About the Project

Paginar, a leader in OTT video applications and content management systems (CMS), approached The Widlarz Group with a critical request: to extend DRM support in their React Native application for visionOS, Apple’s next-generation operating system. Without this DRM support, Paginar’s key client, Laurel Canyon Live Inc., would not have been able to secure and distribute their proprietary high quality 4K video content. In the future, LCL plans to innovate further by introducing stereoscopic video streams, creating a unique immersive experience tailored to each eye separately.

Laurel Canyon Live, led by John Ross, a veteran in the entertainment industry, creates immersive concert experiences for platforms like visionOS. Their business model relies heavily on the ability to securely stream these high-value video assets. Without proper DRM support, they faced the risk of content piracy and loss of intellectual property, which would undermine their entire revenue model.

By ensuring that visionOS could support DRM-encrypted content, we not only provided Paginar with a key technical solution but also enabled Laurel Canyon Live to scale their business model onto this new platform. This allowed them to offer unique, premium content to their audiences, helping them differentiate in the market and grow their revenue streams.

Our Tasks and Process

The project required a complete rebuild of the existing DRM module to support visionOS, as the previous implementation based on AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate was incompatible with the new system. We adopted Apple’s new APIs, such as AVContentKeySession and AVContentKeyRequest, to securely manage content keys for video streams, preventing unauthorized access.

Key Steps:

1. Rewriting the DRM Module: We completely rebuilt the DRM module from scratch, ensuring compatibility across iOS, visionOS, and Android platforms.
2. Collaboration with Paginar: We worked closely with Paginar, who provided test streams and valuable feedback throughout the development process, ensuring the solution was tailored to their needs and those of their key client.
3. Seamless Integration: We managed to integrate the new DRM approach without introducing any breaking changes to the existing app architecture, maintaining the overall system stability and ensuring a smooth deployment.
4. Contribution to Open Source: Once the development phase was complete, we contributed this new DRM functionality back to the React Native Video open-source project through a public pull request, ensuring the broader community could benefit from the update.

Business Impact

This technical solution was crucial in enabling Laurel Canyon Live to launch their visionOS-targeted streaming service, which delivers immersive concert experiences by streaming 4k video content enhanced with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. These advancements set the foundation for future innovations, such as the introduction of stereoscopic video streams, which will further solidify their market position as pioneers in immersive entertainment.

Key Business Outcomes:

• Unique Content Delivery: The 4k video streams offer an unmatched immersive experience that differentiates Laurel Canyon Live from competitors. This proprietary content is central to their business, and the DRM solution allowed them to protect it against piracy and unauthorized distribution.
• Business Model Enablement: Without DRM support, Laurel Canyon Live’s premium content would have been vulnerable to piracy, making it impossible to justify the high production costs of creating such immersive video streams. The implementation of DRM allowed them to confidently proceed with their business on visionOS.
• Market Expansion: The successful integration of DRM protection meant that Laurel Canyon Live could expand their offerings to visionOS, tapping into a growing user base and positioning themselves as pioneers in the immersive entertainment space.

In short, our efforts directly enabled Laurel Canyon Live to launch and monetize their content securely on the visionOS platform, securing their intellectual property and ensuring the viability of their business model.

Challenges Faced & Solutions

• DRM Rewrite: The existing DRM solution based on AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate was incompatible with visionOS. To resolve this, we rewrote the entire DRM module, transitioning to AVContentKeySession and AVContentKeyRequest, which ensured the necessary content protection on the new platform.
• Seamless Integration: We ensured that the new DRM implementation did not disrupt the existing app architecture, allowing for smooth updates and avoiding any breaking changes that could affect other parts of the application.
• Close Collaboration and Testing: Regular communication with Paginar throughout the development and testing phase was crucial. By working with real-world video streams provided by Paginar, we were able to fine-tune the solution and ensure it met both their technical and business requirements.

Technologies Used

• React Native Video: This open-source library was the foundation for adding the DRM functionality, enabling seamless video playback across different platforms, including visionOS.
• React Native: The cross-platform framework allowed us to deliver a unified codebase for both iOS and visionOS, ensuring consistent functionality and a smooth user experience.
• DRM (Digital Rights Management): DRM was implemented to protect premium video content from unauthorized access or distribution, which was essential for securing Laurel Canyon Live’s business model.
• visionOS (AVContentKeyRequest): We utilized the visionOS-specific APIs like AVContentKeyRequest and AVContentKeySession to securely manage content keys for video streams, ensuring that DRM could be enforced on Apple’s next-generation platform.
• Swift: The entire DRM module and integration for visionOS were developed in Swift, ensuring high performance and tight compatibility with Apple’s native frameworks.

Results (Achievements)

• DRM Support for visionOS: Successfully added DRM support to React Native Video in version 6.6.2, now publicly available, allowing secure streaming on visionOS.
• No Breaking Changes: The reworked DRM module integrated seamlessly without disrupting the existing app architecture, ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing stability.
• Bug Fixes: Several bugs related to AirPlay playback and buffering issues were resolved as part of this rework, further improving the video streaming experience.

Client Testimony

Bruno Gazzera

Paginar

We reached out to TWG to enhance the library with visionOS DRM support because this was crucial for our client’s business model. The immersive content that Laurel Canyon Live produces requires content protection, and without DRM, they couldn’t launch on visionOS. Thanks to TWG’s expertise, we’ve been able to deliver exactly what our client needed. The quality of the solution was top-notch, and we’re excited that it also contributed back to the open-source community.

Conclusion

This DRM integration enabled Paginar’s client, Laurel Canyon Live, to securely stream immersive content on visionOS, protecting their high-value video assets and reinforcing their business model. Our solution ensured seamless deployment across platforms, strengthened Paginar’s offerings, and supported future growth in the immersive streaming industry. By contributing back to the open-source community, we enhanced React Native Video’s capabilities, making this innovation available to a broader audience. This project exemplifies how tailored technical solutions can drive business success and innovation.

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