TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Digital Tracking to Protect On-Demand TV

Digital Tracking to Protect On-Demand TV

Monty Solomon (monty@roscom.com)
Wed, 9 Nov 2005 00:56:38 -0500

Digital Tracking to Protect On-Demand TV
- Nov 8, 2005 11:01 PM (AP Online)
- http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=52981885

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Invisible marks that can be used to trace
illegal copies of television shows and movies will be embedded in
programs available on demand across the country using technology from
Widevine Technologies.

Widevine, based in Seattle, said Tuesday its invisible digital markers
would be embedded in programs distributed to cable companies served by
TVN Entertainment Corp., a Burbank-based company.

Among TVN's cable customers are four of the nation's largest
operators: Comcast Corp., Cox Communications Inc., Charter
Communications Inc. and Adelphia Communications Corp.

Digital watermarks are not visible to the naked eye, but contain
information about the origin of the program. They allow Hollywood
studios to track shows as they are distributed to cable boxes, TV
sets, computers, cell phones or other devices.

The watermarks remain even after the program is copied several times,
allowing law enforcement to tell where illegal copies were obtained.

TVN provides movies, concerts and other programs to cable operators
and telecommunication companies, who then offer them to consumers for
a pay-per-view fee.

Tuesday's announcement marks the first time digital watermarking has
been used to track such programs.

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