Adobe Pass for TV Everywhere: New Premium Video Authentication Solution Now Available

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
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Secure and Seamless Method for Content Owners and Programmers to Extend Online TV Experiences for Pay TV Subscribers

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the Adobe® Pass service, a new authentication solution that enables pay TV subscribers to easily access premium content from virtually any Internet-connected device. Leveraging the Flash® Platform and HTML5, Adobe Pass allows pay TV providers and content owners alike to deliver a wider range of content on more platforms – including Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Blackberry and Google TV – and ensure a high-quality, secure user experience. Promoted by the broadcast and cable industry as TV Everywhere, Adobe Pass makes it possible for pay TV providers to authenticate their paying subscribers online and provide them with the anytime, anywhere content experiences that audiences crave, taking TV Everywhere from concept to reality.

Adobe Pass creates a seamless way for pay TV subscribers to view content across multiple websites with just one sign in and does not require any additional downloads. This eliminates one of the biggest barriers to TV Everywhere adoption – a complicated validation process that requires many registrations and downloads. Adobe Pass validates a user’s right to pay TV content behind the scenes, requiring no additional user action, while continuing to ensure that access to the content remains protected and secure. The solution leverages the industry leading Flash Platform for a seamless high-quality experience along with Adobe Flash Access® for enhanced security. Adobe Pass also utilizes HTML5 for devices where Adobe Flash technology is not yet available.

“By extending the richness and ubiquity of the Flash Platform to premium TV content, we’re providing pay TV subscribers the capability to view premium content online,” said Pritham Shetty, vice president for Rich Media Solutions, Adobe. “The robust back-end technology of Adobe Pass makes getting premium content online a seamless process for content owners, pay TV providers and most importantly, audiences.”

The Adobe Pass solution enables content providers and programmers to adjust to a changing market – allowing consumers to watch pay TV outside of their living room, while staying committed to a single provider. Industry leaders already working with Adobe Pass include Turner Broadcasting System Inc., MTV Networks, Comcast and Synacor (on behalf of DISH Network’s DISHOnline.com and others).

“With the explosion of new smartphones, tablets and Internet-connected TVs hitting the market over the past months, it is increasingly critical that we’re able to push authenticated content to new devices quickly and easily,” said Jeremy Legg, senior vice president of Business Development and Multi-Platform Distribution, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.). “Adobe Pass makes MVPD integrations more simple, which enables us to get to market quickly and serve customers the content they want, where they want it.”

Flexible business rules in Adobe Pass also allow complete control for content owners. The Flash Access client side security built into Flash Player 10.1 and higher enables fraud prevention by binding the user to their device so limits can be set on devices per household account.