Why this is important
For starters, it's a rare case of Google buying something that Light Reading previously wrote about.
Perhaps more importantly, Widevine would give Google TV a route to monetizing its content, by using DRM to control access to copyright material and to assure media companies their content would be protected. Widevine could also bolster YouTube's video-rental business.
Widevine was already helping over-the-top companies move in a TV Everywhere direction. For example, its technology was being used by Boxee to bring major-studio content into Internet-connected TVs. (Google says it's going to continue serving Widevine's customers, of course.) (See Boxee Eyes Over-the-Top Live TV.)
For more
Since raising $15 million last year, Widevine has been busy announcing deals all over the video map. Here's a partial rundown.
- Cable Adapting to Video's Streaming Future
- Widevine Protects Sling's Streams
- Widevine Locks In Dish 'TV Everywhere' Deal
- Living in an Immaterial World
- DIVA Taps Widevine for TV Everywhere
- Panasonic Prefers Widevine
- LG Taps Widevine for Streaming & DRM
- Widevine Scores Best Buy Deal
- EchoStar Loads Up Widevine DRM
- Widevine Adds Dolby Digital Plus to Web TV
- Samsung Swings With Widevine's DRM
- Widevine Ties Up Web TV Deals
- Funai Taps Widevine for Video Security
- Blockbuster Taps Widevine for VoD Protection
- Widevine Raises $15M
— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile, and Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading
Craig,
There appears to be at least a little bit of irony in this purchase.
Mark