AMC Using New Anti-Piracy System On The Walking Dead And Other Original Series

AMC is deploying new digital watermarking technology to help curb piracy of The Walking Dead and other original series.

AMC is now embedding digital watermarks into episodes of The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, and Humans at the production and distribution level. The system, designed by Civolution's NexGuard, won't actually prevent episodes from leaking, but it should allow AMC to figure out if one of their international distributors or subcontractors is responsible for a leak.

"It is paramount for us to protect our assets when they are at their most valuable," Steve Pontillo, AMC's chief technology officer, said in a prepared statement. "This enhanced content security is a powerful deterrent against piracy and protects our revenue and that of our distribution partners."

While the system is designed to help prevent pre-broadcast leaks, which have been a problem for AMC in the past, it does little to prevent post-broadcast piracy by consumers. The Walking Dead is among the most pirated TV shows in the world, second only to HBO's Game of Thrones.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

Via Variety