Microsoft Invests in Heavily-Backed HD Online Video Service Move Networks
This story was written by Rafat Ali.
So Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is also jumping into the online video investment space, and has done an undisclosed amount of strategic investment in already-heavily backed online HD video tech provider Move Networks. This is technically part of its third round, which it earlier closed in at $46 million from investors such as Benchmark Capital, as well as *Cisco*, *Comcast*Interactive Media, and Televisa. Prior to Microsoft coming in, the American Fork, UT-based company had raised $67.3 million in funding.
The company touts a higher level of quality than other video providers, including HD, and it claims to be able to eliminate buffering. Among its customers are ABC and *ESPN*, both Disney (NYSE: DIS) properties (hence it also has backing from Steamboat, a Disney VC fund).
Microsoft has been pushing its Silverlight online video technology. It was recently integrated within Move's technology, even though it was not used in NBCOlympics.com's video player, which was all Silverlight. With this Microsoft investment, Move will support Windows Server-based encoding, Microsoft codecs and Silverlight DRM.
If you want to see a brand new example of the integration of the two, check out the official video from Democratic convention coverage here...as usual, you have to download and install the small Move plugin.
By Rafat Ali