iStreamPlanet's Managed Services Coupled With CMS and Innovation Around Live Ad Insertion Is Playing a Critical Role in the Relationship With NBC Sports
Las Vegas(13 Dec 2010)
iStreamPlanet today announced their latest innovation around live ad insertion which is now used for all NBC Sports online events. After partnering with NBC Sports in 2009 to deliver the Sunday Night Football Extra interactive program, iStreamPlanet was brought back to help innovate again on NBC Sports' SNF Extra coverage with enhancements to the online coverage. This includes designing and developing a new methodology of managing and inserting pre-defined ad pods at the desired times into the live broadcast. iStreamPlanet also designed and developed the management layer for the aggregation and insertion of a game's key events.
NBC Sports and iStreamPlanet have developed a successful long-term relationship having partnered on a number of major live sporting events. These include Wimbledon, the US Open golf tournament, and most recently, Notre Dame College football and the Ryder Cup. "iStreamPlanet is thrilled to be partnering once again with NBC Sports to bring what we all consider to be the most exciting online live viewing experience for sports fans," said Lou Greco, EVP of Sales for iStreamPlanet. "NBC continues to show leadership with their online enhancements to the 'Sunday Night Football' online experience and we are honored to be a part of it."
For the entire 2010 "Sunday Night Football" Season, iStreamPlanet is acquiring five live video feeds, encoding them in IIS Smooth Streaming. iStreamPlanet is also providing cloud-based IIS Origin Services. Additionally, iStream's CMS is being used for live ad insertion, management of the key game events data as well as to cut highlights instantly and publish them within minutes of the play. Additionally the CMS also enables NBC to trigger a seamless live-to-video on-demand transition by leveraging the video workflow automation platform (VWAP). VWAP is the next generation of automation software that enables content digitization into multiple formats for delivery across multiple platforms.
"iStreamPlanet has been a great partner of NBCSports.com," said Richard Cordella Vice President and General Manager of NBC Sports Digital. "Their technology, expertise and ability to innovate quickly, as well as cost effectively, are all keys to the success of our live-streaming efforts."
About iStreamPlanet
iStreamPlanet® has developed content creation, management and delivery products and services that bring media experiences to life across multiple screens by enabling content owners to create content once and deliver anywhere. This includes Over-the-Top (OTT) and TV Everywhere (TV-E) HD video delivery (live and on demand), content protection, management, monetization, rich media experiences, collaboration and analytics. Thanks to these products and services, iStreamPlanet's customers are bringing to life and monetizing new content capabilities and services in different segments (enterprise, broadcast, film, telecom, mobile, retail), across a multitude of screens and devices (TV, PC, mobile, gaming consoles and more). iStreamPlanet's team of digital media and broadcast experts has managed and enabled the deployment of more than 1,000 large live events viewed online by millions, including the Presidential Inauguration and the Michael Jackson Memorial. The world's top busine ss leaders (American Express, AT&T, Caterpillar, Microsoft), trendiest music festivals (Bonnaroo, Coachella, SXSW), most popular sporting events (Masters Golf Tournament, Championships at Wimbledon, Sunday Night Football, 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, NASCAR, PGA) and major broadcasters (CBS Television, Cablevision, Fox International, NBC, Turner and CTV) rely on iStreamPlanet's digital media solutions. Founded in 2000, the privately held company is headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona. More information is available by calling +1-702-492-5900 or visiting http://www.istreamplanet.com.
About NBC Sports
NBC Sports is synonymous with superior production that elevates the event, broad promotion, and mutually-beneficial partnerships. Known as America's Olympic Network, NBC has broadcast 12 Olympic Games, more than any other network. Its ability to amass large audiences with broad promotion, particularly for the Olympics, has resulted in NBC Sports broadcasting nine of the top 10 most-watched events in U.S. television history, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which stands at No. 1 all time with 215 million viewers. In 2009, NBC Sports won the prestigious Peabody Award for its production of the Beijing Games and was named 'Best in Sports Television' at the Sports Business Awards.
NBC Sports partners with numerous leagues and governing bodies to broadcast some of the most prestigious properties in sports, including: 'NBC Sunday Night Football,' which is the premier primetime NFL game of the week; 'Football Night in America,' which is the most-watched NFL studio program; Notre Dame football; the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; the U.S. Open Championship, THE PLAYERS Championship, and the Ryder Cup; the NHL Winter Classic, NHL 'Game of the Week,' and NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final; and Wimbledon and the French Open.