Monsoon Multimedia, the folks behind the Vulkano Flow which we have mentioned once or twice, announced today their Multi-Screen Policy Management Solution aimed at enabling content service providers to easily deploy remote and mobile viewing service. Content providers have struggled to come up with ways to provide streaming services that allow subscribers to tap into recorded and live television on portable devices and across the Internet. One of the consistent issues has been varying interpretations of the rights that content service providers have secured from content owners and what rights subscribers have to placeshift and sideload content.
The Monsoon Multimedia Multi-Screen Policy Management Solution gives content providers a rights-managment system that they can deploy without additional infrastructure and is dynamic enough that the rights granted to a particular piece of content can be adjusted whenever necessary. Though I am sure that Monsoon Multimedia would love to see the Comcasts and Time Warners of the world adopt the Vulkano in conjunction with their new MPMS, it can be licensed separately and integrated with a content service provider’s current hardware. Put it all together and hopefully we will see more “TV Everywhere” products from more content providers.
Monsoon can enable or disable each of the following features on a show-by-show or channel-by-channel basis: Live TV, Recording, Local Placeshifting, Remote Placeshifting, Local Sideloading and Remote Sideloading. The rights are downloaded to the Vulkano unit much like Electronic Program Guide information is downloaded. As new rights are negotiated, they can be rolled out to the field allowing consumers to enjoy the TV access they expect and demand. For example, a widely available Over-the-Air channel might allow all of its content to be used freely, while a premium sports event might be restricted to local viewing within the home, with no recording.
Monsoon Multimedia
–Complete Press Release after the break.–
Monsoon Announces Multi-Screen Policy Management Solution for MSOs to Manage TV and DVR Viewing Rights
Monsoon’s New Policy Management Technology Lets MSOs and Content Owners Control What Content Is Streamed to Mobile Phones and Tablets Inside or Outside the Home
SAN MATEO, CA – October 13, 2011 – Monsoon Multimedia, a leading provider of video convergence products, announced today the Monsoon Multi-Screen Policy Management Solution (MPMS), which enables Multi System Operators (MSOs), such as Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner and many others worldwide, to manage viewing rights for content. The Monsoon solution can be licensed separately or bundled with its award-winning Vulkano devices.
The new MPMS addresses licensing issues around whether consumers can stream or record specific channels or shows on tablets and mobile phones. Monsoon’s Vulkano line of companion devices, when connected to any set-top box, can be programmed to control the streaming, recording or transfer of content by a MSO. Monsoon’s solution also allows MSO’s to decide whether to stream in home or out of home viewing and recordings.
The Monsoon solution allows MSOs to roll out TV Everywhere services immediately, without any new infrastructure. Current content rights can be enforced now, while new ones can be negotiated and rolled out as MSOs and content owners decide how to react to consumer demand.
“We created an elegant solution to address one of the most vexing MSO issues – the ability to control what content can be watched on which device at what time,” said Paul Friedman, Executive Vice President at Monsoon. “Content owners demand viewing rights be honored and our Multi-Screen Policy Management Solution delivers.”
The MPMS keeps a table of each show and channel – series, movies, sports events, news, documentaries, etc. – and the rights that are to be offered to the subscriber. When a subscriber makes a request to view or record a channel, Monsoon’s MPMS checks to see if the viewing or recording is authorized. If it is, the request is honored. If the Policy Management does not allow it, the request is disallowed and the subscriber is told that the feature is not supported for that channel.
Monsoon can enable or disable each of the following features on a show-by-show or channel-by-channel basis: Live TV, Recording, Local Placeshifting, Remote Placeshifting, Local Sideloading and Remote Sideloading. The rights are downloaded to the Vulkano unit much like Electronic Program Guide information is downloaded. As new rights are negotiated, they can be rolled out to the field allowing consumers to enjoy the TV access they expect and demand. For example, a widely available Over-the-Air channel might allow all of its content to be used freely, while a premium sports event might be restricted to local viewing within the home, with no recording.
Pricing and Availability
Monsoon’s Multi-Screen Policy Management Solution is availability immediately for licensing or bundled with Vulkano devices. Contactoem@monsoonmultimedia.com for pricing information.
About Monsoon Multimedia
Monsoon Multimedia provides advanced, standards-based multimedia products and convergence technologies for the PC, Mac, iPad and major smartphones. Founded by the founders of Dazzle and Emuzed, the company has offices in California, India and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.monsoonmultimedia.com.
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