CA/DRM Roundtable CA/DRM Roundtable

Roundtable DRM DRM- Hero or villain?

On the 19th September Cable and Satellite International held its first roundtable at The Gore Hotel in London. Delegates from Conax, Irdeto, and NDS gathered together with chairman and industry commentator Chris Forrester to discuss the pressing and timely issues surrounding (CA) and digital rights management (DRM). The future of conditional access and the development of new technologies were among some of the discussion points, while the growing relevance of digital rights management in todays climate of content anytime, anywhere created a heated talking point for all delegates.

Chairman: Panellist: Panellist: Panellist: Panellist: Chris Forrester Geir Bjørndal - Andrew Wajs - Irdeto, Holger Ippach - Geof Todd - NDS, London-based Chris Conax, COO Chief Technology Nagravision, Vice Sales & Business Forrester is a well-known & Vice President, Officer President & Global Development technology journalist. He Sales and Marketing Andrew joined Irdeto Head of IPTV (Broadband Internet reports on all aspects of Geir joined 's TV in 1992 as a Holger is responsible Group NDS the TV industry with division in 1992 and development engineer. for developing solutions Synamedia) special emphasis on then Conax in 1994. He Since joining he has and worldwide business Geof has been at NDS content, the business of has during that period been the senior systems relations that will bring since 1999 and is television and emerging acquired experience with architect and a key secure content currently Manager of technologies. This very most fields in Pay-TV innovator and patent protection to TV over Sales & Business much includes interactive operations. He was for author. Andrew also broadcast and Development of NDS' multi-media and the several years Conax's managed the Advanced broadband service Broadband Internet growing importance of product manager for Products Group in operators. A true veteran Group working on the web-streamed and Pay-TV Systems and has Mindport during 1998/ in the world of IPTV, NDS Synamedia IPTV digitised content over all since 2003 led the 1999. Prior to that Holger previously and Video on Demand delivery platforms company's sales and he held a similar position worked as CTO of solution. Geof has including cable, satellite marketing activities. at Altech Public TUXIA, headed the worked in the tech- and digital terrestrial TV In January 2006, Geir Networks. Andrew has business unit of nology industry for as well as cellular and 3G also took over the role a Master's degree in Thirdspace Living Ltd over 25 years, mobile. Indeed, he has as chief operating electrical engineering and was part of predominantly in the been investigating, officer, responsible for from the University Alcatel's global area of Digital Media. researching and reporting managing Conax’s day- of the Witwatersrand. management team. Geof is a graduate of on the so-called to-day activities. St.Lukes, Exeter. ‘broadband explosion’ for some 20 years. www.conax.com www.irdeto.com www.nagra.com www.nds.com

page thirty four www.cable-satellite.com Cable & Satellite International nov-dec 2006 CA/DRM Roundtable

Chairman: One of the guys from Widevine, Andrew Wajs: Our experience has been Holger Ippach: I wouldn't be as pessimistic said at IBC: “Broadcasters put their trust into to actually develop security code, and the as that, I think that there are ways where encryption companies who live and die by whole process around security is actually you can converge things in a very the quality of their work”, is that valid? quite an expensive process. If you’re going pragmatic way. to design software properly from a security Geof Todd: In the sense that the focus of perspective it’s going to cost you a lot more Geir Bjorndal: I think over the last few the business has to be security. I believe that than just writing software which adheres years we have seen that balancing the security for us is very much a business to functionality; plus there is all the support revenue stream with openess is a very hard enabler, it connects the service to the when something does go wrong. So we thing to do. Microsoft has been threatening revenue — no question and to be blunt you really believe it critical to be really focused to find this solution, but whilst they have had have to believe the security company is on security as a business and not just see a major set back, they will come back on security first, second and third. it as an add-on because it is a very intricate course. It seems like it is still hard to find and expensive thing to supply. this balance between openness and the Holger Ippach: I totally agree, if the future security, and now we see more smart of a company hinges on how successful Chairman: Geof, you have more than got devices coming on the market that give you their security track record is, it gives them your foot across the door at BSkyB's the possibility to put the content on air- motivation. I’m with Geof here in that if threshold, and Sky is not famous for taking wireless. We are closer to these devices than somebody gives away security as a freebie an inexpensive option as a rule. ever, but at the same time as we are trying I really wonder how committed they are. to take the content to the PC. There are big Geof Todd: I can't put words into Sky’s challenges here and they do not seem to be Geir Bjorndal: In Norway we have taken mouth, but from our perspective I fully solved yet. the consequences of this and said that agree that security doesn't end with the security is our core business and requires technology, it’s as much a service. Frankly Chairman: They're not solved yet but by our complete focus, so we are looking for Sky use us [NDS] because it's a way of the same token the likes of iPod and partners even inside the DRM domain to addressing the PC. It expands their reach downloadable content to iPod appears take that part of it because that makes and it's an opportunity for NDS to put our to be taking off at something of a pace. Is sure we can have the best of all the other technology into the PC. the broadcast side of the content delivery things too. business missing an opportunity here? The demise of home networking Because certainly the consumer seems Chairman: So if a broadcaster came to you to want portable content. looking for a solution you might actually Chairman: Home networking has gone partner with a DRM supplier to build into the quiet. It’s been very much a hot topic for Andrew Wajs: I think the advantage that solution that you provided? quite some years, but now appears to have Apple has is that they control the whole fallen silent. platform right to the portable device and Geir Bjorndal: Yes, we are working with I think the problem that broadcasters have several partners also on that side even Holger Ippach: I agree that home is they don’t have the same control over Microsoft, and we can recommend or even networking is not as hot anymore, but if you the end portable device. And that creates partner with the one that is chosen or the were looking around very closely at IBC you a number of issues for broadcasters. one the vendor wants. So we have a very could find some minor improvements — I think the cost of providing that kind of open strategy. more evolutions than revolutions. I think a service where the devices could come reality has kicked in, and reality is that from anywhere is going to be very high Chairman: Might that not present you with managing a flow of content within the home because who is the consumer going to a challenge when the system is in a fashion that meets both the phone when something goes wrong? compromised down the line. Who will be in requirements of the consumer as well as the It’s going to be the broadcaster. the firing line? The final integrator? Or one operator is not an easy problem to solve — of the partners? be