thePlatform Unveils Largest Ecosystem of Partners and Open Approach for Online Video Publishing


Company announces thePlatform Framework as expansive partner program

Pre-integrated solutions with Adobe Systems, Adap.TV, Akamai, Apple, AT&T, BitGravity, Cisco Systems, ClearStory, Comcast, Digital Rapids, DoubleClick, EdgeCast Networks, GoTV, Helio, Internap, Limelight Networks, Lightningcast, MobiTV, On2 Technologies, Onstream Media, PayPal, Panache, QuickPlay Media, Microsoft, Move Networks, Rhozet, SpotXchange, Sprint, Telestream, Verizon Wireless, Widevine, Yahoo, YouTube and others

SEATTLE, Feb. 6 - As the market for professionally produced online video has matured, so too has the need for media companies to incorporate highly flexible, open and robust methods that help them keep pace. Today, thePlatform, the leading broadband video management and publishing company, announced the broadband video industry's largest collection of pre-integrated partner technologies and an open approach for assisting media companies with their online and mobile video initiatives.

thePlatform's customers benefit from the widest choice of pre-integrated partner services and technologies to support their unique business needs. Companies participating in thePlatform Framework, the company's premier partner program, span the entire ecosystem of online video, including: advertising campaign management systems, ad sales networks, content delivery networks, content protection, media formats, transcoding engines, payment processors, syndication outlets and video search. In addition, customers can easily use their own in-house digital asset management system, customer relationship management and other back-office applications in conjunction with thePlatform's system.

"Every media company has its own unique vision for online video, and they are becoming less tolerant of technology constraints or specialized vendors that inhibit their growth or agility," said Ian Blaine, CEO of thePlatform. "Our customers want the ability to trial new technology and choose the best vendors without dramatically impacting their operations. thePlatform framework addresses this need with a robust menu of pre-integrated solutions that give them flexibility to easily create the optimal solution. No other broadband video management company has our open approach to partners or proven history in the space."

"thePlatform and Cisco are collaborating on the creation and deployment of streamlined web-video management, distribution and delivery platforms enabled by the Cisco Content Delivery System," said Paul Bosco, Cisco vice president and general manager of video and broadband initiatives. "We are also focused on convergent platform extensions supporting the fusion of web, television and user-generated content built around the consumer media experience across the growing number of wired, wireless and mobile devices in our lives. We welcome the opportunity to be a founding member of thePlatform's ecosystem program and to continue our engagements with innovative customers worldwide."

The Ecosystem

thePlatform Framework gives technology companies full-featured software development kits, engineering support, training, and development sandboxes for a quick implementation. Companies participating in thePlatform Framework include:

Advertising & Monetization
o Adapt.TV
o BlackArrow
o CSG Systems
o DoubleClick
o Lightningcast
o Panache
o PayPal
o ScanScout
o SpotXchange

Content Delivery
o Akamai
o BitGravity
o Cisco Systems
o Edgecast Networks
o GridNetworks
o Highwinds
o Internap
o Limelight Networks
o MediaMelon
o OnStream Media

Playback Experience
o Apple Corp.
o Adobe Systems
o Microsoft Corp.
o Move Networks

Transcoding
o Digital Rapids
o On2
o Rhozet
o RipCode
o Telestream

Content Syndication
o AT&T
o Clearspring
o Comcast.net
o GoTV
o iTunes Podcasts
o MobiTV
o MSN Video
o Sprint
o Verizon Wireless
o Yahoo
o YouTube

Professional Services
o Ascertane
o Cypress Consulting
o Genex
o Online Video Service
o Schematic

Digital Asset Management
o ClearStory Systems
o North Plains Systems

Content Protection
o Microsoft Corp.
o Widevine Technologies

Additional companies will join the partner program in the coming months. Technology companies interested in participating in thePlatform Framework and utilizing its application programming interface (API) should visit http://www.theplatform.com/.

thePlatform's system manages the entire logistics process behind the publication of broadband video from the content owner to the consumer. Media companies and video sites rely on thePlatform's services to manage their media, generate revenue from their content, syndicate media to outlets and create unique broadband video players. Hundreds of professional media companies use thePlatform for their online and mobile video needs, handling billions of videos requested by consumers every year.

Media companies interested in publishing or syndicating their video across the web and mobile phones should visit http://www.theplatform.com/.

About thePlatform

thePlatform(TM), a subsidiary of Comcast, is the leading broadband video management and publishing company. Media companies and video sites rely on thePlatform's services to manage their media, generate revenue from their content, syndicate media to outlets, and create unique broadband video players. Hundreds of media companies use thePlatform to manage billions of videos every year. Customers include BBC, CNBC, CBS's College Sports TV, Comcast, Gannett, Helio, HIT Entertainment, PBS KIDS Sprout, Sony BMG, The Hearst Corporation, Verizon Wireless, Vongo, and numerous others.

Source: thePlatform

CONTACT: Jeremy Pemble, jeremy@jlmpartners.com,

or Stacy Oaksmith, stacy@jlmpartners.com, both of JLM Partners, +1-206-381-3600, for thePlatform

Web site: http://www.theplatform.com/

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