IBC 2011 – Amsterdam. UPC parent Liberty Global has selected thePlatform to run its video management service across 14 territories, to provide the back-end video management system across its online video properties. Liberty Global will use thePlatform’s “TV Everywhere” solution to enable subscribers to catch-up and watch content on their computers.
thePlatform is owned by US operator Comcast and the Liberty proposition – expected to be unveiled by Liberty Global President and CEO Mike Fries in a presentation this afternoon – is expected to reflect Comcast’s own online service Xfinity TV.
Liberty will use thePlatform’s, cloud-based, mpx video management system as the central aggregation hub for collecting, protecting, and publishing online video to Liberty Global’s various web portals. It will also authenticate online video watching, according to the pay-TV package held by the subscriber.
“We’re committed to providing our subscribers even greater access to their favourate shows, and enhancing the value of their subscriptions beyond the TV screen,” said Ryc Brownrigg, Vice President of Digital Technology for Liberty Global. “By integrating with thePlatform’s mpx system, we’re gaining a powerful logistics hub that makes it easier for our subscribers to watch premium shows online, while preserving the content rights obligations we have with our content providers.”
“Liberty Global is unquestionably one of the preeminent leaders in television services around the world, and we’re extremely proud that they have selected mpx to help expand their efforts online,” added Ian Blaine, CEO of thePlatform. “Our role is to simplify the back-end complexity of online video management, enabling Liberty Global to bring new and innovative video services to market in an efficient and scalable way.”
The arrangement between Liberty and thePlatform at a stroke puts the multichannel concept into Europe’s major cable markets. Already BSkyB has launched its multiscreen play, Sky Go, with other launches expected in the next few months.