Saffron Digital to Launch End-to-End Ultraviolet Solution Using Akamai at 2013 NAB Show
Saffron Digital Joins Akamai’s NetAlliance Partner Program
London, England(04 Apr 2013)
Saffron Digital, which recently joined Akamai’s NetAlliance Partner Program, has leveraged its relationship with the leading cloud platform provider to launch a comprehensive end-to-end UltraViolet (UV) solution. The new solution will enable retailers, content owners, operators and device manufacturers to take advantage of the business opportunities presented by UV. Using a common file format (CFF), UV aims to engage consumers with the ultimate value proposition for premium video content: buy it anywhere and play it on any device you own.
Saffron Digital, which has been offering UV-like digital locker services since 2009, has integrated its secure online video platform with Akamai’s Sola Media Solutions and global CDN to create an “out-of-the-box” UV solution that simplifies and shortens time to market. As part of the relationship, Saffron Digital will develop UV storefronts that have its proprietary CFF player at their core.
“UltraViolet is starting to gain real market traction around the world with a wave of digital media retailers lining up to launch UV multi-platform VOD services. In the UK and US we’re already seeing millions of household accounts being created and thousands of titles becoming available. We’re also seeing a lot of interest from digital media retailers in Australia and New Zealand who are keen to get involved,” said Jason Keane, Saffron Digital CEO. “There are a lot of great synergies between Saffron Digital and Akamai and by integrating our video-platform with their media solutions and CDN we’re in a great position to help these very retailers launch compelling experiences as UV rolls out globally.”
The new end-to-end solution will feature:
- Content preparation
- A comprehensive content management system (CMS)
- Storefront services and application design & development
- Digital locker services
- Payment and authentication
- A proprietary CFF video player
- Service management
- Media analytics and reporting
Steven Chester, Vice President, Global Media & Entertainment at Akamai Technologies said, “Akamai’s NetAlliance Partner Program is designed to create better unified and integrated solutions for our customers, and the addition of Saffron Digital allows us to offer further choices for UV customers. With a strong focus on premium video, Saffron Digital is one of the industry leaders in DRM services and end-user experience. Like Saffron, we’ve been delivering UV-like services for a long time and, together, we know the complexities that new implementers may come across and how to solve them.”
Executives from Saffron Digital and Akamai will be available throughout NAB to discuss the partnership and the opportunities presented by UV.
About Saffron Digital
Saffron Digital simplifies the management and delivery of a premium video service. Its modular platform enables operators to integrate individual components into their existing systems and workflows or it can deliver a complete end-to-end solution that includes content preparation, a content management system, application and storefront development and a secure video player. Saffron Digital has been running cloud based locker and DRM domain services since 2009 and the latest platform is UV ready out of the box.
With offices in Europe, Asia and the US, Saffron Digital powers end-to-end premium video solutions on a global scale for clients including KDDI, Sky and HTC. It has received international recognition for its work and has won multiple awards including: The Mobile Entertainment Award for Best Video and TV Service Provider (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012); Guardian Top 100 Tech Media Invest Companies in the UK; MEFFYS 2011 Best TV & Video Service and the Media Momentum Award 2010, 2011.
About UltraViolet
UltraViolet is backed by a consortium that includes the major Hollywood studios, consumer electronics manufacturers and various other service providers and digital agencies. It enables users to access all their movies from a single digital locker in the cloud on whatever compatible device they choose.