Telstra's BigPond® TV Service to Use thePlatform as Cloud-Based Video Publishing System Across TVs, Set-Top Boxes, and Web

SEATTLE Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- thePlatform, the leading white-label video publishing company and independent subsidiary of Comcast, today announced that it was selected by Telstra to serve as the central video management system for Telstra's BigPond TV service across IP-connected devices.

Telstra is using thePlatform's mpx video management system to enable Australian consumers to easily access and enjoy high quality movies and television content across a broad range of devices.

With thePlatform providing a unified system for aggregating both linear and on-demand video from various content sources, formatting video content to different device specifications and centrally managing and publishing this content for multiple purposes, Telstra customers are able to effortlessly access and enjoy the highest quality content on the T-Box hybrid set-top box, connected-TVs and Blu-ray players from LG and Samsung, and the Web.

Furthermore, thePlatform's solution will allow Telstra to continue to innovate its leading services over time as new business models, devices and consumer experiences evolve.  The new multi-year deal significantly expands on a previous agreement between the two companies that was limited to BigPond's Web-only movie service.

"BigPond TV gives Telstra customers across Australia the ability to watch a great range of content including sport, entertainment, movies and more on a wide range of devices and thePlatform's mpx system provides us with the reliability, scalability, and flexibility that will help Telstra continue to deliver the next-generation of IPTV services to our customers," Telstra's Head of IPTV, Ben Kinealy said.

"Telstra is at the forefront of an emerging global trend among TV service providers," said Ian Blaine, CEO of thePlatform.  "Service providers are looking for a more efficient means to manage and deliver premium video content across any screen.  One of the key differences when delivering IP video to the TV, rather than a computer, is that consumers will have a higher expectation for reliability and quality.  So, we are extremely proud that Telstra has selected mpx to play such a central role in managing video for Telstra's advanced set-top boxes and beyond."

thePlatform's mpx video management and publishing system enables Telstra to deliver a hybrid live/on-demand IPTV service featuring BigPond TV (music videos, sports and news) and BigPond Movies (including pay-per-view).  Channels available on the BigPond TV service include BigPond News, BigPond Sport News, V8 Supercars (motor racing channel), BigPond Music, with more sports and racing content through TVN, AFL and NRL.

thePlatform currently provides online video management services to numerous programmers, leading media companies, and five of the top cable TV service providers in North America, including the largest "TV Everywhere" deployments.

About thePlatform

thePlatform™ is the leading white-label video management and publishing company.  Media companies rely on thePlatform as their open, central hub for managing, monetizing, and syndicating billions of professionally produced video views annually.  The company's services provide unmatched versatility for designing and supporting video businesses on PCs, mobile, and TV. Customers include: Cablevision, Canwest, CBC, Comcast, Corus Entertainment, Cox Communications, ExerciseTV, HIT Entertainment, NBC Local Media, Outdoor Channel, PBS, PBS KIDS Sprout, Rogers, Sony BMG, Starz Play, Time Warner Cable, Travel Channel Media, truTV and numerous others.  With an 11-year history of service, thePlatform is an independent subsidiary of Comcast based in Seattle, Wash.  For more information: www.thePlatform.com.

All product and service names listed in this release remain property of their parent companies and do not indicate official support or endorsement for thePlatform or its products and services.

SOURCE thePlatform