Kaltura (www.kaltura.com), provider of the leading video technology platform, today announced a Universal DRM (Digital Rights Management) solution, adding support for DASH and the Common Encryption (CENC) standard, which enables media companies, content rights owners and OTT providers to stream premium content without needing to worry about which browser, device or platform is being used. The solution also reduces storage costs and integration fees. With Google and others moving to deprecate or disable existing content protection systems (e.g. Widevine Classic and Silverlight plugins), and Google choosing to disable NPAPI (Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface) support in the Chrome browser in April 2015, Kaltura’s Modular DRM allows video service providers to gracefully transition without disrupting service, and solves with one unified secure player the end-of-life challenge of existing player technology.

Kaltura has partnered with the DRM solution provider Castlabs to integrate multi-DRM capabilities that enable two-way Universal DRM. The new solution lets video service providers migrate to DASH and the Common Encryption standard while ensuring no end user is left behind because of an old browser or an old DRM system. The unified solution allows customers to continue to use legacy streaming solutions, such as Smooth Streaming, while enabling clients to migrate to DASH CENC at their own pace.

Kaltura’s Modular DRM delivers a single file that is readable cross-browser and cross-platform - including in older browsers supporting Adobe and Silverlight via a plugin translation layer. The Kaltura video player also now supports client-side translation of existing Smooth Streaming streams into DASH common encryption for playback in Chrome/Internet Explorer browsers that support the HTML5 EME standard.

The move to support DASH and Common encryption is necessary for anyone wishing to provide premium video content that is playable on all of the major browsers, platforms, and devices now available, while continuing to comply with content owners’ DRM requirements.

Where old methods of handling DRM demanded separate files and separate players for each DRM technology, Kaltura’s solution uses a single unified player across browsers and native apps to ensure seamless support for analytics, business rules, and the user experience. Using this single standard also reduces the storage space required for files, the effort needed for content management, and the fees associated with multiple delivery technologies.

“With Kaltura’s Modular DRM solution, content providers can make a smooth transition to the new digital ecosystem. This is yet another example of how Kaltura’s flexible, future-proof technology continues to evolve,” said Ron Yekutiel, Kaltura Chairman and CEO. “When delivering premium content, it’s critical that the end user continues to receive a consistent, high quality experience, no matter which device they use.”

Yekutiel continued: “Kaltura continues to be an early adopter of new and open standards, ensuring that our customers and their users enjoy the optimal experience with video. Here too, with our new DRM solution, we have taken extra steps to provide the most adaptive solution available, making it easy on our customers to comply with the new DRM requirements.”