Sony One Expands to Latin America with Simplestream

Sony One Streams Into latin America with Simplestream Power

New video-on-demand service expands access to Sony Pictures Entertainment library in Argentina, emphasizing multilingual support adn DRM security.

April 7, 2025

LONDON—In a move mirroring the competitive landscape of streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ in the U.S., Sony One, a new video-on-demand (VOD) platform showcasing the extensive catalog of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), has partnered with Simplestream to fuel its expansion into Latin America.This strategic alliance aims to deliver a seamless and high-quality streaming experience to a growing audience in the region, starting with Argentina.

Simplestream is providing Sony One with a comprehensive, end-to-end solution designed to broaden the distribution of its premium content across a multitude of devices. This includes compatibility with popular platforms like android and iOS for smartphones and tablets, LG and Samsung smart TVs, and standard web browsers, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users.

For American viewers accustomed to accessing streaming services on their preferred devices, this multi-platform approach is key to capturing market share. Think of how easily one can switch from watching “Stranger Things” on an iPhone during a commute to catching it on a Roku-enabled TV at home.

Key Features and Technologies

The Simplestream service powering Sony One incorporates several crucial technologies to ensure a robust and secure streaming experience:

• Bitmovin’s Player: Integration with Bitmovin’s player provides advanced playback capabilities,including support for Digital Rights Management (DRM) to protect content from piracy,a growing concern for studios and streaming services alike. This is analogous to the DRM technologies used by Hulu and Amazon prime Video to safeguard their content investments in the fiercely competitive U.S.market.
• Third-party Authentication: Enables secure user login and access management.
• Payment Gateways: Facilitates seamless subscription payments, essential for monetization.
• Real-Time Analytics: Provides valuable data insights into user behavior and content performance, allowing Sony One to optimize its offerings.

Expanding Reach and Content Access

By leveraging Simplestream’s Media Manager and App Platform products, Sony One has successfully extended its reach to Argentina. This expansion grants viewers in the region access to SPE’s extensive library of family-friendly films and blockbusters, including titles like “Men in Black,” the Spider-Man franchise, “Peter Rabbit,” and “Jumanji.” This mirrors the strategy employed by Paramount+ in the U.S., which uses its extensive back catalog to attract subscribers.

Multilingual Support and DRM

A key differentiator for the Sony One platform is its support for multilingual content. The platform can ingest and display content in English, spanish, and Portuguese simultaneously. This is a crucial feature for appealing to a diverse audience in Latin America,where multiple languages are spoken.

The platform employs common encryption CENC scheme for DRM, ensuring content is protected across different devices and platforms. The significance of robust DRM cannot be overstated, especially given the increasing sophistication of piracy methods. Consider the legal battles fought by companies like HBO in the U.S. to protect their exclusive content from illegal distribution.

Quotes from Leadership

“This was another fantastic project to work on with the Sony team, which we delivered on budget and on time,” Dan Finch, Simplestream’s co-founder and chief commercial officer stated: The telco authentication workflow and support for multi-lingual content, with functionality such as progressive downloads, enhances our capabilities as a leading OTT provider in the market.”

“This is our first collaboration with Simplestream in Latin America, and we’re super excited to work together to simplify Sony’s One’s live and on-demand media workflows and provide secure, high-quality streams to audiences across Argentina and help meet the growing appetite for digital content in the region,” added Stefan Lederer, CEO and co-founder at Bitmovin.

Implications for the U.S. Market

The Sony One expansion into Latin America offers several key takeaways for the U.S. streaming market:

• Globalization of Streaming: The streaming landscape is increasingly global, with companies seeking growth opportunities beyond domestic markets.
• Importance of Localized Content: Multilingual support and culturally relevant content are crucial for success in international markets. This ties into the U.S. market as well, with services increasingly curating content for Spanish-speaking viewers with entirely in Spanish interfaces.
• DRM as a Necessity: Robust DRM measures are essential for protecting content and ensuring revenue streams in an era of rampant piracy.
• Technology Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with technology providers like Simplestream and bitmovin are key to delivering a high-quality streaming experience.

Looking ahead, the success of Sony One in Latin America will likely depend on its ability to adapt to local market conditions, offer compelling content that resonates with viewers, and compete effectively with established streaming giants. The U.S. market will be watching closely.

Bitmovin is exhibiting at the 2025 NAB show in the West Hall at W3221.

What are your initial thoughts on the launch of Sony One in Latin America and the importance of the partnership with Simplestream?

Sony One’s Latin America Launch: An Interview with Alex Ramirez, Streaming Strategy Analyst

Archyde News: Welcome, Alex. Sony One’s expansion into Latin America with Simplestream is a big move. Can you give us your initial thoughts on this venture?

Alex Ramirez: Thanks for having me. It’s a very dynamic moment in the streaming world.Sony One’s entrance into Latin America, powered by Simplestream, is a clear signal of the growing globalization we are seeing in the streaming market. They’re aiming to capture a important piece of the rising demand for video-on-demand content in the region, which in turn helps them compete better with Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming giants.

What are the key technologies underpinning Sony one’s launch in latin America?

Archyde News: Simplestream’s role seems crucial. What specifically are they bringing to the table, and how does Bitmovin fit in, as mentioned in the article?

Alex Ramirez: Simplestream is providing the complete infrastructure—the end-to-end solution. This encompasses everything from content delivery to user interface to secure streaming. Bitmovin,as a core technology partner,offers its video player technology. That player is vital because it supports Digital Rights Management, or DRM, which is crucial for protecting Sony’s premium content from piracy. The combination of Simplestream’s platform and Bitmovin’s player is aiming to provide a high-quality and secure viewing experience across the various platforms mentioned in the article as well, helping it stand out.

Localization is essential for international streaming.

Archyde News: The article highlights multilingual support. How important is this for Sony One’s success in Latin America?

Alex Ramirez: Massively important. Latin America is a region with diverse languages; Spanish and Portuguese are of immense prominence, so offering content in these languages is essential. Providing content with multilingual audio tracks and subtitles significantly broadens the platform’s appeal and helps them better compete with established international services that already offer those features.

Protection and security

Archyde News: DRM and content security are major concerns. can you elaborate on the implications of this?

Alex Ramirez: Absolutely. DRM is no longer just an option, but a requirement. Piracy is a huge threat to the streaming industry. Employing a robust system like the common encryption CENC scheme is crucial for safeguarding their content investment. this reduces the risk of illegal distribution and boosts revenue stability.Consider how critically important DRM has become to companies like HBO in the U.S. in terms of protecting the value of their exclusive content.

Lessons for the U.S. Market?

Archyde News: What lessons can the U.S. streaming market learn from Sony One’s approach to Latin America?

Alex Ramirez: Several.First, the streaming landscape is truly global. Secondly, localization and culturally relevant content are key. Think about the growing demand for Spanish-language content in the U.S. the importance of strategic technology partnerships cannot be overstated. The collaboration between Sony, Simplestream, and Bitmovin is a good example of this. Strong, reliable partnerships provide a secure streaming experience.

Future Predictions

Archyde News: So, looking ahead, what do you think will determine Sony One’s success in Latin America?

Alex Ramirez: It will depend on a few things. The content; Sony has the library, but they need to offer a competitive catalog to attract and retain subscribers. Secondly, pricing and marketing; a competitive pricing strategy and a solid marketing campaign adjusted for the Latin American market, are central. adapting to local market trends. The streaming landscape changes very fast; Sony One needs to stay agile and listen to their audience. The U.S. market and other global streaming companies are surely observing closely.

Archyde News: Alex, thank you for your time and insights.

Alex Ramirez: My pleasure.

What are your initial thoughts on the launch of Sony One in Latin America and the importance of the partnership with Simplestream?