Why content owners need to change their approach to protecting online programming
By Johan Bolin , VP products , Edgeware
TV production and distribution is expensive business . The proliferation of OTT has only increased this with fierce market competition driving up the price of both content distribution rights and the amount of money invested in production .
At the same time , ease of access to online content means it ’ s easier for pirates to get their hands on it . A few years ago , pirates would have to physically record a film inside a theatre and make copies . But the availability of content online has had an effect and means illegal versions and streams are easier to get hold of than ever before .
And wider availability of 4K content is a potential bonus for pirates . When content is pirated online the quality is usually degraded . This has previously meant pixelated , poor quality viewing , something which turns off would-be illegal streamers .
But if 4K is degraded , it ’ s likely to still be viewable at least in HD . And while the majority of consumers are still just watching content on HD devices and not 4K-ready ones , that ’ s entirely acceptable . This is especially apparent when you think that a screen needs to be at least 48 inches to fully appreciate the difference between HD and 4K and so much content is being viewed on smaller-screened mobile devices . This push to create and distribute higher-resolution video is potentially creating an even bigger market for illegally-shared content .
So , as digital piracy is on the rise , getting a return on investment is becoming much harder for those creating or distributing today ’ s TV programming .
Broadcast Beat Magazine • www . broadcastbeat . com • 57
Why content owners need to
change their approach to
protecting online programming
By Johan Bolin,
VP products, Edgeware
TV production and distribution is expensive busi-
ness. The proliferation of OTT has only increased
this with fierce market competition driving up the
price of both content distribution rights and the
amount of money invested in production.
At the same time, ease of access to online content
means it’s easier for pirates to get their hands on
it. A few years ago, pirates would have to physi-
cally record a film inside a theatre and make
copies. But the availability of content online has
had an effect and
means illegal ver-
sions and streams
are easier to get
hold of than ever
before.
And wider avail-
ability of 4K con-
tent is a potential
bonus for pirates.
When content is
pirated online the
quality is usually
degraded.
This
has
previously
meant pixelated,
poor quality view-
ing,
something
which turns off would-be illegal streamers.
But if 4K is degraded, it’s likely to still be view-
able at least in HD. And while the majority of
consumers are still just watching content on HD
devices and not 4K-ready ones, that’s entirely
acceptable. This is especially apparent when you
think that a screen needs to be at least 48 inches
to fully appreciate the difference between HD
and 4K and so much content is being viewed on
smaller-screened mobile devices. This push to
create and distribute higher-resolution video is
potentially creating an even bigger market for
illegally-shared content.
So, as digital piracy is on the rise, getting a return
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