I recently presented at the Harmonic Live event with Stephane Cloirec about the changing landscape of linear channel distribution and the evolutions that this once well-established distribution chain is currently witnessing.
With primary distribution evolving due to spectrum constraints - for example to free up bandwidth to deploy new services like 5G - a change in approach was inevitable. Further, if we also consider streaming a mainstream distribution network, which some will predict will become larger than broadcast, further adaptation is required. Both of these shifts have created a need for a whole new set of security requirements which not only reflect today's cyber threats but also those of the ever-evolving technology landscape.
Let's take first the contribution end of the content distribution chain. Here, todays off the shelf servers provide even more power than what was previously achieved via custom equipment that included Professional IRDs with ProCAMs and smartcards. Today, distributors benefit by being able to use these off the shelf servers with integrated SIM card technology which allows each server to manage a significantly higher number of services than was previously the case with the equivalent ProCAM and IRD whose maximum was much lower. Not only does this new approach deliver a cost saving benefit to service operators - without any compromise on security - but it also makes the process of distribution far more efficient.
But once the affiliate has downlinked their content and before they distribute it further, the propensity for content theft or leaks increases so how can this be addressed without leaving any security gaps in the distribution chain? The answer is an integrated video watermarking solution. This will ensure that any leaks can be detected as the content progresses through primary and then secondary distribution.
For example, if at a primary distribution level, we know that content is being distributed in France then at a secondary distribution level, we can add the distribution path such as cable or IPTV etc. within the body of the imperceptible video watermark. This then allows the content distributors to identify at a macro-level where they are seeing higher level of leaks per distribution path. At a business level, this allows data-driven decisioning such as balancing licensing income versus piracy risk which in turn may affect which networks the content is licensed for.
This of course is great from a content distribution perspective but once the valuable content is distributed to consumers, the risk of theft increases again and therefore additional levels of leak detection and associated traitor-tracing measures are required. Forensic Watermarking has a further role to play during this final phase of distribution to monitor content leaks on the multitude of devices that are used by today's consumers. At an aggregate level, this also means video service operators can also identify any particular types of device that are leak-prone alongside more granular information such as the location of the leak and the subscriber ID. This equips the video service provider with all the necessary information to traitor-trace the illicit use and can ultimately end in them revoking the subscribers account or pursuing legal action.
We've discussed here how watermarking, and in particular products such as NexGuard NetworkID and NexGuard Streaming have a key role to play in the content distribution chain. As a key tool in the fight against content leaks, the power of video watermarking is its ability to identify not only which affiliate and then network type the leak has been detected on but also really zoom in on the offending subscriber. This end-to-end distribution chain level of insight, when joined together with some of our other Active Streaming Protection offerings such as Anti-Piracy services, allows for the rapid identification of content theft and the associated traitor-tracing to enable the necessary remedial action to be taken.
NAGRA and Harmonic have created a joint solution to leverage our security know-how and their flexible software-based encoders and receivers, including Harmonic XOS / VOS for linear ABR encoding. We discussed this further in the recent webinar that I mentioned at the start of this blog and it can be watched here.
NAGRA works with organisations across the content contribution and distribution chain to help secure their content against increasing risks of theft and leaks. To continue the conversation and learn how you could join them, why not contact us here; we're looking forward to hearing from you!
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
I recently presented at the Harmonic Live event with Stephane Cloirec about the changing landscape of linear channel distribution and the evolutions that this once well-established distribution chain is currently witnessing.
