New Partnership Between NAGRAVISION and Harmonic Brings Flexible Cloud-Based Watermarking to OTT and Live Event Broadcasters

New Partnership Between NAGRAVISION and Harmonic Brings Flexible Cloud-Based Watermarking to OTT and Live Event Broadcasters

(IN BRIEF) NAGRAVISION and Harmonic have expanded their long-standing partnership with the launch of a fully managed, event-based watermarking-as-a-service solution aimed at tackling the growing challenge of live sports piracy in the streaming era. By integrating Harmonic’s VOS 360 Media SaaS platform with NAGRA’s NexGuard forensic watermarking technology, the solution enables broadcasters and OTT providers to implement A/B watermarking efficiently while reducing operational complexity and infrastructure requirements. The cloud-based, on-demand model allows operators to activate watermarking only when needed, lowering costs and minimizing engineering overhead. As streaming audiences grow and content distribution becomes more fragmented, the new solution addresses industry demand for scalable, real-time protection that safeguards revenue from premium live events.

(PRESS RELEASE) CHESEAUX-SUR-LAUSANNE / PHOENIX, AZ, United States, 17-Apr-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — NAGRAVISION, part of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), has introduced a new fully managed, event-driven watermarking-as-a-service solution in collaboration with Harmonic Inc.. The launch marks an expansion of the companies’ long-standing partnership and brings enhanced content protection capabilities to streaming providers. The service will be offered as an upgrade to existing users of Harmonic’s VOS® 360 Media SaaS platform or as part of the broader NAGRA Streaming Security portfolio.

With the rapid growth of streaming, particularly in live sports, the industry is facing increasing risks tied to content piracy. As distribution channels multiply and audiences fragment across platforms, the exposure to unauthorized redistribution has intensified. This evolving landscape is fueling demand for security solutions that operate in real time and directly safeguard revenue streams tied to live events.

The newly introduced solution combines Harmonic’s VOS 360 Media platform with NAGRA’s NexGuard forensic watermarking technology, forming a tightly integrated system designed to detect and counteract illegal restreaming during live broadcasts. By enabling A/B watermarking — a capability that is becoming a requirement from many content rights holders — the solution allows broadcasters and OTT providers to implement advanced protection measures with significantly reduced operational complexity and cost.

A key advantage of the offering lies in its fully managed, cloud-based architecture. By embedding NexGuard watermarking within Harmonic’s SaaS environment, the solution eliminates the need for operators to deploy and maintain dedicated infrastructure capable of handling high-volume, low-latency operations. Instead, customers can activate watermarking only for specific events, adopting a flexible, usage-based model. Harmonic oversees orchestration, scalability, and uptime, helping reduce both per-event expenses and the burden on internal engineering teams.

Gil Rudge, Senior Vice President of Solutions and Americas Sales at Harmonic, emphasized that as audiences increasingly rely on streaming platforms for live content, service providers require security tools that are both powerful and easy to implement. He highlighted that the collaboration delivers a streamlined, on-demand watermarking solution that minimizes complexity while aligning with market demand for flexible, event-based protection.

Stéphane Le Dreau, Senior Vice President of Global Product Management and Sales Development at NAGRAVISION, noted that the persistent challenge of live sports piracy calls for robust and reliable safeguards. He pointed out that the enhanced partnership with Harmonic makes advanced forensic watermarking more accessible by offering it as an on-demand service tailored to the operational needs of modern event streamers, particularly as more premium live content shifts to streaming platforms.

To learn more about watermarking-as-a-service, book a meeting with NAGRAVISION at NAB Show in Las Vegas from April 19-22, 2026, and visit Harmonic on booth W2831 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

About NAGRAVISION
NAGRAVISION, the media and entertainment technology division of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), enables content creators, providers and operators worldwide to launch, monetize and scale services at speed, offering their subscribers compelling, personalized user experiences. Its portfolio of award-winning products and services spans traditional video security, cybersecurity, cloud-based video and streaming solutions, turnkey direct-to-consumer solutions for the sports industry, and rich personalization services that drive subscriber loyalty. For more information, visit nagra.vision or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About Harmonic 
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in virtualized broadband and video delivery solutions, enables media companies and service providers to deliver ultra-high-quality video streaming and broadcast services to consumers globally. The company revolutionized broadband networking via the industry’s first virtualized broadband solution, enabling operators to more flexibly deploy gigabit internet services to consumers’ homes and mobile devices. Whether simplifying OTT video delivery via innovative cloud and software platforms, or powering the delivery of gigabit internet services, Harmonic is changing the way media companies and service providers monetize live and on-demand content on every screen. More information is available at www.harmonicinc.com.

Media contacts
Gary Crosilla
Senior Corporate Communication Manager
NAGRAVISION
Kudelski Group
+41 79 708 77 54
gary.crosilla@nagra.com

Alex Crabb
Caster Communications for NAGRAVISION
+1 (401) 318-2229
nagravision@castercomm.com

SOURCE: NAGRAVISION