Cable Internet provider @Home Network is teaming with streaming
media pioneer Real Networks Inc. to develop a
new streaming media platform.
Friday’s announcement comes less than a month after @Home announced plans
to work with AT&T to develop a broadband
backbone.
The new platform will be based on Real’s G2 system and will include
features designed to deliver high-quality, reliable and scalable
high-bandwidth streaming media over @Home’s cable network.
Tom Jermoluk, @Home’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the
partnership is the result of customer demands for more media-rich programming.
“As a result of our exclusive development efforts with RealNetworks, we
will be able to create an advanced broadband media delivery network that
surpasses any other streaming media network. In addition, we expect that
this advanced broadband media platform will stimulate entirely new content
experiences as publishers take advantage of the platform’s delivery
capabilities and cost savings,” he said.
Rob Glaser, Real Networks’ chairman and chief executive officer, hopes
Real’s G2 system will become widely used by broadband ISPs looking to
increase their streaming media offerings.
“Our collaboration with @Home is another crucial step forward in enabling
the Internet as the next mass medium for both consumers and content
providers. Delivering a broadband streaming media experience to consumers
requires a new kind of ISP infrastructure,” he said.
Real plans to enhance its G2 platform to include better support for
high-speed streaming media, including high bit rate stream splitting, cache
proxies and auto proxy discovery. Real said those changes will allow
broadband networks to deliver a higher quality user experience.
Real and @Home say the new infrastructure will allow high-quality audio and
video quality that approaches that of VHS video tapes.
Content providers also stand to benefit from the enhancements, the
companies said, as the new platform will reduce network delivery costs.
Real’s content partners are praising the moves.
“At CNET, we are keenly aware of the growing demand for rich media and are
consistently exploring ways to optimize our content for broadband
delivery,” said Halsey Minor, CNET’s chairman and chief executive officer.
“We are thrilled that @Home and RealNetworks are creating a new broadband
platform for streaming media. This system will enable us to enhance the
music experience MTV Online offers as well as create new broadband
applications,” said Matt Farber, MTV/VH1’s senior vice president of
programming enterprises.
