VeriSign Supports Launch of Enhanced Sky™ Anytime on PC Application
Mountain View, CA(18 Dec 2007)
VeriSign, Inc., the leading provider of Internet infrastructure for the networked world, has announced that its VeriSign? Kontiki? Delivery Management System (DMS) has supported in the re-launch of British Sky Broadcasting?s (Sky) broadband video download service, Sky? Anytime on PC. The service is now available through a web-browser interface, making online content even easier to access and consume.
Since the launch of Sky Anytime on the PC in January 2006, Sky has evolved the peer-to-peer download service to enable access via a web-browser interface. The new application will make searching for programmes easier, as users can access the URL from any internet-enabled PC without having to log-on to a desktop application. The service can also be embedded within any website, meaning that content can be accessed via multiple entry points, including Sky?s own portfolio of popular websites. User log-in details will only be requested at the point of download. The new system is supported by VeriSign?s award-winning Kontiki? DMS technology, which will sit within the new thin-client application.
Griff Parry, director, On Demand, BSkyB, commented: ?At Sky we have moved into a multi-platform world in which we put the power in the hands of the customers to define what, when and how they watch. Sky continues to innovate and the content and service enhancements to Sky Anytime on PC are a reflection of this. We know that our customers want the best entertainment experience across platforms and Sky Anytime on PC continues to offer the breadth and depth of content that matters to them. VeriSign?s Kontiki Delivery Management System plays a crucial role in supporting the delivery of an efficient download service and a rich customer experience.?
VeriSign Kontiki DMS is a secure and low-cost content delivery system that rapidly delivers compelling, rich media communications to users. Its use of peer-to-peer technology enables the distribution of large video files at significant cost savings over traditional CDN models, and lightens the load on servers that otherwise may be overwhelmed by the demands of delivering online video. With VeriSign, Sky?s online users can rely on secure and reliable delivery of content, fast video downloads and high-quality media experiences.
Stephen Condon, vice president of marketing at VeriSign, commented: ?Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding and are no longer willing to make an appointment to view a programme; they want to view it at their convenience from any device at any time. Consequently, our content delivery strategy is to be able to broadly deliver on-demand content to as many platforms and ultimately to as many viewers as possible. Whether that?s through a desktop application or the web-browser, we provide the means to efficiently and cost effectively deliver the content they desire, in a format that can be viewed whenever and wherever they want to watch it.?
The Sky Anytime service is principally a bonus service to Sky customers with a wealth of great movies, sports, entertainment, documentary and arts programming available as part of the core Sky TV subscription. A range of additional programming, spanning a number of genres, is also available to both Sky customers and non-subscribers alike on a transactional basis. The service includes content from Sky? One, Sky? Movies, Sky? Sports, Sky? Arts, Sky? News, Sky? Real Lives, The History Channel?; National Geographic?; The Biography Channel? and the Crime & Investigation Network?. Since the launch in January 2006, VeriSign Kontiki DMS has delivered over three million content items for Sky Anytime on PC users.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), operates digital infrastructure services that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the world?s voice, video and data networks. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.
About Sky
Sky is the UK?s leading entertainment company and operates the most comprehensive multi-channel, multi-platform television platform in the UK and Ireland. Around 21 million viewers in 8.7 million households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels and interactive services on Sky? Digital, the UK and Ireland's most watched digital television service.
Sky?s aim is to offer customers unparalleled choice in content, delivered through innovative and technologically-advanced platforms that best serve the demands of today?s viewers. In delivering entertainment through the TV, PC and mobile, customers have more control and flexibility over what they watch and how they watch it.