FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Widevine Enables Secure Flash Distribution of Warner Bros. Content Throughout Latin America with Merlin Interactive
Cross-platform DRM solution allows Merlin to facilitate distribution of episodic television from Warner Bros. Latin American portal
SEATTLE, January 30, 2008 — Widevine Technologies, the only provider of multiformat and multiplatform DRM and the recognized “Switzerland of DRM”, today announced it has launched service with Merlin Interactive, a leading digital media systems integrator in Latin America which allows consumers to securely view premium Warner Bros television content at www.wbla.com.
Using any platform, consumers can log onto WBLA.com on Mondays following the Thursday and Sunday broadcasts of shows like “Gossip Girl” to stream entire episodes in secure Flash. Because the content is both secure and in Flash format it circumvents any barriers for consumers given Flash’s compatibility with both PCs and Macs. Widevine’s security supports all formats, browsers and operating systems. Merlin Interactive is managing, implementing and servicing this complete solution for the Warner Channel and also is providing extensive Flash development, integration and workflow design.
Merlin Interactive offers a playlist and other advanced interactive services for consumers across 23 territories in Latin America. This offering is promoted on Warner Bros broadcasts and directs consumers who enjoyed the episode, or those who missed the broadcast window, to view the online offering streamed in high resolution Flash for free. Merlin expects to expand this relationship within the vast portfolio of media companies they service with complete interactive and design services throughout Latin America.
“Our customer base has actively inquired and researched the possibilities of offering online video content to their consumers, particularly in Flash format. Ease of use is important to both the Latin American consumer and content service provider,” said Gorka Cortazar, Merlin Interactive’s Internet Development Manager. “Widevine’s content security solution enables us to offer secure Flash video distribution and premium content that can be monetized through advertising and viewed on any platform.”
“This deployment with Merlin Interactive is precisely what our platform at Widevine was designed to do. Widevine is keenly aware of the challenges and frustrations that consumers and content owners face with interoperability. Our goal is to eliminate these obstacles and allow for a seamless and secure offering of content regardless of what technology the consumer is using,” said Widevine CEO Brian Baker. “Our Cypher deployment with Merlin for Warner Bros Latin America makes that possible and showcases our ability to secure cross platform digital content distribution.”
In contrast to traditional DRM technologies—which restrict content purchase and usage to specific devices, video formats and online services—Widevine opens DRM interoperability to all platforms, networks and video devices. The technology is an extension of Widevine’s industry leading Widevine Cypher product, the most deployed content protection solution for closed network TelcoTV worldwide.
About Merlin Interactive
Merlin Interactive is a multimedia software house that has worked over the years in various fields of interactive communications in areas as diverse as the development of multimedia "educational software" - where it won a variety of international awards - to the development of Virtual Reality projects for TV networks and mobile operators.
Over the past five years Merlin Interactive has specialized in various Web support environments systems for mass media properties. Among those, it has to be remarked the developments oriented to Interactive TV or Interactive Multimedia systems developed for TV stations, Newspapers, etc.
In recent years, Merlin Interactive has continued gaining international recognized awards, such as: 2004 Flash Forward – New York – Technical Merit – Finalist, 2005 and 2007 New York Festivals – Interactive & Alternative Media – Finalist, 2005 BDA World Gold Awards – Web Site Entertainment – Gold, 2006 PromaxBDA Latin America Web Site Design – Silver, 2007 BDA World Gold Awards – Interactive Media, Web Site – Entertainment – Gold.
Merlin Interactive is a privately held company incorporated in Florida, USA with offices in Miami, Santiago de Chile and Caracas, Venezuela.
For more information: www.merlin.com
About Widevine Technologies, Inc.
Widevine is a leading provider of content protection solutions worldwide for telco, cable and internet service providers and the recognized “Switzerland of DRM”. With the only multiformat and multiplatform DRM solution available, Widevine solutions enable content owners to protect their ad-based revenues, pay media revenue streams and copyrights.
Deployed at over 130 customers globally, Widevine makes it possible to securely distribute Internet digital media and PayTV content to STBs, PVRs, PCs and mobile devices. A holder of 30 DRM, digital copy protection and conditional access patents, Widevine continues to develop innovative solutions making it easier for content owners and service providers to profitably deliver compelling content however consumers choose.
Widevine is a privately held corporation headquartered in Seattle, WA, funded by Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), Charter Ventures, Constellation Ventures, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (DNP), PaceSetter Capital Group, Phoenix Partners, TELUS (NYSE: TU) and VantagePoint Venture Partners.
For more information: www.widevine.com.
Contact:
Erik Moser
Ruder Finn Chicago (for Widevine Technologies)
+1 312 329 3908
mosere@ruderfinn.com
All Rights Reserved. Widevine, Widevine Cypher, Cypher Virtual SmartCard, Cypher VOD, Cypher DCP, Cypher Broadcast, Cypher Express and Widevine Mensor are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Widevine Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. No express or implied warranties are provided for herein and all specifications are subject to change. The descriptions of Widevine Technologies’ patents and other intellectual property herein are not intended for use in a legal proceeding to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the patents or their claims, or indicate that a Widevine patent claim(s) are materially required to perform or implement any of the listed items.
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