1 Mainstream Partners With Sky to Launch Sky Services on Apple TV and Roku
Highly Automated Internet TV Platform Offers Substantial Speed-to-Market and Cost Advantages; Launches Sky Services on Apple TV and Roku Within Weeks From Initial Concept
Cupertino, Calif(18 Sep 2013)
Internet TV platform 1 Mainstream has announced a partnership with the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company, British Sky Broadcasting (Sky).
Sky used the 1 Mainstream platform to create its Sky News app experience for Apple TV and Roku with live high quality 720p streaming just weeks after the initial concept. The launch of Sky News on Apple TV and Roku means that the broadcaster can now reach up to 18 million new viewers in the US and Canada, as well as extending its reach in the UK and Ireland through those devices. The Sky News app has also been rolled out in the UK on the NOW TV IP streaming box using 1 Mainstream.
Launched in 2012 by a team of Apple, Roku and Tivo veterans looking to change costly and lengthy application development, inconsistent user experiences and hardware-based video technologies, 1 Mainstream is the first software-as-a-service platform that automates app creation, streaming, ad serving and billing for Internet TV platforms. Built from the ground up using highly scalable and cost-optimized cloud technologies, 1 Mainstream provides rich native application experiences on a wide variety of high engagement device platforms and multiple content delivery networks. By using 1 Mainstream’s automated platform, content programmers, networks and distributors are able to minimize the time and resource investment in apps, devices, streaming and billing while maximizing their focus on content and customers.
“We’re always keen to use innovative new technologies to help us reach more people with our award-winning content,” said Emma Lloyd, Sky’s Director of Corporate Business Development. “Working with 1 Mainstream on Apple TV and Roku has meant that we can create bespoke apps for these platforms more quickly than ever before, enabling us to reach even more homes and better monetize our content internationally. 1 Mainstream’s real-time analytics also provide instant insight into the usage of the app, helping us focus on the ways in which we can further improve our over-the-top content services.”.”
In addition to Sky, the company counts 20 content, media and entertainment companies as customers, including one of the world’s largest cable & satellite TV providers. Supported platforms include Apple TV, Google TV, Roku, Xbox, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android Tablets, and Samsung Smart TVs. 1 Mainstream is backed by DCM, Menlo Ventures and Sky.
“1 Mainstream is a great example of an enterprise platform designed and built by a consumer team. I am glad to see the platform receiving strong market validation and support from Sky, and leading platforms like Apple TV.” said Jason Krikorian, venture capitalist at DCM Ventures, founder of Sling Media and an early investor in the company.
“Our work with Sky, Apple TV and Roku demonstrates that innovation is alive and well in TV. Instant global distribution to a highly engaged digital audience is now here. ” said Rajeev Raman, CEO, 1 Mainstream. “It also demonstrates that VOD is no longer the only game for IPTV. With the Sky News live service on Apple TV and Roku, we are blurring the lines between traditional and Internet delivery. 1 Mainstream is uniquely qualified to be on the leading edge of this trend and we look forward to bringing more world-class content to audiences everywhere.”
About 1 Mainstream
1 Mainstream is an Internet TV platform. Founded in 2012 by a team of digital content industry vets from Apple, TiVo and Roku, The platform automates the distribution and monetization process for linear and on-demand video content on connected devices. Based I Cupertino, Calif., 1 Mainstream is backed by DCM, Menlo Ventures and BSkyB. For more information, visit www.1mainstream.com.
About Sky
Sky is the UK and Ireland’s leading home entertainment and communications company. Around 40% of all homes have a direct relationship with Sky through its range of TV, broadband and home telephony services.
Sky is the UK’s biggest investor in television content, investing more than £2.5 billion a year in channels such as Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Living, Sky Arts, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and Sky News. Around two-thirds of Sky’s content spend is invested in the UK and Sky is the fastest-growing source of investment in original British programmes. More than 30 million people watch Sky content each week.