Harmonic Redefines Live Sports Streaming with AI, Low-Latency, and Anti-Piracy Breakthroughs

Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) has unveiled a suite of innovations aimed at redefining live sports streaming experiences for fans and monetization strategies for content providers. The company’s latest advancements, developed under its cloud-native VOS®360 Media SaaS and VOS360 Ad SaaS platforms, emphasize low-latency streaming, AI-driven highlight creation, and robust anti-piracy measures. These features are set to be demonstrated at the IBC2025 exhibition in September.

At the core of Harmonic’s updates is the ability to deliver low-latency streams with geo-redundant architecture, enabling near real-time content delivery with sub-five-second latency. This innovation ensures that fans across different geographies receive synchronized streams without compromising the reliability of the delivery infrastructure. According to the company, this marks a pivotal advancement in the video industry, allowing for seamless redundancy while maintaining the quality of the viewer experience.

In parallel, Harmonic is enhancing fan engagement through partnerships with technology firms Skreens and VisualOn, enabling interactive multiview capabilities. This feature allows fans to watch and engage with multiple live games simultaneously on the same screen. Additionally, AI-driven tools automate scene detection and highlight creation, providing real-time content that aligns with modern viewer expectations for dynamic and responsive sports coverage.

To address growing concerns over content piracy, Harmonic has integrated forensic watermarking and geo-blocking technologies into its platform. These tools operate at the CDN level and allow content providers to quickly identify and respond to unauthorized redistribution. By leveraging dynamic watermarking and access control services, the company is empowering content creators to better safeguard their intellectual property and maintain revenue integrity.

On the monetization front, the platform supports in-stream advertising through server-side insertion of addressable ad formats such as double-box and dynamic L-bars. These ads can be strategically placed within the content using automated or manual triggering methods, with AI enhancing the placement accuracy. This approach aims to preserve viewer engagement while maximizing monetization opportunities for sports publishers.

Harmonic’s latest advancements reflect a broader shift in the streaming industry toward cloud-native and AI-enhanced solutions. As live sports content becomes more accessible, the integration of immersive technologies and data-driven advertising strategies is expected to reshape the landscape of digital content delivery. The company’s focus on low-latency streaming and anti-piracy measures aligns with industry needs to deliver secure, high-quality, and monetizable experiences.