Integration Between Harmonic's ProMedia(R) Origin Multiscreen Media Servers and Microsoft(R) PlayReady(R) Digital Rights Management Technology Strengthens Content Security, Simplifies the Delivery of OTT Multiscreen Services
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Jan. 6, 2015 -- Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in video delivery infrastructure, today announced that its award-winning ProMedia(R) Origin and ProMedia X Origin multiscreen media servers have been integrated with Microsoft(R) PlayReady(R) digital rights management (DRM) technology for content access protection. By supporting PlayReady, Harmonic's ProMedia Origin and ProMedia X Origin provide video content and service providers with a versatile and scalable content protection solution for the secure deployment of live and time-shift TV, cloud DVR and VOD OTT services on a wide range of connected devices, ranging from mobile phones and tablets to game consoles to net top and set-top boxes.
"Consumer demand for OTT multiscreen services continues to grow at a rapid pace, making it challenging for content owners and service providers to protect and deliver content to an increasing array of platforms and device types," said Chris Santini, director media strategy, Microsoft. "This technology collaboration plays off the strengths of both companies, simplifying the security and delivery of live, VOD, and cloud DVR services while ensuring enhanced protection of high-value content."
Utilizing Harmonic's ProMedia Origin solutions with Microsoft PlayReady, video content and service providers can distribute secure content to a wide range of devices via a single DRM technology. Streamlining the OTT multiscreen ecosystem to a unified DRM technology significantly reduces the time to market for high-value video services while minimizing workflow complexity and points of failure. Microsoft's PlayReady technology includes a variety of features for live TV applications including key rotation, which is designed to provide more robust content protection for OTT multiscreen services, while simplifying operations, minimizing service interruption, and reducing costs.
ProMedia Origin and ProMedia X Origin are software-based all-in-one media servers that support the industry's leading OTT standard protocols, such as Apple(R) HLS, Adobe(R) HDS, Microsoft Smooth Streaming, and MPEG-DASH, to enable high-volume, live, adaptive bitrate streaming and the delivery of time-shifted services such as catch-up TV, start-over TV, and cloud DVR to connected devices. By providing video content and service providers with a comprehensive multiscreen media server, they dramatically reduce rack space, simplify workflows, and maximize cost savings.
"Microsoft PlayReady is one of the strongest DRM technologies in the OTT multiscreen market, making it a necessity for any video content or service provider looking to protect Internet video services," said Yaniv Ben-Soussan, vice president, product management, Harmonic. "While Harmonic has been a longtime supporter of PlayReady, we're excited about the recent enhancements, specifically the key rotation functionality. Prior to PlayReady's key rotation capability, encryption keys needed to be changed manually, interrupting system operation. By enabling OTT multiscreen services to be delivered via a single DRM technology, ProMedia Origin and ProMedia X Origin increase our customers' operational efficiencies, lower total cost of ownership, and, most importantly, protect video assets from being distributed illegally."
Further information about Harmonic and the company's products is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
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About Harmonic
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is the worldwide leader in video delivery infrastructure for emerging television and video services. The company's production-ready innovation enables content and service providers to efficiently create, prepare, and deliver differentiated services for television and new media video platforms. More information is available at www.harmonicinc.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to the anticipated capabilities and benefits of Harmonic's ProMedia(R) solutions. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these products may not materialize and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that neither ProMedia Origin nor ProMedia X Origin meets some or all of its anticipated capabilities or provides some or all of its anticipated benefits, such as significant reduction in time to market for high-value video services, increased operational efficiencies, protection from the illegal distribution of video assets, dramatic rack space reduction, maximized cost savings, and simplified workflow.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, such as those more fully described in Harmonic's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec.31, 2014, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Harmonic as of the date hereof, and Harmonic disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
EDITOR'S NOTE - Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
