Why Content Protection Must Evolve for IP and Cloud-Based Workflows

There are now more actors attempting to steal content than there are protecting it, shifting the balance of power. Content protection can no longer be confined to a single point in the chain; it must extend across the entire workflow, from ingest through to playback.

License-Layer Security: The Missing Piece in OTT Content Protection

DRM has long been the foundation of OTT content protection — but it was never designed to defend against the way modern piracy actually works. Organized operations have shifted their focus to the license layer, using compromised Content Decryption Modules and automated key extraction tools to decrypt and redistribute content at scale, all while DRM servers process the requests as legitimate. For Tier-1 platforms operating under strict studio licensing agreements and competing for high-value exclusive content, this gap carries real business consequences — from contractual penalties to weakened positioning in rights negotiations — and closing it requires a layer of protection that standard DRM simply doesn't provide.

Case Study: Option Media Builds Trust in Every Transfer

With Signiant, Option Media moves high volumes of media quickly and consistently, reducing transfer failures and eliminating the need to restart interrupted uploads. Signiant's alignment with TPN Gold Shield assessments and advanced access controls help Option Media meet studio-grade security requirements without slowing production. Branded, client-friendly portals make it easy for non-technical users to send and receive content, improving client experience

When Sports Piracy Goes Industrial: Building a Coordinated Defense

For organizations such as LaLiga, the NFL, and the Premier League, the growing sophistication of sports streaming piracy at scale changes how piracy must be addressed. What was once treated as a reactive enforcement issue now requires a coordinated, technology-driven strategy that protects content without degrading the fan experience. Connecting protection, detection, attribution, and enforcement creates a more resilient defense model that can respond at the same speed and scale as modern piracy operations.

Built to Scale? Why Live Sports Need Multicast ABR and a Video-Specialized CDN

Live streaming is rapidly emerging as the primary destination for major sports events, but not without significant challenges. For sports streamers, three imperatives are emerging as critical priorities: scale more efficiently, reduce operational and environmental costs, and secure content against piracy. All while giving fans the high-quality experiences they demand from investing in multiple premium subscriptions.

No Weak Links: Security for Streaming and Remote Production

Traditional broadcast architectures had a large, air-conditioned room in the middle of the building, which contained all the equipment. Getting in there required passing through several security checks. Software-defined architectures and IP connectivity turns this model on its head, with creation, processing and control sited where you need it as a business, not where the hardware tells you.

Securing Sports Streams: How End-to-End Video Platforms Are Combating Piracy

The financial stakes of illegal streaming are enormous, as illegitimate viewership jeopardizes revenue from subscriptions and advertising, threatening the sports ecosystem. With over $60 billion invested annually in global sports media rights, broadcasters and content owners cannot afford to lose audiences to unauthorized platforms. Video service providers must prioritize anti-piracy initiatives to safeguard premium sports streaming content and protect their revenue.

Content Piracy in 2025: Emerging Threats and Strategic Responses

Modern content pirates are smart. They have a deep understanding of the technology used by their victims and of the anti-piracy and cybersecurity solutions built to stop content theft. As we approach 2025, content piracy continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, with pirates leveraging increasingly sophisticated technologies and distribution methods. Robin Boldon of Friend MTS writes that the most effective way to combat it is to anticipate, adapt, and scale techniques to keep pace with the shifting pirate landscape and predict and match pirates' talent for reinvention.

Navigating the Future of AI for Media & Entertainment: Self-disrupt or Self-destruct?

Media and entertainment companies of all sizes struggle to attract and retain audiences eager to find and consume content that interests them. Because content is abundant with too many options to navigate and pay for—and switching costs are low—profitability has eluded many providers. How can media and entertainment companies respond? Many are turning to a new ally: AI.

Instant Replay: Streaming Media Connect November 2023

Streaming Media presented its 12th Connect virtual conference November 13 - 16, with media industry cartographer Evan Shapiro as host and MC. Shapiro kicked off the event with a dynamic keynote, digging deep into the Q3 earnings call data to hold the spin doctors accountable and giving an unvarnished view of the industry. Other highlights included The Future of Streaming with Shobana Radhakrishnan, Senior Director of Engineering at Google TV, and several panels covering topics such as Cloud Workflows for Streaming and CTV, Optimizing Live Streams at Scale, How Codec Patent Pools Will Impact Streaming in 2024, Making Live Streaming and VOD More Accessible, Live Streaming Technology Trends, and more.

Securing the Streamers

Chris Harris, EMEA Technical Director of Thales, discusses the best approaches for enabling DRM to protect intellectual property, such as controlling playback, region locking, and paywall screening.

Amazon To Talk Thursday Night Football at Streaming Media West

Streaming Media West returns to Huntington Beach November 15-16, with Streaming Media University Workshops on November 14. Registration is open now.

Helping Movie Superheroes Face Down the Streaming Pirates

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, movie piracy has grown. Geo-piracy detection can help defeat the pirates, as well as crack down on account sharing.

Behavioral Biometrics: Maturing the Controls Around Streaming

How can organizations tackle the security problem of password-sharing to SVOD services, and how can they accomplish this without damaging customer experience?

How the IP Media Trust Boundary Brings Security Back to the Center of IP Media Technology

The broadcasting industry can finally benefit from IP media workflows without compromises. The IP Media Trust Boundary removes complexity and renders security a competitive advantage rather than a vulnerability. Media companies are finally able to secure individual streams in hybrid media and mixed IP domain environments. Welcome to the age of secure IP media technology.

Where Are the Women in the Streaming Media Industry?

A look at any conference program—including our own—makes it clear: It's long past time for the streaming media industry to take the gender imbalance seriously, and to identify and address the root issues—not just the optics.

Submit Your Nominations Now for the 2021 Streaming Media 50 List

Want to make sure your company is considered for our annual list of the most important, innovative, and interesting companies in the online video space? Read on, and send in your nominations by August 27.

The 2020 Streaming Media Readers' Choice Winners

26 categories. 220 nominations. More than 25,000 votes. Who took home the big prizes in this year's Streaming Media Readers' Choice Awards? Read on.

Understanding the Serious Game of Piracy

Pirated video is a billion-dollar industry in the United States. Here's a look at who's behind it—and how to stop them.

The 2020 Streaming Media 50 Coming in June

Want to make sure your company is considered for our annual list of the most important, innovative, and interesting companies in the online video space? Read on.