CableLabs is reportedly in the process of adding some new specifications to the emerging--and highly anticipated--TV Everywhere specifications as they concern authentication and authorization.
The work is logical and advancing quickly as cable moves its content from the walled gardens of residential set-top boxes onto the less controlled screens of PCs and eventually smartphones. Once the content clears the residence both operators and especially content providers want to make sure that only authorized (read that paying) consumers have access and operators, especially, want to make sure that the authentication methodology is as inexpensive, quick and painless as possible.
CableLabs' work aims at bringing together a disparate group of potential interface specifications to reduce costs and complexity before cable operators move too far down the deployment line. Most importantly, the report from Light Reading Cable suggests, a common interface for both authorization and authentication is the top priority.
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