ThePlatform has integrated Microsoft’s digital rights management (DRM) system and Microsoft’s adaptive streaming technologies into its mpx video management system.
The integration means that streaming services based on thePlatform’s platform – notably Comcast’s Xfinity TV Online – will be able to deliver HD video also in Micosoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) Smooth Streaming format with Microsoft’s PlayReady DRM.
Just as other streaming system vendors do, thePlatform supports multiple streaming and DRM formats. It recently entered a similar arrangement with Adobe, for example.
IIS Smooth Streaming involves dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP for delivering live and on-demand content; it adjusts video quality automatically and scales massively on content distribution networks, the companies said. The system supports both in-home and mobile delivery.
ThePlatform said it is also using Transform Manager, a server-side transformation engine built into IIS Media Services, to streamline production workflow for content companies by enabling solutions such as encoding once and simultaneously delivering multiple formats.
“ThePlatform is one of the leading online video management and publishing companies, and it offers us the ability to extend the reach of Microsoft technology to more network operators and content creators,” said Austen Mulinder, corporate vice president of the communications sector at Microsoft.
“Media companies and TV service providers are seeking protected, scalable, cross-platform solutions for publishing premium video,” said Marty Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing at thePlatform.
Comcast Interactive Media is the first company to combine Microsoft PlayReady and IIS Smooth Streaming technology with thePlatform’s video management services, as part of Comcast’s Xfinity TV service. The technologies are integrated as part of the on-demand video streaming feature on the iPad.
In a related announcement, Comcast said it has upped the amount of video available on its Xfinity iPad app by 50 percent.
“We’re always looking at technologies that will help us deliver high-quality, premium video to a broad range of IP-connected devices,” said Charlie Herrin, senior vice president of product development and technology for Comcast Interactive Media. “This new, integrated solution from Microsoft and thePlatform supports our ongoing efforts to deliver great entertainment experiences for our customers on all screens and devices.”