Civolution announced that its NexGuard Online Media Delivery (OMD) video watermarking technology will run on Windows Azure Media Services.
For more information visit: www.civolution.com
Unedited press release follows:
Civolution Announces Its NexGuard – Online Media Delivery to Run on Windows Azure Media Services
Civolution builds on Windows Azure Media Services to help create secure cloud-based delivery network
NAB SHOW 2012, Las Vegas, April 16, 2012 – Civolution, a leading provider of technology and solutions for identifying, managing and monetizing media content, has announced that its NexGuard – Online Media Delivery (OMD) video watermarking technology will run on Windows Azure Media Services. Windows Azure Media Services is a new set of cloud-based media technologies that enable Microsoft Corp.’s customers and partners to create, distribute and manage customized media solutions across all types of devices and platforms. As the newest addition to Civolution’s extensive and award-winning forensic watermarking application suite, NexGuard – OMD enables secure delivery of digital media assets processed through the cloud on Windows Azure.
Civolution is one of Microsoft’s “build-in” security partners for Windows Azure Media Services, enabling customers to protect their content during delivery. Movie and television content producers, premium channels, and content aggregators can now take advantage of the cloud to organize online screening for professionals or over-the-top video-on-demand (OTT VOD) for consumers, both with video watermarking capability.
“Microsoft is pleased to be working with Civolution and their digital watermarking and fingerprinting applications for media interaction, intelligence and protection,” said Sudheer Sirivara, senior director of Windows Azure Media Services at Microsoft. “Civolution helps customers who need secure delivery of digital media assets that are delivered on Windows Azure.”
“We’re excited to work with Microsoft, to provide best-in-class media protection on Windows Azure Media Services,” said Alex Terpstra, CEO, Civolution. “Civolution’s forensic watermark pre-processing, aligned with a single cloud-based service, results in a workflow solution that is flexible, scalable, cost-effective, and secure. It comes at the right time to address the growing demand for secure online delivery services for high value digital media assets.”
Windows Azure Media Services enables users to upload a video asset to the cloud and configure watermarked output renditions. The watermark insertion is performed in two stages. The first stage, referred to as ‘watermark pre-processing’, is performed once per media asset while transcoding original assets to the desired delivery format. The second step, referred to as ‘watermark smart embedding’ is applied upon streaming by Windows Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN) or third party CDNs.
After a media asset is passed through the NexGuard watermark pre-processor, the file is delivered in Smooth Streaming format, to PC, Mac, Xbox and whole host of connected devices like iOS, Android and Connected TV’s which are all capable of supporting smooth streaming format. This format can then be uploaded to a CDN for delivery to the end user and is fully compliant with Microsoft Silverlight. At the CDN level, a transaction identifier is applied by the NexGuard watermark smart embedder, making each delivered stream and copies thereof uniquely traceable. In November 2011 Civolution announced it joined the Akamai NetAlliance partner program as a Digital Media Solution Partner, integrating its NexGuard smart embedder technology with Akamai’s HD CDN.
Should watermarked content be illegally copied and redistributed, Civolution, through its automated online NexGuard detection service portal, will report the unique identifier back to the content owner. The identifier is inserted into the original stream at the point of delivery. The NexGuard solution acts both as a powerful deterrent and an efficient tracing tool for forensic analysis, with proven deployments in Pre-release, Digital Cinema, PayTV and Online Delivery applications.
At the 2012 NAB Show, Civolution will demonstrate its latest NexGuard – OMD working with Windows Azure Media Services at its stand #SU7923, as well as at the Microsoft booth SL11220.