thePlatform to manage two key online video initiatives for Big Ten Network

SEATTLE, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, thePlatform, the leading white-label video management company, announced that it has been selected to manage and publish online video for the Big Ten Network. Specifically, thePlatform will provide centralized back-end management support for two major video initiatives, one aimed at serving international audiences outside the U.S. and Canada, and the other serving domestic sports fans.

The Big Ten Network, a joint venture between Fox Cable Networks and subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference, is the first nationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. For international fans, the Big Ten Network will utilize thePlatform's media publishing system (mps) to manage the Big Ten Network's new international streaming package, the "Big Ten Ticket." All televised Big Ten Network football and men's basketball games will be available live and on-demand online to viewers living outside of the United States, Canada and the Caribbean on www.BigTenTicket.com. The Big Ten Network will televise between 35-40 football games and 105 regular season men's basketball games, plus three Big Ten Tournament games, in 2009-10.

For North American audiences, thePlatform's media publishing system will also support the Big Ten Network's webcast of a wide-range of other sports video for the fans of the University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, and University of Wisconsin.

"We are expanding our online video efforts to serve the fans of the Big Ten Network worldwide," said Michael Calderon, director of new media for Big Ten Network. "thePlatform has a proven history of managing large and complex video offerings for many leading content companies, and we believe their system gives us the flexibility, scalability, and ability to monetize video in the way that we need."

"The Big Ten Network is already the place for fans to stay connected to their favorite teams and sports content within millions of households across the US," said Marty Roberts, vice president of marketing for thePlatform. "We're very proud to have been chosen to help them deliver more of their incredible library of collegiate sports video to online audiences around the world."

thePlatform publishes video, and other media, to PCs, mobile devices, and TV. Media companies use thePlatform's media publishing system (mps) as their open, central hub for managing, monetizing and syndicating billions of professionally produced online video views annually.

About thePlatform

thePlatform(TM) is the leading white-label video management and publishing company. Media companies use thePlatform's media publishing system (mps) as the 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: Associated Press, BBC, Cablevision, CBS College Sports, CNBC, Comcast, Corus Entertainment, Cox Communications, ExerciseTV, Gannett/USA Today, HIT Entertainment, PBS, PBS KIDS Sprout, Sony BMG, Starz Play, Time Warner Cable, Travel Channel Media, and numerous others. With a nine-year history of service, thePlatform is an independent subsidiary of Comcast based in Seattle, Wash. For more information: www.theplatform.com.

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