A system and a method for secure distribution of digital media content through a packet-based network such as the Internet. The security of the present invention does not require one-to-one key exchange, but rather enables keys, and/or information required in order to build the key, to be broadcast through the packet-based network. The digital media content is then also preferably broadcast, but cannot be accessed without the proper key. However, preferably only authorized end-user devices are able to access the digital media content, by receiving and/or being able to access the proper key. Thus, the present invention is useful for other types of networks in which digital media content is more easily broadcast rather than unicast, in addition to packet-based networks.