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Importance of Multi-DRM for Media Service Platforms

Consumers now use many different types of platforms to watch their favourite online content. This makes multi-DRM a must for every online platform looking to enhance their reach. Read this post to know what is multi-DRM and how it can benefit media service platforms.

While the demand for premium online content has been consistently rising in the past few years, content creators and media service platforms are gravely concerned about the security of their content. Illegal distribution and downloads continue to be a major problem in the digital world, and piracy-related losses are severely impacting the revenue and growth of online platforms.

While Digital Rights Management is a step in the right direction, the different types of platforms used by consumers require media platforms to use multi-DRM. Let us have a look at what multi-DRM is and how it can benefit media service platforms-

What is Multi-DRM?

Multi-DRM has a lot to do with all the different types of platforms used by consumers to watch their online content. This is not just limited to mobile phones but even the browser, operating system, and video player. All these different platforms now have their native DRM embedded into them. For instance, Android devices have Widevine, iOS has FairPlay, and Windows phone uses PlayReady.

Similarly, the premium video content created nowadays already has DRM deployed on to them. But if the DRM of the platform used for streaming such video content does not support the DRM of the content, a viewer might not be able to watch the video.

While the content creators have the option of creating a copy of their content with each of the popular DRM technologies, this is generally an expensive affair. This makes it necessary for media service platforms to make use of multi-DRM licensing so that their content can be viewed across platforms.

Benefits of Multi-DRM

With the help of multi-DRM, media platforms can experience a host of benefits such as-

  • Lower encryption cost as fewer encryption process is adequate for multiple native DRM technologies
  • DRM client licensing fee can be avoided as native DRM technology is generally free on native platforms
  • Helps in reducing the storage costs as only two copies (DASH for PlayReady and Widevine, HLS for FairPlay) of the content can be used across multiple platforms

Rise of Cloud-Based Multi-DRM

The massive proliferation of cloud computing has also increased the demand for cloud-based multi-DRM service providers. As compared to traditional DRM licensing services, cloud-based DRM services are known to be easily deployable and more affordable.

The services generally support all the popular DRMs, including PlayReady, Widevine, FairPlay, etc. making them an excellent option for media service platforms looking to deploy DRM for increasing the security of their online content.

For enhanced safety, some of the service providers also integrate forensic watermarking into their licensing service. With the help of forensic watermarking, content creators and distributors can avoid and track misuse of their content.

Balancing Growth and Security with Multi-DRM

While OTT delivery of content is rising, it is getting increasingly complex for the content platforms to deliver their content securely. Moreover, consumers want video services to work flawlessly across the platforms they use. Any unpleasant experience with regards to the playback might encourage consumers to switch to a different online platform, resulting in losses for the platform owners.

With the help of multi-DRM, content platforms can ensure that their secure content works seamlessly across platforms and offers a consistent experience to the consumers. Look for cloud-based multi-DRM licensing service to know more about how the technology works and how it can help you.

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