What is the difference between watermarking and fingerprinting?
With watermarking, a mark is inserted at source – by the channel or broadcaster – when a programme is broadcast. This mark must therefore remain part of the programme regardless of the equipment used to watch it. Watermarking requires equipment to recognise this mark (this is the case for NG audimeters). “Fingerprinting” involves “sampling” a piece of audio-visual content that is viewed or listened to on any platform (mainly Internet). It is then compared with a full database of a programme’s channels or programme catalogue. If this “sample” appears to belong to this database this means that it comes from it. Both these technologies have specific advantages, depending on how they are used. “Watermarking” is used for audience measurement. “Fingerprinting” is used, for example, by rights holders to identify unauthorised broadcasting of their content.
