[SatNews] Irdeto has announced that Astro, Malaysia’s leading cross-media broadcaster and DTH satellite pay-TV operator, has selected the company’s content management solution to power the live streaming and on-demand broadband delivery of all 64 FIFA World Cup 2010 matches on the Astro B.yond Player. Additionally, Irdeto will power mobile access to live matches via Astro sister company Maxis, offering exclusive streaming of all matches, replays and highlights.
As Astro’s “content hub” for the ingestion, preparation and delivery of all World Cup matches to new media services, Irdeto is working seamlessly with some of the best regarded technology and media partners in the world. Together with Akamai’s HD Network for live streaming in HD and Microsoft Corp.’s customized player experience with Microsoft Silverlight and Microsoft PlayReady for content protection, Irdeto is supporting the first regional deployment of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) Smooth Streaming. This technology is an adaptive bitrate technology that detects a consumer's broadband data transfer rate in real time and adjusts the quality of a video stream for an uninterrupted, unparalleled user experience.
The Akamai HD Network offers the largest video distribution capacity and unmatched global scale, and is optimized to help broadcasters increase audience engagement and expand revenues by complementing traditional mediums such as TV and DVD with the Internet. In addition, Conviva is providing real-time audience monitoring, analytics and reporting and EVS is delivering on-demand broadcast highlights and clip packages.
Astro is making the bold move to offer valuable World Cup content free to all Malaysians rather than employing a typical subscriber-only strategy. By doing this, Astro hopes to attract new customers and, with Irdeto’s help, better understand the needs and experiences of Malaysian online users across the country. Astro also plans to use the information gathered during the World Cup to develop market-leading products and services for the future.
