Pathé has partnered with video technology firm Synamedia to deploy forensic watermarking on its direct-to-consumer streaming platform Pathé Home, the companies announced on Tuesday.
The agreement will see Pathé integrate Synamedia’s ContentArmor watermarking solution to track unauthorized distribution of its premium film catalog, including titles available in 4K ultra-high definition. The move is intended to protect licensing agreements with studios and other rights holders while reducing the cost and complexity typically associated with content security.
ContentArmor uses a server-side, session-based watermarking system to embed imperceptible markers into video streams without requiring multiple encodes, a process that Pathé says will help maintain video quality and reduce encoding costs. The solution also meets security standards required by major Hollywood studios, according to both companies.
“Safeguarding the content of our partners is crucial for Pathé,” Ivar van der Burg, the Head of Platform & Video at Pathé, said in a statement on Tuesday. “With ContentArmor, we are able to embed imperceptible watermarks in our content, identify the individual accounts of unauthorized users and malicious actors, and take action accordingly.”
Launched in April, Pathé Home is a transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) service available to consumers in France. It allows users to rent or purchase individual titles from a catalog of thousands of films without requiring a subscription or viewing ads. The platform is part of a broader digital strategy that complements Pathé’s legacy theatrical operations.
Alain Durand, the Senior Director at Synamedia, said the deal comes at a time when studios are pressuring distributors to provide their content in secure ways.
“We are seeing a growing demand for forensic watermarking driven by the Hollywood studios who are looking for proven and effective ways to protect the value of their assets,” Durand said.
The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement. Synamedia is backed by private equity firm Permira and offers a range of anti-piracy, streaming, and analytics products to broadcasters and streaming providers.
Pathé Home is an international extension of Pathé Thuis, a leading TVOD service in the Netherlands.
