Products       ExpressPlay XCA™

Converged broadcast TV and streaming security

Our cloud-based broadcast TV security solution, based on Marlin DRM, enables direct-to-TV broadcasting to smart TVs

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Market forces shaping an essential role for smart TVs in broadcaster strategies

The smart TV is the linchpin to next-gen hybrid broadcasting and revenue generation from subscriptions and advertising.

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Convergence of direct-to-TV
broadcasting and OTT streaming

Broadcasters and media companies have been on a collision course with fast growing OTT streaming services for more than a decade. Yet, the worlds of content protection, conditional access systems (CAS), and digital rights management (DRM), remain silo-based.

Today’s smart TVs are equipped with advanced security features similar to STBs. Examples include hardware root of trust, trusted execution environment (TEE), and secure video path (SVP). Adopting a DRM-based security strategy for broadcasting has several advantages. ExpressPlay XCA reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) for direct-to-TV broadcasting (D2TV).

Converged OTT and broadcast TV security based on Marlin DRM

ExpressPlay XCA enables content creators, pay-TV operators and broadcasters to deliver premium/UHD content directly to smart TVs without STBs. The converged broadcast-OTT security client is pre-integrated into various chipsets and numerous TV brands. These integrations both speed time-to-market and reduce project risk.

Reducing TCO with direct-to-TV broadcasting

Direct-to-TV broadcast delivery dramatically reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) by eliminating external devices such as STBs and CAMs. The solution enables secure playback of both scrambled DVB signals and OTT streaming on smart TVs.

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Pre-integrated security in smart TV ensures fast deployment

The ExpressPlay XCA client SDK is pre-integrated with major smart TV brands. The XCA client SDK utilizes advanced on-chip security functions required by studios for UHD/HDR content licensing. Self certification of client SDK integrations accelerates time-to-market.

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Trusted by studios and content providers

ExpressPlay XCA offers hardware-based security that meets studio requirements for premium UHD/4K content. The studios trust Marlin as a top-quality DRM system, which conforms with MovieLabs’ Enhanced Content Protection specification.

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Flexible business models and standards support

ExpressPlay XCA provides flexible business model support for Pay TV, Free-to-View, Free-to-Air, and subscription-based offerings. It is compliant with DVB standards including Simulcrypt, as well as HbbTV and Android TV. Operators control device activation, deactivation and content usage rules through their CRM.

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Marlin DRM

The Marlin DRM specification was co-founded by Intertrust, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, and Sony. Marlin is a consumer electronics and mobile friendly technology. It is compatible with popular operating systems, codecs, file formats, and delivery networks. Marlin supports various content distribution models like streaming, multicast, broadcast, and download for offline playback.

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Marlin DRM

Broad partner ecosystem

ExpressPlay XCA provides operators with a broad partner ecosystem. It is pre-integrated with major smart TV brands, and various video processing and middleware partners. XCA supports both formal and de facto industry standards.

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Operator Application (OpApp) support

ExpressPlay XCA is designed to support Operator Applications (OpApps) based on HbbTV and Android TV. Examples of client integrations includes XCA HbbTV by VEWD and Vestel TV. XCA is also integrated with the Sony Android TV.

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Pre-integrated chipsets and smart TV brands

ExpressPlay XCA is pre-integrated with major chipsets and smart TV brands including Vestel, Sony, and Hisense. Utilizing on-chip security functions such as TEE and SVP, ExpressPlay XCA offers a complete security solution for D2TV broadcasting.

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Pre-integrated Hybrid TV application software

Vewd is a leading application provider for OTT and Hybrid TV services. ExpressPlay XCA is pre-integrated with the Vewd Operator TV as a service. This facilitates quick time to market and reduces deployment risk for new smart TV and hybrid devices.

ExpressPlay XCA success story

HD+ Germany

HD PLUS GmbH, a subsidiary of SES S.A., operates HD+, a German DTH satellite service in HD quality. Vestel has integrated ExpressPlay XCA and VEWD middleware to enable D2TV reception in nine of its smart TV brands. These include Toshiba, Telefunken, JVC, and Hitachi, among others.

The user interface is enabled via an HbbTV OpApp. No further security hardware such as STB or CI+ module is required for reception.

Converged XCA broadcast and streaming security based on Marlin DRM

Modern smart TV SoCs equipped with TEE and SVP

XCA enables D2TV broadcasting to HD+ TV sets without STBs/CAMs

Better content protection and lower TCO than CAS + STB + HDMI

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Converged content protection for hybrid TV services

DRM-based converged broadcast security solution supports both direct-to-TV broadcasting and OTT services. The solution applies to digital television programming delivered via direct broadcast satellite (DBS, or satellite TV), terrestrial, and cable services.

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