AEG Digital Media and Akamai Team to Power Grammy Live Experience for Music Goers Worldwide
Online Coverage Delivers Multi-Screen Access to all Sights, Sounds and Action Before, During and After the 55th Annual Grammy Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIF(08 Feb 2013)
AEG Digital Media, (AEG DM), the leading provider of live online broadcasting solutions, facilities and video optimization services in the digital media industry joined forces with Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the leading cloud platform for helping enterprises provide secure, high-performing user experiences on any device, anywhere, to deliver The Recording Academy’s upcoming Grammy Live online broadcast experience. Now in its fourth year, Grammy Live provides viewers around the world with access across multiple devices to exclusive, behind-the-scenes events surrounding the 55thAnnual Grammy Awards.
Running February 8th through February 10th, Grammy Live will feature three days of live and on-demand video coverage of Music’s Biggest Night that includes exclusive interviews, performances, red carpet arrivals and backstage interviews and reactions. Grammy Week events include “Social Media Rock Star Summit” at the LA Live Conga Room and “MusiCares Person of the Year Event” at the Los Angeles Convention Center both on February 8th, “Special Merit Awards and Nominees Reception” at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on February 9th, “Pre-Grammy Gala” at the Beverly Hills Hilton on February 9th, the “Pre-Telecast Ceremony” at the Nokia Theatre on February 10th and the “Red Carpet Arrivals Area” on Chick Hearn Blvd., adjacent to the Staples Center on February 10th with coverage from behind the scenes activities during the 2013 Grammy Celebration.
AEG Digital Media’s Online Broadcast Center in Marina Del Rey, Calif. is playing a key role in Grammy Live, acting as the master control room. Utilizing their direct fiber to L.A. LIVE, broadcast feeds will be routed to the new facility allowing for live encoding andseamless integration of red carpet coverage, backstage interviews and Grammy week events.
“AEG Digital Media is excited to be working with the Grammy Awards and Grammy Live again to deliver the show across multiple devices so music fans around the world can join and share in one of the biggest music events of the year,” said Chris Roach, Head of Business Development for AEG Digital Media. “Our multi-angle Tremolo Player, coupled with our world-class Online Broadcast Center will allow fans to interact with several Grammy events, including red carpet events, behind the scenes interviews and onstage performances in high definition streamed to any handset or screen.”
Throughout the Grammy and all Grammy-related events, The Recording Academy will be using AEG Digital Media’s multi-angle Tremolo Player, to create a multifaceted and engaging experience for fans watching the Grammy from any screen, giving them the best in online streaming while delivering a skip and buffer-free end user experience. In addition, AEG DM will provide a quick-turnaround VOD, as well as advanced audience analytics.
“Akamai is pleased to once again help music fans worldwide so they can enjoy Grammy Live video content at the best possible quality wherever they are, on whatever screen they’re using,” said Bill Wheaton, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Media, for Akamai. “Akamai is proud of our alliance with The Recording Academy and AEG Digital Media, which has led to new and exciting ways to engage audiences and extend the Grammy brand with initiatives like Grammy Live that marry broadcast and online content to form even more compelling events.”
Designed to ensure viewers enjoy watching the highest possible quality video on any device, The Recording Academy will stream Grammy Live content over Akamai’s Sola Sphere global media storage and delivery platform. Part of Akamai’s Sola Media Solutions, Sola Sphere can overcome the challenges of delivering video across the world’s wide variety of fixed and mobile network types and varying connection speeds.
About The Recording Academy:
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the Grammy Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGrammys on Twitter, like "The Grammys" on Facebook, and join The Grammys' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, andYouTube.
About AEG Digital Media
AEG Digital Media is the leading provider of complete webcast management, technical media services and video optimization solutions in the digital media industry. AEG Digital Media is regarded as the definitive turnkey service provider in the market today with a 12-year track record of empowering and enabling the defining moments in Internet broadcasting and live streaming media. Based in Los Angeles, AEG Digital Media maintains the industry’s leading technologies and broadcast operation centers to enable seamless, broadcast-quality live events and TV Everywhere services. www.AEGDigitalMedia.com
About Akamai
Akamai is the leading cloud platform for helping enterprises provide secure, high-performing user experiences on any device, anywhere. At the core of the Company's solutions is the Akamai Intelligent Platform providing extensive reach, coupled with unmatched reliability, security, visibility and expertise. Akamai removes the complexities of connecting the increasingly mobile world, supporting 24/7 consumer demand, and enabling enterprises to securely leverage the cloud. To learn more about how Akamai is accelerating the pace of innovation in a hyperconnected world, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter.