The emergence of three-screen video and the explosion of video-capable mobile devices makes it inevitable that the cable industry will be drawn far deeper into the intricacies of distributing content beyond TV sets. It is a confusing world, both technically and from a business perspective: Myriad vendors — many of them new to the cable industry — are providing equipment and services that address parts of this challenge.

The Digital Living Networking Alliance is a consortium aimed at creating some order in this inherently chaotic environment. DLNA is a comprehensive protocol that facilitates the secure exchange of audio and video among compliant devices. The protocol uses the Digital Transmission Content/Protection over Internet Protocol (DTCP-IP) when security and/or digital rights management (DRM) is necessary.

DLNA’s membership includes some of the biggest consumer electronics players in the world, and the organization — which is approaching its eighth birthday — has generated a good deal of momentum. Director of Marketing Anna Enerio reports the number of DLNA-compliant devices grew from 5,000 to 10,000 between the Consumer Electronics Shows in January 2010 and 2011. Currently, more than 70 set-top boxes are DLNA-compliant, according to the organization. Continue reading →