IBC 2008 – AMSTERDAM. P2P-Next, a pan-European conglomerate of 21 industrial partners, media content providers and research institutions, is releasing its first version of NextShare, an Open Source P2P (Peer-to-Peer) video delivery platform today at IBC 2008. NextShareTV is a set-top-box implementation of the NextShare content delivery platform running on low-cost embedded hardware.
The P2P-Next research project has successfully released and tested the first Beta version of its P2P live streaming technology. This new technology allows anyone to broadcast a live stream, such as a webcam feed or TV channel, to millions of internet users. Key is the bandwidth efficiency of this technology, and by expanding the proven BitTorrent protocol you can stream to thousands of people using roughly the same amount of bandwidth as for a single user.
NextShareTV is being demonstrated at the IBC 2008 exhibition at the EBU Village (Hall 10 Both D21).
“This is an extremely ambitious project which will create a viable broadcast platform that would enable large audiences to stream and interact with live and on-demand (VoD) content via a set top box or a TV receiver. In addition, it is our intention to allow audiences to build communities around their favourite content via a fully personalized system. We are enthusiastic about the P2P-Next plans to test the P2P-Next system for major international broadcasting events”, said Lieven Vermaele, EBU technical director in a prepared statement.
“The harnessing of Open Source P2P video streaming technology like NextShare by low-cost consumer electronics represents a change and an exciting opportunity for the market. Pioneer recognises that consumers are demanding greater choice and quality content on demand, together with integrated devices that are easy to use. The next step is to agree Open Standards for interoperability between CE peer devices across Europe”, said Mark Stuart of Pioneer Digital Design and technical director of the P2P-Next project.
George Wright of BBC, creative director of the P2P-Next project stated: “The BBC is excited to be part of the world’s first end-to-end streaming of live TV via a P2P network to a set top box using professional content at professional quality. Working with partners around Europe and content producers from the public service broadcasters of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), commercial and microformat areas will allow a new distribution system to be tested, evaluated and assessed.”
The P2P-Next project will run over four years, and plans to conduct large-scale technical trials of new media applications running on a wide range of consumer devices. The project has an open approach towards sharing results. All core software technology will be available as open source, enabling new business models. P2P-Next will also address a number of outstanding challenges related to content delivery over the internet, including technical, legal, regulatory, security, business and commercial issues.
