Less than 24 hours after writing how virtual film festivals have been something of a rarity on Faultline’s watch, in coverage of last week’s interview with a start-up called Cinenso, a familiar name in Nagra announced a win with virtual cinema platform provider Eventive that has stolen a march on events shifting online.
US-based Eventive has deployed the Swiss security specialist’s forensic watermarking and multi-DRM products – a concoction of technologies that are potentially lethal to content pirates when applied in adequate dosage. However, there are strange clues littered throughout the announcement, and in comments received by Faultline, that suggest not all is right at Eventive.
While it is common knowledge that pandemic-driven viewing trends have triggered a surge in content piracy, Nagra’s observations from the inside have even seen illicit sites duping consumers into unwittingly paying for pirated content. Streaming pirated content for a handful of click-throughs that generate some measly ad revenues for these illicit websites is one thing, but fooling would-be paying subscribers into signing over their payment details to the wrong source is an escalation of the piracy problem, and proof that the industry is getting smarter, as we are regularly warned by the vendor community.
Eventive wants to settle the nerves of its virtual customer base – spanning film festivals, distributors and live event organizers – by claiming the Nagra suite gives it the tools to adapt to the changing face of piracy.
We should distinguish that Eventive is not a direct to consumer content provider; it provides the means for the organizers of film festivals and distributors to spin up their own virtual events using the Eventive platform. This comprises a unified dashboard for managing the entire virtual theatrical distribution channel, enabling users to bulk create hosted screenings of up to 10,000 viewers, equipped with real-time analytics, revenue split reports, and even direct deposits into third-party accounts.
Long before Nagra showed up, Eventive was already lauding itself as the most secure video on-demand and live streaming platform out there, based on its MPAA-certified security. Of course, why would the likes of A24, Sony Pictures Classics, Starz, Showtime, and National Geographic trust Eventive with their precious content without studio-grade security capabilities? The question therefore is why Eventive needs Nagra’s help now – a spate of recent breaches, perhaps?
Eventive has even launched its very own Advanced Antipiracy Technology for virtual cinema, claiming to be the most rigorous and affordable content security program for film streaming EVER deployed. That is some statement. This Advanced Antipiracy Technology breakthrough appears to have been developed separately of Nagra, which is supplying its forensic watermarking technology at no additional cost to Eventive customers. Every virtual screening on Eventive VoD is secured with a Nagra NexGuard invisible forensic watermark, identifying each individual user and session. This means any unauthorized user can be traced right back to the source, and a pre-roll piracy warning can alert users that the unique stream can be traced.
The fact Nagra’s Nexguard forensic watermarking is being thrown in totally free for existing Eventive customers suggests the platform is desperate to shore up defenses. Nagra refused to clarify why Eventive is not attempting to recoup its security costs immediately, assuming Nagra is being paid for its efforts.
Part of the change in piracy practices comes down to the change in content behaviors. Eventive was virtually unheard of a year ago, but the demand for virtual events and online content has thrust the company into the mainstream spotlight. Its spread of content makes it a hot target – offering both live and on-demand content, as well as premium titles and content from independent filmmakers.
Nagra states that Eventive has watermarked “all film content” – suggesting the platform’s live events employ multi-DRM but not forensic watermarking. This would be a very strange clause in the Nagra contract, that it seemingly has not been tasked with protecting Eventive’s valuable live streams with forensic watermarking technology that has a reputation for protecting some of the most valuable live content in the world – i.e. sports.
Nagra informed us this quote was in reference to Eventive’s support of independent film festivals and independent filmmakers looking to ensure content is securely released to the broadest audience possible, rather than a disregard of live content. Although, we understand that on-demand movies are Eventive’s bread and butter, while live streaming is something of a side hustle.
We should remind ourselves that employing multiple DRMs protects content from leaks and theft, while forensic watermarking can track down pirated content and distribution channels to the source if (or when) a breach has been made, so that anti-piracy measures, such as takedowns, can be taken. These two crucial security components come as part of Nagra’s active streaming protection toolkit.