Skinkers integrates Microsoft Silverlight with peer-to-peer delivery to transform live interactive desktop TV

Commercial peer-to-peer solution taps newly announced Microsoft Silverlight to create new opportunities for broadcasters and content owners

16 April 2007

LAS VEGAS – Today at NAB2007, Skinkers (Booth #C1051), the market leader in push technology, unveiled Livestation, a peer-to-peer Internet broadcast technology co-developed by Skinkers and Microsoft Research. Livestation integrates Microsoft Silverlight (previously called “WPF/E” and also announced today at NAB) with Skinker’s peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies to set a new standard for cost effective delivery of high-quality live video content.

Livestation uses Silverlight to create a rich interactive user experience for live video delivery. The peer-to-peer approach ensures bandwidth usage is minimized and removes the need for powerful, expensive server farms to stream live TV shows and events.

Visit Microsoft (and Skinkers) at Booth #SL3213.

“Skinkers welcomes the introduction of Microsoft Silverlight with capabilities to enable our customers to deliver interactive web video experiences that blend media, graphics, and animation,” said Matteo Berlucchi, Co-founder and CEO, Skinkers. “Silverlight’s cross platform approach will enable us to deliver consistent experiences to both Mac and Windows users on a variety of browsers.”

“Internet broadcasting is the new frontier for content owners and there is clearly a market for the many video on demand providers currently emerging,” said Berlucchi. “We also know there is an enormous demand to stream live TV-like experiences to the desktop. Sports, concerts and breaking news have all proven popular online. Current streaming techniques require vast infrastructure demands to serve relatively small audiences. With Livestation, broadcasters can scale up to audiences of millions for a fraction of the cost while guaranteeing a rich user experience with minimal latency and no buffering. By adding Silverlight to the mix we’ll be able to deliver experiences that transcend conventional broadcast capabilities.”

Livestation users simply click on the Livestation viewer, which can be embedded in a browser, installed from a website or distributed on physical media. The Livestation viewer enables audiences to view live content on their PC and switch between channels if multiple live TV streams are offered. When running the Livestation viewer, the user’s PC will join the “cloud” of peer-to-peer nodes watching the same channel and helping each other to stream the live content effectively and efficiently. This all happens without impacting the performance of the user’s PC.

“Silverlight’s support for web standards and industry leading Windows Media technologies enables it to easily integrate with both existing infrastructures and entirely new technologies like Livestation,” said Forest Key, director of User Experience and Web Platform at Microsoft Corp. “The combination of Silverlight and Livestation represents a powerful solution for content providers looking to harness the delivery of rich media experiences online.”

Livestation is built on technology co-developed by Skinkers and Microsoft Research, who entered into a pioneering ‘technology for equity’ collaboration in June 2006. The software represents the most advanced structured peer-to-peer technology for high-speed content delivery available today. From the results of this research, Skinkers has developed the Live Delivery Network, a fully productized enterprise-class software environment designed to support peer-to-peer applications. Livestation is the first product that leverages the unique characteristics provided by the Live Delivery Network.

Microsoft introduced Skinkers to Splendid, a user centered design agency based in London, who have been working on cutting edge interface technologies with Microsoft for the last eight months for both the Vista and Silverlight launch. Splendid were tasked with developing the user experience and visual design of Livestation and worked closely with team at Skinkers to develop this using Silverlight. “It’s been great working with Skinkers (and Microsoft) to develop a true shift in the user experience of live TV online, and it looks set to be the start of something special between Skinkers and Splendid.” stated Paul Bishop, Managing Director of Splendid.

Microsoft Silverlight is a new cross-platform, cross-browser plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web. Microsoft Silverlight (previously called “WPF/E”) integrates with existing Web technologies and assets like Livestation to provide higher quality experiences with lower costs for media delivery. Delivered to end-users through a seamless, fast installation, Silverlight offers consistent experiences to both Mac and Windows users on a variety of browsers including Internet Explorer, FireFox and Safari.

The opportunity for broadcasters is significant. “For any broadcaster keen to build their brand in the online arena and harness the power of rich interactive media experiences, our Livestation pairing with Silverlight is the perfect solution,” concludes Berlucchi. “It allows broadcasters to simulcast their program schedules to new audiences, thus opening new streams of potential revenue. As the broadcasting industry continues to rapidly evolve for Internet distribution, Livestation and rich capabilities of Silverlight represent a significant opportunity to lead the field.”

About Splendid

Splendid is an award-winning design agency based in Piccadilly Circus, London. Founded in 2003 with a current staff of 30, Splendid specialise in consistently delivering innovative design which creates compelling experiences for customers whilst building equity for the brand. Clients include: Microsoft, Warner Records, Sony BMG, Columbia, Emap, GNER, easyJet, News International and Universal Music Group

www.howsplendid.com

About Livestation

Livestation is a software platform designed to distribute high quality live television and radio to mass audiences at dramatically reduced costs. It is based on peer-to-peer technology co-developed by Skinkers and Microsoft Research, who have entered into a pioneering technology for equity collaboration. Microsoft acquired a minority equity stake in Skinkers in exchange for full use of the Microsoft peer-to-peer intellectual property.

www.skinkers.com