Keeping pirates out of the living room: The future of content protection

Content piracy is often described as a many-headed hydra – cut off one head, and three others emerge in its place. However, many industry participants feel that the problem is becoming ever more complex and challenging for video content owners and rights holders. As consumers increasingly watch video on a range of connected devices, broadcasters and operators have less control over the hardware and operating systems, opening the gates to hacked IP streams and pirate software. The industry is working to crack down on online piracy, including Amazon’s ban on ‘fully loaded’ Kodi boxes – but media executives are asking what more can be done to protect and secure their content. As it becomes increasingly easy to access pirate content in the comfort of your own living room, how best can the media industry act to protect revenues?

What challenges does piracy present today in the UK media market? What will be the big new developments and trends over the next few years – and what will be the impact on broadcasters, pay-TV providers and media companies? How can providers monitor and act against piracy as it becomes ever easier to share content online and access it on a range of devices? What is the role of technology solutions in supporting legal enforcement? Where in the ecosystem will the next major threats emerge – and what could companies be doing now to address them?

The Technology Pathfinders Forum – a networking group for broadcast executives interested in exploring innovations and future trends in operations and technology – would like to invite you to an exclusive executive forum, exploring the key technology developments set to shape the UK media and broadcasting industries during the next 3-5 years.

The panel will include a range of technical and operational executives from within the major studios, home entertainment, pay TV and broadcasting as well as leading tech providers. We are delighted to have confirmed panellists from Virgin Media, Warner Bros. and the Motion Picture Association of America with more to be announced shortly.

To confirm your attendance at this invite-only Technnology Pathfinders event, please RSVP on our Eventbrite page. Any queries can be addressed to pathfinders@mtmlondon.com. The event will commence promptly at 6pm, running through to 7.30pm, followed by drinks and networking at the bar. This event is free and invite-only and limited to 80 senior executives from the broadcasting and media industries.