DRM for OTT: Widevine vs. PlayReady vs. FairPlay
Because OTT services operate across many different devices, multiple DRM technologies are commonly required.
Google Widevine is widely used across Android, Android TV, Chrome, and many connected devices.
Microsoft PlayReady is supported by many Smart TVs, connected devices, and other OTT environments.
Apple FairPlay Streaming protects video delivered across supported Apple environments, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Safari.
A multi-platform OTT service may therefore use different DRM technologies depending on the viewer's device.
A simplified protected playback process is:
User Authentication → Content Authorization → Encrypted Stream → DRM License → Secure Playback
Integrating Widevine, PlayReady, and FairPlay allows operators to protect premium content while supporting a broad range of consumer devices.