PHILADELPHIA & BIRMINGHAM, U.K.—Friend MTS has announced the fourth generation of its ASiD subscriber-level watermarking solution that addresses content protection scenarios to secure broadcast and OTT content, which includes the new ASiD OTT Edge-switched feature.

The fourth generation of Friend MTS’ advanced subscriber identification watermarking (ASiD) has enhanced two of its main features, the ASiD Embedded and ASiD OTT Client-composited. ASiD Embedded now offers accelerated watermark generation in certain devices as well as optimizations to enable memory and CPU-efficient watermark parameters for different content types. 

ASiD OTT Client-composited, meanwhile, features a new collaboration mechanism between head-end and client, and improved intelligence feedback to take action on bad actors. It also offers higher precision of session identification and stronger support for cloud PVR. Another new feature enables variable per-device watermark parameters for different content and playback types for optimized watermarking compositing based on individual client devices’ capabilities.

The new component to ASiD is ASiD OTT Edge-Switched. This is based on proprietary algorithms to offer accelerate watermark extraction working in conjunction with Friend MTS’ distributor-level watermarking solution, Distribution iD.

The new ASiD remains compliant with the MovieLabs Specification for Enhanced Content Protection, including 4K and HDR content.

For more information, visit www.friendmts.com.  

LAS VEGAS–At the 2018 NAB Show, Friend MTS, a U.K.-based provider of content and revenue protection technology, launched a 4K/UHD variant of its ASiD service for subscriber level watermarking, to protect premium sports and entertainment content from streaming piracy sourced from set-top boxes and OTT players.

The automated ASiD global monitoring and watermarking service allows scaling for the largest live sports events, which can generate thousands of pirate streams. By connecting directly with pay TV operators’ subscriber management systems, ASiD deactivates thousands of pirate streams within minutes, preventing content theft and allowing broadcasters and rights owners to maximize their audiences and revenues.

A key service within Friend MTS’ portfolio, the ASiD global channel monitoring uses fingerprint-based content recognition to identify broadcasters’ assets in seconds. This monitoring connects with the invisible watermarking extraction to precisely identify subscribers who are responsible for streaming piracy.