Member Article

Channel 5 Deploys Digital Element’s IP Geolocation Technology to Manage Video on Demand Content Rights

Industry-leading IP geolocation intelligence technology used to ensure compliance with geographic rights and improve online viewing experience

London, UK, 13th May 2014: Digital Element, the leading provider of IP geolocation intelligence technology, today announced that Channel 5, one of the UK’s leading broadcasting companies, has deployed its NetAcuity® IP geolocation technology to manage the geographic rights of its internet-based TV and film content. In addition, Channel 5 utilises Digital Element’s ISP data to determine the user’s ISP type, allowing optimisation of the viewing experience.

Channel 5 attracts over 42 million weekly viewers via its family of channels – Channel 5, 5* and 5USA – and delivers popular shows including Dallas, CSI and Big Brother on demand across the internet. However, due to content providers’ licensing terms, the broadcaster must be able to restrict the viewing of its TV and film content to certain countries. By using Digital Element’s real-time IP geolocation data, Channel 5 can permit access to its content where agreements are in place, and can restrict viewing where it is prohibited. Channel 5 also uses Digital Element’s ISP-derived data to anonymously identify the viewer’s ISP, allowing optimal routing of video content across the network to enhance the viewing experience.

“Channel 5’s online reach is expanding rapidly due to the adoption of new connected devices,” commented Clive Malcher, Head of Product Development and Technology, Channel 5. “Now, more than ever, we need to be confident that we are complying with our content rights agreements across all the territories we serve, and it is of paramount importance to our business that the IP data we use to do this is accurate. Digital Element’s NetAcuity solution provides us with a highly accurate and comprehensive global database, and their solution was easy to integrate with our delivery systems. We also receive great customer service, and the other intelligence data variables – including carrier and device type recognition – allow us to access additional datasets should we need to in future.”

“We are delighted to be working with Channel 5 to improve digital rights compliance and enhance the viewing experience for its viewers,” said Charlie Johnson, Digital Element’s Digital Media Director, Europe. “Online digital rights management can be complex, but IP geolocation data simplifies the process and provides the flexibility to quickly respond to constantly changing rules for content distribution, ensuring compliance while enhancing the licensed viewer’s experience.”

Channel 5 joins some of Digital Element’s other high-profile clients including Virgin Media, Videology, YouView, Disney, CNN, ESPN, Sony, CBS Interactive, ABC and Tesco’s Blinkbox.

About Digital Element

Since 1999, Digital Element has been providing global geolocation solutions that bring anytime, anywhere relevance and context to online initiatives – from desktops to mobile devices. The company’s patented technology has been certified and accredited to deliver real-time access to accurate and reliable location intelligence without invading internet users’ privacy. For more than a decade, many of the world’s largest websites, brands, ad networks, social media platforms and mobile publishers have trusted Digital Element’s technology to target advertising, localise content, enhance analytics, and manage content rights as well as detect and prevent fraud. Visit www.digitalelement.com for more information on how to bring the power of location to the online world.

Headquartered in Atlanta and London, Digital Element is a division of Digital Envoy Inc.

About Channel 5

Channel 5 launched as Britain’s fifth terrestrial broadcaster in March 1997 and was bought by Northern & Shell in July 2010. It currently attracts well over 42 million viewers a month.

It delivers programmes that combine creative flair and popular appeal, and continues to bring viewers a mix of smart new shows that sit alongside popular long running series such as Killers Behind Bars, Botched Up Bodies and Benidorm ER. Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother are well established in the schedule – and, stripped of any pretentiousness about “social experiments”, are focused on real life entertainment. They sit alongside ratings stalwarts like Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers and The Hotel Inspector.

Channel 5 acquires the best of international drama – Wentworth Prison, Under the Dome, Person of Interest, Love/Hate, Castle, Body of Proof, CSI, Law & Order, The Mentalist and NCIS. Aussie soaps Neighbours and Home & Away continue to delight. For sports fans Channel 5 is the terrestrial home of all England Cricket summer Internationals and regular title boxing.

Channel 5 News sits alongside NewsTalk Live which debates the main topics of the day. The channel is committed to children’s programing with their award-winning strand Milkshake!. Sister channels 5* and 5USA compliment Channel 5 with a mix of must-see entertainment and US Drama.

For all the latest about Channel 5, follow us @channel5press and @channel5_tv.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Digital Element .