Verimatrix Announces Support of Microsoft PlayReady DRM for VCAS 3.0 MultiRights Solution

Monday, September 13th, 2010
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Revenue Security Specialist Licenses PlayReady to Extend Digital TV Operators’ Multi-Screen Services

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — IBC2010, Stand #4.B84 — Verimatrix, the specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-screen digital TV services around the globe, today announced it has licensed Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) PlayReady Server technology in order to provide integrated MultiRights™ support for devices that support Microsoft PlayReady digital rights management (DRM). As a component of the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) 3, the company’s MultiRights™ framework enables transparent rights management across a range of networks and devices for streamlined multi-network and multi-screen video services.

Microsoft PlayReady is the latest DRM technology that Verimatrix is supporting through its MultiRights strategy. Under a common unified VCAS 3 security solution, Verimatrix’s digital TV operators can extend their multi-screen services to a wide range of platforms and devices, including those that support Microsoft Silverlight. PlayReady technology is currently protecting content for several top service providers including Netflix, BSkyB’s Sky Player, Yahoo! Japan and Canal+ among others. Furthermore, the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) selected PlayReady as one of the DRM technologies it will support.

“We are pleased to work with Verimatrix, a leader in the digital TV security market, to extend VCAS support to the base of PlayReady devices,” said Garrett Glanz, senior director of the Media Platforms Business, Microsoft Corp. “The number of manufacturers and service providers that have selected PlayReady to enable part of their service strategy is exponentially increasing and companies like Verimatrix can help service providers further extend the reach of their PlayReady-enabled services.”

MultiRights mediates different DRM technologies on multiple networks and devices through a single set of VCAS subscriber entitlements interfaces and Web services APIs. Verimatrix’s single content authority and entitlement process is able to deliver licenses in whatever DRM format the requesting user device requires. The company’s core architecture, VCAS 3, addresses the new video marketplace with a proactive revenue security and enhancement approach for IPTV, DVB broadcast, hybrid, and over-the-top (OTT) networks, including standards-based security for Internet TV delivery on PC, phone, tablet, and set-top box devices. Whatever network transition and evolution challenges are awaiting operators, VCAS 3 can help optimize operational costs, expand device footprint, and cast a wider net with their service offerings.

“As operators map out their TV Everywhere strategies, they find that our MultiRights solution significantly streamlines the OPEX and CAPEX of their revenue security platform by providing a single security head-end,” said Steve Oetegenn, chief sales and marketing officer, Verimatrix. “PlayReady DRM is a natural choice for us to support our customers and we look forward to growing our market share.”