Widevine Media Optimizer

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The Complete Guide to Widevine
Google’s DRM Platform

Google Widevine is a leading DRM encryption scheme for securely licensing distributing, and protecting playback on video on any consumer device. Content creators, MSOs, and other enterprise media companies can use Widevine to ensure the monetization of content across every device. Google purchased Widevine in 2010 in an attempt to deepen their support for media and entertainment enterprises, speed up the YouTube video streams, and to assist with Android and adaptive streaming.

Encoding.com is proud to be a Certified Widevine Implementation Partner.

Widevine DRM is a Combination of a Few Leading Technologies

MPEG-DASH

This is an open-source adaptive bitrate for streaming video across the internet. Like it’s ABR predecessors, DASH leverages standard protocols like HTTP using existing web infrastructure to deliver video to every device.

Common Encryption (CENC)

Using existing web standards, CENC supports key-mapping across multiple DRM schemes, and is not limited to a single DRM scheme. A single file can be decrypted using multiple DRM schemes, so the same file can be used across every device.

Encrypted Media Extensions (EME)

This is a JavaScript based API currently being reviewing by the W3C to be ratified as a standard. EME manages the exchange of DRM license keys between servers and devices. Using EME a single solution can be used to encrypt content for every device.

Widevine’s Key Benefits

Seamless support for encryption across every device.
Support for ubiquitous containers such as MP4 or WebM.
Encryption is handled by hardware not software, decreasing opportunities for rogue apps.

HTML5 support gives you complete control over the viewing experience for things like adaptive playback and accessibility.
An open framework that supports both current and legacy DRM standard.

Widevine Classic vs Modular

Google offers 2 versions of Widevine; Classic & Modular. Classic is the original version for use with MP4, WebM, and HTML5 for most versions. Modular supports contemporary web standards DASH, CENC, EME, and offers broader device compatibility with less restrictions. The table below highlights the key differences between Widevine Classic and Modular.

Included with Classic

Registration of your DRM service with Widevine
Widevine Classic DRM licencing
Widevine iOS / Android client SDKs and examples
Example player
Online administration tool

Supported with Classic
Common examples of supported platforms include:

Android (3.0+)
Google TV
Samsung Smart TVs
Smart TV Alliance (dependent on manufacturer)

Included with Modular

Registration of your DRM service with Widevine
Widevine Modular DRM licencing
Widevine iOS / Android client SDKs and examples
Example player
Online administration tool

Supported with Modular
Common examples of supported platforms include:

Android (4.3+)
Chrome browser
Chromecast / Android TV

How Does Widevine DRM?

Google Widevine DRM offers publishers control over their encryption, key management, distribution and consumption of their assets. Content creators apply their policies, digital rights and encryption to all inbound assets registered with Widevine and the CMS. The assets are then uploaded to a destination partner network or CDN. Widevine’s DRM then delivers the files to all devices, and DASH ensures playback across all devices.

Android and Widevine

On Android 3.0 and higher platforms, the Widevine DRM plugin is integrated with the Android DRM framework and uses hardware-backed protection to secure movie content and user credentials. Security is not limited to a single point, but instead relies on the integration of hardware, software, and services. The combination of hardware security functions, a trusted boot mechanism, and an isolated secure OS for handling security functions is critical to ensuring content security.

Widevine developed a DRM plugin which is built on top of the Android DRM framework which offers advanced copy protection features on Android devices. The Widevine DRM plugin provides the capability to license, securely distribute, and protect playback of multimedia content. Protected content is secured using an encryption scheme based on the open AES (Advanced Encryption Standard – Classic Widevine), or EME (Encrypted Media Extensions – Modular Widevine). An application can decrypt the content only if it obtains a license from the Widevine DRM licensing server for the current user. Google Widevine DRM functions on Android in the same way as it does on other platforms.

Google also recently announced that the Chrome browser app for Android will be getting the Widevine DRM. This paves the way for DRM encrypted HTML5 based videos to be playable via the browser, allowing video streaming services like Netflix to operate without the need for a specialized app.To learn more about Google’s plans to build Widevine DRM into Chrome for Android click here.