A method, comprising: accessing by watching stations, multiple video streams, each video stream being distributed by a different content distributor (120, 122, 124) among multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), each video stream including same video content provided by a single content source to the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), a video stream of the multiple video streams being available from a content distributor (120, 122, 124) of the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124) to a first client device; identifying, by an identification module that is part of a device authorization system, the content distributor (120, 122, 124) among the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124) by (a) determining a time delay between a first time associated with a transmission of a frame of video content from the single content source to the content distributor (120, 122, 124) and a second time associated with a presentation of the frame of video content by the first client device, (b) comparing the determined time delay to time delays associated with the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), and (c) identifying the content distributor (120, 122, 124) based on a match between the determined time delay and the time delay associated with the content distributor (120, 122, 124); and performing, by an action module that is part of a device authorization system, an action dependent upon the identifying of the content distributor (120, 122, 124) among the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), wherein performing the action comprises one or more of (i) authorizing the first client device to receive content from the identified content distributor (120, 122, 124), (ii) authorizing a second client device to receive content from the identified content distributor (120, 122, 124), and (iii) providing sponsored content based on the identified content distributor (120, 122, 124), wherein the device authorization system communicates with the watching stations and with the first client device. accessing by watching stations, multiple video streams, each video stream being distributed by a different content distributor (120, 122, 124) among multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), each video stream including same video content provided by a single content source to the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), a video stream of the multiple video streams being available from a content distributor (120, 122, 124) of the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124) to a first client device; identifying, by an identification module that is part of a device authorization system, the content distributor (120, 122, 124) among the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124) by (a) determining a time delay between a first time associated with a transmission of a frame of video content from the single content source to the content distributor (120, 122, 124) and a second time associated with a presentation of the frame of video content by the first client device, (b) comparing the determined time delay to time delays associated with the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), and (c) identifying the content distributor (120, 122, 124) based on a match between the determined time delay and the time delay associated with the content distributor (120, 122, 124); and performing, by an action module that is part of a device authorization system, an action dependent upon the identifying of the content distributor (120, 122, 124) among the multiple content distributors (120, 122, 124), wherein performing the action comprises one or more of (i) authorizing the first client device to receive content from the identified content distributor (120, 122, 124), (ii) authorizing a second client device to receive content from the identified content distributor (120, 122, 124), and (iii) providing sponsored content based on the identified content distributor (120, 122, 124), wherein the device authorization system communicates with the watching stations and with the first client device.