Vimond Media Solutions, which provides a comprehensive environment for managing and delivering multiformat over-the-top (OTT) media services, announced today at the 2011 NAB Show that it is teaming up with Vizrt, a leading provider of digital media software for the TV and online publishing industries, to offer an end-to-end solution that allows broadcasters, distributors, and media companies to create and offer their own online video services that monetize content with full broadcast quality.
At the heart of the combined solution is the Vimond video player, which supports simultaneous streaming to different devices and opens up for payment and access to content directly through a television set. The same player logic and functionality works across multiple platforms, allowing consumers to enjoy the video experience over PCs, TVs, mobile phones, tablets, IPTV boxes, media center consoles, connected TVs, game consoles, and IP-enabled set-top boxes. The platform also can be extended to other formats through its open API.
"Our combined solution with Vizrt will allow broadcasters, distributors, and media companies to monetize their content while providing superior, engaging, and attractive end-user experiences based on live and on-demand video services," said Helge Høibraaten, CEO of Vimond Media Solutions. "And because our player has been developed and intensively tested in real production for many years, broadcasters will now have a flexible, proven, and stable system with which to create their own online video services."
"With Vimond on board, Vizrt offers one workflow for video streaming and all supporting functionalities, such as subscriptions, advertising, geo-blocking, digital rights management, and analytics," said Francois Laborie, chief commercial officer at Vizrt. "The complete live and on-demand package comes in one framework, securing smooth delivery on every viable platform or device needing a specific video format or content enhancement."
The Vimond control servers and the Viz Media Engine transcoders are central to the online video solution that takes advantage of the Microsoft® Smooth Streaming adaptive streaming technology to provide a high-quality viewing experience that scales massively on content distribution networks. Broadcasters can build their own Hulu-like websites and offer a range of business models, including subscription, pay-per-view, and ad-supported services.
The production workflow is tightly integrated, keeping costs low and efficiency high. Vimond already integrates with the existing Vizrt workflow, from storage and transcoding in the Viz Media Engine to online publishing via Escenic Content Studio. All live streams are logged and archived to a dedicated media asset management (MAM) server to build highlights, teasers, or editorially enhanced content later on. Vizrt offers the entire spectrum of Web TV players from in-page standalone players to advanced Web TV players with live sports statistics and subscription management to live TV with electronic program guides (EPGs).
The solution also includes advanced monetization and administration logic. The solution can be made available on-premises, hosted as a SaaS or as a hybrid hosted/on-premises model. Although Vimond Media Solutions is a new company launched in Q1 of 2011, the technology embodied in the Vimond Video Platform has been developed and proven in production over more than 10 years at TV 2 in Norway and at other Scandinavian broadcasters. Now available for the first time to broadcasters, telcos, and media organizations, the Vimond Video Platform provides an intuitive and mature environment for production staff to manage the distribution of online video content, a powerful set of tools for managers to create commercially successful services, and a stable, high-quality experience for viewers.
Vimond Media Solutions is demonstrating the full range of Vimond functionality at the 2011 NAB Show in the Vizrt booth, SL5408.
Further information about Vimond Media Solutions and its products is available at www.vimond.com or by phone at +47 93 22 95 70.
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About Vizrt
Vizrt creates content production tools for the digital media industry — from award-winning 3D graphics and maps, to media asset management solutions and online publishing tools. Vizrt's products are used by the world's leading broadcasters and publishing houses, including: CNN, CBS, Fox, the BBC, BSkyB, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, The Globe and Mail, Times Online, The Telegraph, and Welt Online. Furthermore, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions such as the Stock Exchanges in New York and London use Vizrt systems.
About Vimond Media Solutions
Vimond Media Solutions AS develops and markets the Vimond online-TV platform. Based in Bergen, Norway, Vimond is one of a number of successful technology companies spun off from national broadcaster TV 2, together with Vizrt, StormGeo, and Mosart Medialab. After more than 10 years of technology development and use in production at Scandinavia's biggest commercial online video enterprise, TV 2 Sumo, Vimond was established in 2011 to make advanced solutions available to other broadcasters launching multi-screen over-the-top services. The Vimond platform provides a comprehensive environment for managing highly efficient streaming of content to cellphones, tablet computers, gaming consoles, connected TVs, and Blu-Ray players. With its depth of experience and expertise, Vimond is a leading player in the field, serving a rapidly growing roster of customers that includes TV4 in Sweden, MTV3 in Finland, TV 2 in Norway, and pan-Nordic distributor CMore. For more information visit www.vimond.com.