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Irdeto tightens the screws on sports pirates with high-frequency key rotation
AMSTERDAM: Live sport is the crown jewel of streaming — and the favourite target of pirates. The digital-security specialist Irdeto has launched a new feature for its cloud-based multi-DRM platform, Irdeto Control, designed to make life harder for stream hijackers and easier for broadcasters under pressure from rights holders.
The enhancement centres on high-frequency key rotation: a technique that shrinks the exposure window for encryption keys, forcing frequent re-authentication. Each cycle destabilises pirate streams by disrupting the stolen keys they rely on, making common tricks such as key extraction and CDN leeching far less effective. The result, says Irdeto, is the gradual degradation of illegal feeds — a frustrating user experience that pushes fans back towards legitimate platforms.
Irdeto Control already delivers more than 15 billion DRM transactions monthly, protecting content for over 200m users. It supports Widevine, FairPlay and PlayReady, while layering on piracy countermeasures such as concurrency management, vulnerable-device blocking, emulator detection and geo/VPN enforcement. The new key-rotation capability slots into existing multi-DRM workflows without requiring changes to players or packagers — a crucial point for operators wary of integration headaches.
“Piracy in live sports continues to evolve rapidly, and rights holders are demanding tougher security standards that don’t hinder operational efficiency,” said Irdeto chief operating officer for video entertainment Andrew Bunten. “This is a major step forward in protecting the value of live content.”
The economics of piracy are sobering: for broadcasters, unauthorised streaming of premium leagues erodes subscription revenues; for rights holders, it undermines billion-dollar licensing deals. Regulators, too, have begun pressing platforms to prove they can safeguard live streams against theft.
Irdeto, which has long positioned itself at the intersection of video platforms and security, hopes its latest upgrade will strengthen its pitch to both camps. By degrading pirate feeds rather than merely chasing them offline, it aims to tilt the balance in favour of legal distribution.
The announcement comes ahead of IBC 2025 in Amsterdam, where Irdeto will showcase its full suite of video-protection tools. In a marketplace where streaming platforms compete as much on content security as on user experience, the company is betting that tougher defences can help keep live sport the revenue engine it has always been.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
