Learning and looking for experts to help (PBS and DRM)

Playground Stream Links
#1

I think I understand the DRM process. It sounds like there are two sets of keys the decrypt a video stream.
I was playing around and found the url for the stream and license. I found this site to play with DRM streams: https://bitmovin.com/demos/drm
So I plugged in my local PBS information:
DASH format
https://keradt.lls.pbs.org/out/v1/1f291d3c62844ccc940d50328df76f6c/dash-drm.mpd Stream Source
https://proxy.drm.pbs.org/license/widevine/5b1dd955-b7de-41f4-85e6-791e80b78ab0-dash for License
I was able to see my local PBS in the video viewer on the DRM Secure Stream Test page.

If I am able to play PBS through this website, what is missing to make PBS DRM work with Channels? Is it some type of "private/hidden" key that has to be obtained from PBS?
Any light you can shed on the technical workings on DRM is much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

1 Like
#2

When you view through a web browser, that browser has DRM libraries integrated to allow for encrypted viewing. (Usually EME + Widevine.)

The browser that Channels uses to stream TVE does not include these DRM (or rather, any DRM) technologies.

1 Like
#3

Thank you racameron! So if channels used a web engine (Chromium/other) to process the streams, then in theory we could see DRM content? I don't pretend to be an expert (Nor do I play one on TV :slight_smile: ), but seems that would be possible. I am sure there is something I am missing in my understanding of the subject and any explanation would be appreciated. Could Chromium engine be used to allow DRM to work? Is this more of a copy write concern and thus not done? Thanks again for your explanation.

1 Like
#4

Unfortunately the laws in the US are very strict about DRM, and even discussing it can be considered illegal.

From What happens with digital rights management in the real world? | Computing | The Guardian

The DMCA is a long and complex instrument, but what I'm talking about here is section 1201: the notorious "anti-circumvention" provisions. They make it illegal to circumvent an "effective means of access control" that restricts a copyrighted work. The companies that make DRM and the courts have interpreted this very broadly, enjoining people from publishing information about vulnerabilities in DRM, from publishing the secret keys hidden in the DRM, from publishing instructions for getting around the DRM – basically, anything that could conceivably give aid and comfort to someone who wanted to do something that the manufacturer or the copyright holder forbade.

3 Likes
#5