TVkey adds forensic watermarking with NexGuard

TVkey by NAGRA and Samsung adds forensic watermarking with NexGuard

CHESEAUX-SUR-LAUSANNE, Switzerland and SEOUL, Korea — NAGRA, a Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S) company and the world’s leading independent provider of content protection and multiscreen television solutions, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the market leader in home entertainment, have announced NexGuard as the world’s first forensic watermarking solution approved for use with TVkey.

Jointly developed by NAGRA and Samsung, TVkey allows consumers to enjoy premium content directly on new Samsung TV sets through a simple sign-up process with their pay-TV provider and experience high-quality services, including 4K Ultra HD and HDR, using a Samsung TV remote. The system provides the highest level of content protection and the USB dongle offers a fast and secure way for pay-TV operators to bring advanced services directly to new consumer TV sets. TVkey is compatible with newer model Samsung TVs including 2015-2017 Samsung Smart TVs and the Samsung QLED TV lineup.

The TVkey framework is based on a NAGRA-designed root of trust that communicates securely with the TVkey dongle and the TVkey chip in selected Samsung TVs. This creates a secure media path and enables strict enforcement of usage rules as required by Hollywood for the protection of high-value content. NexGuard watermarking will be integrated within the TV itself and be controlled by the service provider through the TVkey dongle.

With the addition of forensic watermarking, TVkey now fully meets all requirements for Enhanced Content Protection specified by MovieLabs, the joint technology venture of the Hollywood studios that advises studios on topics like content protection.

“The integration of NexGuard and other future watermarking technologies into TVkey now enables service providers to license and deliver the highest-value content possible, giving their content providers complete confidence that both their live and on-demand content is in excellent hands,” said Maurice Van Riek, Senior Vice President Content and Asset Security for NAGRA.

“As consumers increasingly demand enriched entertainment experiences that include access to premium video content, it is imperative for content owners that enhanced protection measures such as forensic watermarking are put in place to reinforce security throughout the content’s entire consumption path,” added Maurice Van Riek.

“Samsung remains committed to providing consumers with the best viewing experience of the widest range of content on our television products,” said Hyogun Lee, Executive Vice President, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By incorporating watermarking capabilities into TVkey, the content industry can have full confidence in delivering premium content and services directly to television sets equipped with TVkey.”