TAG Video Systems adds Irdeto decryption support
February 23, 2021
TAG Video Systems, a specialist in 100% SW, 100% IP, 100% COTS/Cloud, Probing, Monitoring and Multiviewing solutions, for all four of the major broadcast applications (Live Production, Playout, Transport & Delivery, and OTT) has added decryption support for yet another encryption system. TAG customers now have the ability to cover their assets by decrypting OTT content encrypted with the Irdeto Key Management System (KMS) in real-time for full probing, alarming and visualization capabilities at the mosaic output. This latest integration joins existing support for other encryption systems including, Verimatrix, Huawei, SkyDRM, and the DVB Simulcrypt.
Security, always a priority, motivates most broadcasters to encrypt OTT content during the encoding phase. Without encryption, content could be exposed, vulnerable to theft, risking its integrity. Content owners actually mandate that broadcasters use encryption so only those authorized have access to their assets. The tradeoff they encountered, however, was not being able to monitor and view the OTT content to ensure the quality just before distribution.
“Encryption is critical; it’s how broadcasters protect the value of their programming,” explained Gal Waldman, Chief Product Officer. “The difficulty therein, is that when OTT content is encrypted after the encoding phase, content monitoring becomes limited, nor can it be viewed thereafter. But now, with support for Irdeto KMS integrated right into our MCM-9000, content owners can decrypt their programming after the packager, within the secure zone allowing it to be safely visualized for probing, alarming and monitoring.”
Incorporating decryption keys into TAG’s MCM-9000 enables it to surpass the conventional features of today’s Multiviewing, Probing, and Monitoring solutions with another layer of operational ease, agility and security for TAG’s customers that use Irdeto’s KMS. Broadcasters can now decode, view, monitor and analyze Irdeto encrypted OTT content within TAG’s IP software-only platform, and visualize it at the mosaic output to validate its integrity, authenticity and quality in real-time before it is distributed.
Added Waldman, “We are always developing and deploying upgrades to our platform so our customers can benefit from a truly Zer0 Friction experience; one that eliminates extra steps and obstacles and maximizes assets and technologies for a frictionless operation. In this case, customers requested integration with Irdeto’s KMS server, and we were happy to respond with unique decryption capabilities that talk directly to the Irdeto KMS and unlock reliable, flexible, and quality monitoring that detects malfunctions and abnormalities such as black frames, freezes, and more.”