IBC 2007 (Stand 2.120 & 2.121)
ExtendMedia the North-American vendor of software powering digital media commerce for online video sites such as that of SHOWTIME, Morgan Freeman’s ClickStar, Wal-Mart’s video download site (build and managed by HP), Bell Canada’s soon to be launched video download site, and the online service of cable operator Cablevision, is expanding its reach to Europe. A representative will be based in London and Milan.
“We’ve received immediate warm reception from UK and Italian content companies and service operators and we believe that demonstrates the strong market need for content services platform solutions. We also are already deep in discussions with a number of UK and pan-European content players about digital content services, and look forward to sharing news of some major engagements in the near future”, says Keith Kocho, founder of ExtendMedia.
OpenCASE allows media companies to experiment with new online ventures and business models, such as pay per view, download to own, and rental or ad-supported content, offering operators the secure architecture for delivery of their entertainment content over IP networks, preserving a rich consumer experience.
Extend says its OpenCASE digital content services platform provides companies with the flexibility and versatility required to create, control and securely deliver high-quality media services. Offering not only a customer-facing front-end, but also modules that handle back-end integration with existing hardware and software. OpenCASE is a modular system that combines to a ‘make it work’ end to end solution if required. Modules handle tasks like metadata management, DRM, encoding. The software is also available as a managed service besides the regular enterprise-licensed, on-premise offering.
The new version on show at the booth of business partner IBM allows for easier syndication of content, so distributors can reuse electronic sell-thru and subscription video offerings on multiple sites. It extends support for applications offered on portable devices. It also adds compliance with the COPP content security protocol.
ExtendMedia is teaming with IBM’s Digital Consumer solution division which supports the end-to-end business process for assembly, management, consumption and measurement of digital content to consumers, whether direct or through intermediaries. According to David Jensen, partner, Digital Media, IBM Global Business Services “As media companies transform global distribution of digital entertainment content, they require flexibility for multichannel distribution – and to the ability to link existing systems with new consumer touchpoints”.