC TO BE AVAILABLE GLOBALLY ACROS...
05/08/2020
BACKMONDO COZMO SHARES NEW MEDICINE VIA LAST GANG RECORDSLATEST SINGLE UPSIDE DOWN ON CURRENT ROTATION SIRIUS ALT NATION
THE MONDO COZMO RADIO SHOW, LATEST E...
05/08/2020
BACKENTERTAINMENT ONE WITH PARTNER ENTOTAL SIGN COMEDIAN STEVE TREVI O TO MANAG...
05/08/2020
BACKACE FREHLEY ANNOUNCES ORIGINS VOL. 2 DETAILS, EXTENDS ALBUM DEAL WITH ENTERT...
05/08/2020
BACKBlack Soprano Family (Benny The Butcher, Rick Hyde & Heem) Release New Gangs...
05/08/2020
Written on 05 Aug 2020
New C-Band satellites when launched in 2022 will enable delivery of 5G services as well as the uninterrupted delivery of digital televi...
05/08/2020
Written on 05 Aug 2020
U.S.-based United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket ...
05/08/2020
First UK newsroom to achieve certification
By Jenny Priestley
Published: August 5, 2020
First UK newsroom to achieve certification
target=_blank title=Sh...
05/08/2020
Ikegami announces UHL-F4000 Separate-Optics Compact Multi-Role 4K HDR Camera posted: 05/08/2020
Ikegami announces a new addition to its range of broadcast...
05/08/2020
PXW-FS7 II shoots 4K HDR inside worlds largest cave posted: 05/08/2020
Our objective was to faithfully reproduce what we experienced the wide dynamic ran...
05/08/2020
PWL Gets Lucky with Wheel of Fortune posted: 05/08/2020
The series was recorded in Studio 1 at Videohouse in Vilvoorde and aired on SBS's VIER channel...
05/08/2020
Sky Sports has announced new debate show, Cancelled: Women's sport & the impact of COVID-19' airing on Thursday 12 August at 8pm. The show will look at...
05/08/2020
Fox Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2020 Financial Resul...
05/08/2020
While homebound during the pandemic, people are often turning to television and movies as a form of escapism. But creator, writer, and composer Firas Abou Fakhe...
05/08/2020
ITV extends exclusive free to air racing until 2023
ITV has today announced it will continue as the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster of British horse racing u...
05/08/2020
Soccer Aid for Unicef returns to Old Trafford this September
Soccer Aid for Unicef has today announced that the world's biggest charity football match will...
05/08/2020
NAGRA Multi-DRM asegurar los servicios de transmisi n en dispositivos para cons...
05/08/2020
NAGRA Multi-DRM to secure streaming services on consumer devices in partnership ...
05/08/2020
August 03, 2020 INCHEON, REPUBLIC OF KOREA - To provide patrons an enhanced wor...
04/08/2020
Nokia to set up robotics lab at Indian Institute of Science for research on soci...
04/08/2020
Nokia selected by Asia Pacific Telecom as sole 5G (NSA/SA) vendor
Press Release
Nokia selected by Asia Pacific Telecom as sole 5G (NSA/SA) vendor
Exclusiv...
04/08/2020
FOH and Monitor Engineers Call on d:facto 4018VL and 4099 CORE to Deliver Big, Warm Rhythmic Sound.
LOS ANGELES In Hip Hop and R&B, it can be difficult to f...
04/08/2020
As an accomplished A1 for almost 20 years now, Canada-based Patrick Castonguay loves the challenge of being creative with every live mix he produces. He's w...
04/08/2020
RT Media Sales today announced AIB as the sponsor of ReIGNITE on RT Radio 1 commencing Saturday 1st August, 10am 11am.
Presented by Aine Kerr ReIGNITE the ...
04/08/2020
Many major events across the country have been cancelled this year. However that has not stopped Irish people everywhere from joining in to create virtual and o...
04/08/2020
Lagard re Travel Retail opens a new Aelia Duty Free shop at Cagliari airport
Lagard re Travel Retail is pleased to announce that a new Aelia Duty Free Shop ...
04/08/2020
In partnership with Apple, Oprah Winfrey is unveiling the newest selection for Oprah's Book Club, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkers...
04/08/2020
PT SportSuite Delivers 3 Team Cricket Solidarity Cup Live Stream with AJA HELO posted: 04/08/2020
Sports fans have eagerly awaited the return of sport throu...
04/08/2020
Robe Supports NeFestival in Ostrava posted: 04/08/2020
Colours of Ostrava is usually the largest multi-genre live music and performance festival in the Cz...
04/08/2020
#LetTheMusicPlay posted: 04/08/2020
Our industry is in need of urgent support! Almost 6 months ago we watched our busy work calendars empty & now our ware...
04/08/2020
126 SE Audiotechnik speakers at EV EDM Festival, Shanghai Happy Valley posted: 04/08/2020
SE Audiotechnik is exclusive PA partner for the EV EDM Festival ...
04/08/2020
Ross and ARET Deliver New 4K-UHD OB Van for Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events C...
04/08/2020
#LightItInRed Supports #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Campaign posted: 03/08/2020
UK-based grassroots campaign initiative #LightItInRed is part of the 11th Augus...
04/08/2020
CONCERT TOURING INDUSTRY UNITES TO LAUNCH COVID-19 WORKING GUIDANCE posted: 03/08/2020
Professionals from across the global concert touring industry have ...
04/08/2020
Green Hippo performs for Don Giovanni posted: 04/08/2020
Don Giovanni at Stockholms Berwaldhallen
Hippotizer Media Servers from Green Hippo, the specialist...
04/08/2020
Houserasten's Forest Showcase in Germany Showcases DJ Morten Heuer with Clay...
04/08/2020
Pick & Go: a new global food-to-go concept by Lagard re Travel Retail
Lagard re Travel Retail introduces Pick & Go, a new global catering offer available to...
04/08/2020
Hit UK format Beat The Chasers comes to find Australia's smartest
Seven today announced Beat The Chasers, a primetime special event series that supercharge...
04/08/2020
Today, transport is the second largest source of global CO2 emissions and currently contributes nearly a quarter of all global emissions. Within this, commercia...
04/08/2020
X-Rite i1Pro 3 Plus and i1iO Now Support Automated Transmission Profiling for Ba...
03/08/2020
In a brand new Sky Original series to mark the launch of Sky Arts as a free-to-a...
03/08/2020
3 August 2020 Pineapple on pizza, surf & turf and chocolate & chilli voted top quirky combinations
Delicious or disgusting? - study lifts the lid on the most d...
03/08/2020
MUX22 helps GB4D build versatile streams for Grand Concert de Paris posted: 03/08/2020
Once again BroaMan and Optocore network devices were deployed to ma...
03/08/2020
ITV Charts IP-based Future with Clear-Com posted: 03/08/2020
Broadcaster rolls out IP wireless intercom and communications system across entire operation ...
03/08/2020
"He Luting" Starting Up, SMT Magic Digital Studio Leads 8K Panoramic Sound Film ...
03/08/2020
£54 million regeneration project aims to transform the iconic Littlewoods Building into a new home for film and TV productions
By Jenny Priestley
Published: A...
The worldwide content distribution industry - from traditional cable, telco and satellite TV providers to the growing number of direct-to-consumer (DTC) players - will go through a transformation phase in the coming years. As digital transformation and greater consumer choice take hold, existing offerings have to rush to keep up with new entrants, differentiating themselves to create a compelling offering for the consumer.
