If you're streaming licensed content — sports rights, studio films, premium series — your distribution agreement already requires DRM. If you're streaming originals, you'll want it the moment piracy starts costing you subscribers. Here's the landscape.
Widevine (Google)
Required for Android, Chrome and most smart TVs. Three security levels (L1 highest). Studios typically require L1 for HD/4K content. Configured once via your packaging step.
FairPlay (Apple)
Required for iOS, tvOS and Safari. Single security level. Slightly heavier integration than Widevine but mandatory for any Apple device delivery.
PlayReady (Microsoft)
Required for Xbox, Windows and some smart TVs (Samsung, LG). Most operators ship Widevine + FairPlay first and add PlayReady when they hit the smart TV long tail.
Forensic watermarking
Watermarking embeds an invisible per-session identifier in the video itself. If a stream leaks to a piracy site, you can trace it to the exact subscriber within minutes. Studios are increasingly requiring it for 4K and live sports — and it's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy against major rights revocations.
