CJ HELLOVISION COMPLETES LARGEST REMOTE DEPLOYMENT OF ALTIPROTECT CAS

Alticast today announced that CJ Hellovision, the largest cable operator in the Korean market, has completed the largest seamless overhaul of a content security system using Alticast’s AltiProtect download and replace conditional access solution.

CJ Hellovision installed the cardless, software-only AltiProtect system remotely and transparently to more than 4 million subscribers, using Alticast’s patented remote switching technology.  The deployment has enabled migration to AltiProtect CAS on all of CJ Hellovision’s legacy set-top-boxes, allowed unification of CJ Hellovision security across legacy and new devices and provided a long-term solution for UHD content protection – all while reducing system maintenance costs.

"We selected Alticast because their solution was backed by a patent for remote switching technology, and the service was completely transparent to subscribers during the conversion process," said Dr. Hong-Ik Kim, Head of Engineering for CJ Hellovision.  "Thanks to Alticast’s security team, we were able to successfully commercialize the software platform without any customer calls. The superiority of Alticast's patented technology gave us confidence for success, which was solidly proven during the implementation. Also, the service quality has been much improved with AltiProtect.”

Working together with Alticast, CJ Hellovision created an action plan for migrating CAS security over 22 individual business areas and 13 different set-top box types, including bi-directional and uni-directional models. During a 28-month period, the system was remotely installed and provisioned specifically for each customer without costly truck rolls or the interruption of subscriber services. 

As the provider of the core STB software for CJ Hellovision, Alticast was uniquely positioned to facilitate any necessary integrations between AltiProtect CAS and the CJ Hellovision deployed devices. In addition, Alticast leveraged its expertise in content security to manage the project closely, allowing flexibility as needed for meeting CJ Hellovision’s infrastructure and service delivery needs. 

Studio-approved and highly rated by Telcordia, AltiProtect uses well-defined industry standards to ensure reliable content protection for broadcast and VOD, and can easily adapt to unique network infrastructures. Alticast now has converted more than 90 percent of Korean domestic cable operators’ legacy conditional access systems to AltiProtect CAS.

“Our industry-leading know-how in content security and our prioritization of client needs were key to the successful and seamless completion of this project,” said Dr. Mi-Sung Cho, Executive Director of Security Division.  “We look forward to helping other pay-TV operators replicate CJ Hellovision’s success of migrating efficiently and without schedule delays to stable, highly-secure content protection systems.”

ALTICAST APPROVED FOR “CERTIFIED WIDEVINE IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER PROGRAM”

Alticast today announced that it has become a member of the “Certified Widevine Implementation Partner Program,” a designation that is intended to expand content security options for pay-TV operators worldwide.

As a modular DRM partner, Alticast’s AltiProtect Multi-DRM product can support Widevine DRM as one of several security solutions within a single infrastructure. AltiProtect enables a single point of control and transparent customer experience for delivery of content streams from multiple sources – and using multiple security mechanisms – within multi-service, multi-device environments. 

Widevine DRM is available on a broad range of platforms and is currently deployed on more than two billion devices.  The Widevine solution combines Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), Common Encryption (CENC) and Encrypted Media Extensions (ENE) to provide robust multiplatform content protection.

Studio-approved and highly rated by Telcordia, AltiProtect uses well-defined industry standards to ensure reliable content protection for broadcast and VOD, and can easily adapt to unique network infrastructures.  AltiProtect is being used by CJ Hellovision, the largest pay-TV operator in South Korea, to secure the world’s first launch of UHD pay-TV service.

“AltiProtect is a dynamic CAS/DRM solution that already secures content on millions of deployed devices,” said Dr. Misung Cho, security technology lead for Alticast. “With Widevine we can expand the available content catalogs for partnering in a heterogeneous content delivery environment.”

Alticast will demonstrate a variety of products and solutions for pay-TV operators at its stand (1F.36) at IBC 2016 September 9-13 in Amsterdam.

Taking the Lead in Content Protection

In an IP video world that is a jumble of sources, formats and devices, protecting content is no easy task.  So when we’re recognized for doing that task well, it’s especially fitting that we take a bow.  According to SNL Kagan, Alticast and our AltiProtect security system are in rarified company as one of the global leaders in IPTV content protection. 

Here’s what’s special about AltiProtect:  It provides service providers and rights holders with the flexibility and cost-effectiveness they need to safeguard SD, HD and UHD premium content – using pay-TV conditional access (CAS) or digital rights management (DRM) -- from piracy and unauthorized use.  What’s more, it can span the full range of pay-TV architectures and device deployments, from legacy to next-generation systems with a multi-DRM solution.

As the industry moves toward new investments in premium 4K/UHD content, Alticast is once again leading the way in championing greater security – this time through the use of specialized content protection techniques, such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 128 bit keys.  To learn more about how Alticast can safeguard your content, please visit the Content Protection section of our website. 

Securing UHD Content

If pay-TV is bringing high-value, proprietary sports content to 4K, is the threat of piracy far behind?

Rogers’ Communications’ recent announcement that it would offer a total of 100 baseball and hockey games in 4K next year, BT’s planned launch of a 4K sports channel and deployment of 4K STBs by forward-thinking operators such as Videotron all are signs of a growing recognition of the value of both the technology and the display enhancements enabled by its High Dynamic Range (HDR).

But as operators move the needle on content, what’s equally important is protecting that premium programming with stronger Conditional Access Systems (CAS).  While the 64-bit systems in use by most operators today is sufficient for current needs, better choices for securing higher-value 4K content -- now and in the future -- would be the 128-bit or 256-bit versions of the Advanced Encryption Standards (AES).

The coming availability of live sports can give pay-TV a competitive edge in countering early moves by Amazon, Netflix and over-the-top providers to leverage the growth of 4K.  You can read more here about the measures the industry can take to ensure that its investments in 4K production and delivery are protected as it brings that content to market.