Internet TV platform 1 Mainstream announced the company’s official launch having successfully established a partnership with British Sky Broadcasting (Sky), a home entertainment and communications company.
According to a release, 1 Mainstream provides rich native application experiences on a variety of high-engagement device platforms and multiple content delivery networks. 1 Mainstream is a software-as-a-service platform that automates not only app creation and streaming, but also manages ad serving and billing for Internet TV devices. Supported devices include Apple TV, Google TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Roku, Xbox, iPad, Kindle Fire, and Android Tablets.
By using 1 Mainstream, content programmers, networks and distributors are able to minimize the time and resource investment in apps, devices, streaming and billing while maximizing their focus on content and customers.
1 Mainstream said it was founded in 2012 by a team of Apple, Roku and Tivo veterans looking to change costly and lengthy application development, inconsistent user experiences and hardware-based video technologies for the better. 1 Mainstream is backed by DCM, Menlo Ventures and Sky.
Sky selected 1 Mainstream as the most efficient and high- performance platform to create its Sky News app experience for Apple TV and Roku and launched with HD content streaming. The launch of Sky News on these TV-connected devices has meant up to half a million new viewers per month, many tuning in 3 times or more per week in the US and Canada, as well as expanded reach in the UK and Ireland.
The Sky News app is also available on the NOW TV IP streaming box using 1 Mainstream.
“News consumption is changing fast and our goal at Sky News is to set the bar for innovative and creative content distribution. We have been delighted with the response to Sky News in North America following our partnership with 1 Mainstream,” said Andrew Hawken, Editorial Director, Sky News. “We look forward to continuing to embrace new platforms and devices as we continue to extend the reach of our award-winning news coverage.”
In addition to Sky, 1 Mainstream counts more than 20 content companies as partners including several as yet announced tier-1 satellite TV and Web content providers.
“1 Mainstream is a great example of an enterprise platform designed and built by a consumer team. I am glad to see the platform receiving strong market validation and support from Sky and leading platforms like Apple TV,” said Jason Krikorian, venture capitalist at DCM Ventures, founder of Sling Media and an early investor in the company.
“Our work with Sky, Apple TV and Roku demonstrates that innovation is still very much alive and well in TV instant global distribution to a highly-engaged digital audience is now here,” said Rajeev Raman, CEO, 1 Mainstream. “It also demonstrates that VOD is no longer the only game for IPTV. With the Sky News live service on Apple TV and Roku, we are blurring the lines between traditional and Internet delivery. 1 Mainstream is uniquely qualified to be on the leading edge of this trend and we look forward to bringing more world-class content to audiences everywhere.”