Comcast-owned thePlatform is making its video publishing system available to a wide range of over-the-top services, as well as IP-connected set-top boxes, TVs and Blu-ray players.
ThePlatform also announced today that it would provide support for Google TV when the service launches.
While thePlatform currently delivers the majority of the video it handles to PCs, it’s anticipating that the demand will increase over the coming years to deliver more video content to IP-connected devices in homes.
While cable operators are in the midst of firming up their IP-delivery plans, over-the-top providers are making inroads. According to a The Diffusion Group (TDG) report, more than 360 million households worldwide will own the components necessary to enjoy OTT video services on their TVs by 2014 – across games consoles, Blu-ray players, hybrid set-top boxes, Internet set-top boxes, media-centric PCs and networked digital TVs.
“Media and entertainment companies are looking well beyond today’s PCs and conventional set-top-boxes to reach their audiences,” said Ian Blaine, CEO of thePlatform. “At the end of the day, our customers produce and distribute compelling video that they want to monetize, and it’s our job to alleviate the complexity to make that happen across any device or platform. Our support for these OTT services is just the beginning, and we look forward to assisting our customers’ efforts across any number of next-generation, IP-connected devices.”
With today’s announcement, thePlatform is providing video management and publishing to a host of OTT services and devices including Boxee, DivX, Roku, Free Stream Media’s Flingo TV, TiVo’s line of IP-connected DVRs, and Vudu.
“Boxee’s mission is to create the best experience for enjoying TV shows, movies and video from the Internet on a TV, no matter what the source,” said Avner Ronen, CEO and co-founder of Boxee. “This new relationship with thePlatform means that media and entertainment companies can now easily add Boxee as a distribution point to expand their audiences and generate more revenue from advertising and rentals/purchases.”
ThePlatform’s mpx Beta, which was launched in February, allows customers to upload multiple media files simultaneously and distribute video to websites, mobile phones and other IP-connected devices with a few simple clicks.
ThePlatform’s cable customers include Rogers Communications, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cox Communications and Cablevision. The company is working with Comcast, Rogers and programmers on their respective TV Everywhere service offerings.
