11
NEWS & VIEWS
August 2015
4K Ultra HD content demands
strong content protection
PHOENIX – As high-resolution
premium video, including 4K Ultra
HD (UHD), is a fast-growing market,
content protection services must
follow suit with adaptability and
preparedness for the expanding
space, suggested ABI Research in
its Set-Top Box and Home Networks,
and Multi-screen Video Middleware
and DRM reports.
Eric Abbruzzese, research ana-
lyst at ABI Research, explained: “4K
UHD TV penetration is expected
to reach 61% in North America
by 2020, which is higher than ex-
pected. Along with TVs, browser
and application-based streaming
services will continue to roll out 4K
UHD content at a quickening rate,
creating an expanding marketplace
filled with premium content from
studios that demand strong con-
tent protection.”
According to ABI Research,
guidelines for proper 4K UHD
content protection rely on deep
hardware-level integration of
security measures in combination
with software security, to create
an end-to-end secure system from
publishing to consumption.
This, ABI Research added, in-
volves dedicated space on an SoC;
Hardware Root of Trust and Trusted
Execution Environments (TEEs) will
mean stronger security, but also
reliance on new hardware. Legacy
hardware, including set-top boxes
(STBs), smart TVs, desktops and
mobile devices, could potentially
face difficulties with being sup-
ported in 4K UHD-compliant se-
curity set-ups. On top of hardware
security, technologies like forensic
watermarking are expected to be
implemented for copyright and
source identification.
The overall video market’s
continuing focus on multi-screen
also means there are many more
factors to consider for security
than in years past. In ad-
dition to more devices in
general, there are many
more device types to be
considered and supported in the
security system, while the impor-
tance of end-to-end security adds
another layer of difficulty.
Due to the large number of
parties involved, including chipset
vendors, content studios and
consumer electronics manufac-
turers, deploying an acceptable
content protection scheme can
be much more challenging, ABI
Research cautioned. Video de-
livery companies have had to
Outlook for B&MT sector remains positive
GLOUCESTERSHIRE – Recent
reports from the International As-
sociation of Broadcasting Manu-
facturers (IABM) have indicated
that sales and profitability across
the broadcast and media technol-
ogy (B&MT) sector will continue
to grow.
The IABM Benchmark report
reinforces the positive findings of
the IABM Industry Index concern-
ing profitability. The IABM Industry
Index is released quarterly, and
covers the performance of more
than 70 companies in the North
American and European B&MT
sectors, providing like-for-like
comparisons to track emerging
trends. The Benchmark report,
released half yearly, delves deeper
into company accounts and creates
a series of benchmark parameters,
which enable IABM member com-
panies to evaluate their own per-
formance within the B&MT sector
and related sectors.
The IABM Industry Index high-
lights a positive overall perfor-
mance in terms of profitability and
sales over the period considered.
However, the overall result con-
ceals the long-standing disparity
in returns between large and small
companies. Small companies, ac-
cording to IABM, are still struggling
with the technological upheaval
characterising the industry, al-
though they have reported better
numbers in the latest edition of
the report.
The IABM Benchmark report,
added the IABM, provides further
evidence that the B&MT sector
is performing well financially,
compared to similar compara-
tive industries. Measured over a
period of six months, the findings
also indicated that companies are
increasing their product offerings
through increased R&D spending
and the hiring of new sales staff.
Lorenzo Zanni, research ana-
lyst at IABM, said: “The growth
trend is still evident in these latest
reports, with strong performances
in both sales and profitability. Year
on year, the success of the B&MT
sector is underpinned by its ability
to innovate, [and] we’re seeing a
LESS REALLY IS MORE
As 4K Ultra
continues to gain prominence,
operators need to pay more attention
into acquiring strong content
protection.
address this growth across their
platforms with modular offerings
to support multiple use-case types.
With 4K UHD content looming,
modularity in content protection
is equally important, ABI Research
concluded.
❝ Year on year, the
success of the broadcast
and media sector is
underpinned by its ability
to innovate, [and] we’re
seeing a significant rise
in new offerings and
companies are investing
more on R&D, selling and
marketing. ❞
— Lorenzo Zanni, Research Analyst, IABM
significant rise in new offerings and
companies are investing more on
R&D, selling and marketing.
“The results seen in the latest
Industry Index are a testimony
to talent and hard work shown
by everyone connected with the
industry, and we expect more
positive results in the latter stages
of 2015.”
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