Fox Digital Media, a unit of Fox Networks Group (FNG), announced today that it has selected Kaltura (www.kaltura.com), developer of the first open source online video platform, to power a centralized video asset management platform for the broadband video distribution needs of FNG's digital assets. Nearly all of FNG's properties, including, Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox Sports, and cable networks SPEED, FX, Fuel TV, and Big Ten Network will use the broadband video platform's capabilities. The video platform will also serve as a key component for FNG's authenticated broadband video, or "TV Everywhere" initiatives.
Kaltura's core platform will serve as the foundation of FNG's broadband video platform, however, Kaltura and Fox Digital Media will work to co-develop and customize a proprietary system that serves the collective and individual needs of FNG's digital properties. FNG's video platform will address the backend workflow needs of its online video, including ingestion, transcoding, metadata collection, asset management, distribution, delivery, publishing, authentication, monetization, and analytics. Videos from the system will be distributed to FNG's owned and operated digital websites and applications and will enable both player-based and file-based syndication to leading online and mobile publishers, such as, hulu, MSN, Dish Online and other FNG MSO partners.
"Built upon Kaltura's state of the art technology and integrated with a myriad of best of breed products and services from several key partners– the platform is poised to become the foundation of our broadband video distribution for years to come," said Jon Cody, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, Fox Networks Group. "We conducted a very extensive search for the right platform on which to build our broadband video system, and Kaltura's open-source offering clearly stood out in its ability to provide unparalleled modularity, flexibility, freedom, and control, as well as a robust feature set that is fueled by the unmatched pace of innovation of a large global developer community."
"We are humbled and delighted to take part in this thrilling project, a testament to the visionary leadership of Fox Digital Media," said Ron Yekutiel, Kaltura Chairman & CEO. "FNG's video platform is going to be a shining beacon in the online video space, and a source of inspiration for media and non-media companies alike."
Fox Networks Group, a primary operating unit of News Corporation (NASDAQ:NWS), consists of Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), FOX Sports Media Group, the company's national and regional cable programming services, FOX International Channels, and Fox Networks Engineering & Operations. These units produce, program and transmit much of America's most popular entertainment, sports and information content via 37 owned-and-operated TV networks, video on demand and other media platforms. FOX is America's most popular network; Fox Networks Group cable channels span FX, National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Fox Movie Channel, FUEL TV, FSN and 19 regional cable sports networks, SPEED, FOX Soccer Channel, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX College Sports, FOX Deportes and Big Ten Network (co-venture with the Big Ten Conference); and FOX International Channels include 183 networks delivered in 35 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The division also includes Fox Sports Enterprises, which manages interests in sports franchises and leading statistical information provider STATS, LLC.
Kaltura provides the world's first Open Source Online Video Platform. Over 100,000 web publishers, service providers, developers, and educational institutions use Kaltura's flexible platform to enhance their websites, web-services, and web-platforms with advanced customized video, photo and audio functionalities, including publishing, management, syndication, monetization and analysis, as well as content uploading and remixing. The free community-supported self/cloud-hosted software and source-code is available for download at www.kaltura.org. A commercial On-Prem version of the software can be obtained at www.kaltura.com along with Kaltura services such as streaming, hosting, transcoding, analytics, ad serving, support and maintenance packages, and professional development. Founded in 2006, New York-based Kaltura is also a founding member of the 'Open Video Alliance' (www.openvideoalliance.org), a coalition of organizations dedicated to fostering open standards for online video. For more information: www.kaltura.com and www.kaltura.org.
Fox Networks Group
Jonathan Cody
310-369-3538
jon.cody@fox.com
Kaltura
Lisa Bennett
212-981-3965
lisa.bennett@kaltura.com