MTV Europe Awards Seen Live by Millions Worldwide via Television, Web and Mobile Devices
12 Nov 2008
SHARNFORD, Leicestershire, UK – More than 30 million fans from around the world are thought to have watched this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards, many seeing the event as it was streamed live on the Web courtesy of Niagara® Pro encoders from ViewCast supplied by Garland Partners Ltd (GPL) of the UK. While 10,000 fans screamed and danced their way through the ceremony held at the new, state-of-the-art Echo Arena in Liverpool on November 6th, fans in more than 40 European countries, China, India, and points beyond were able to watch the fifteenth annual awards show on Web sites, mobile devices and MTV channels.
New artist Katy Perry hosted the event, opening the show singing her global hit, “I Kissed a Girl” while riding a huge Cherry Chapstick. Perry continued to wow the audience with numerous costume changes, including a dress featuring a photo of the U.S. President-elect, Barack Obama. In the home of Beatlemania, even Paul McCartney—who was honoured with the Ultimate Legend Award by U2 frontman, Bono—was caught up in “Obamamania” thanking everyone for the award and “everyone in America for voting for Mr. Obama.” Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton hosted the show’s live webcast, bringing red-carpet interviews with the stars, as well as ongoing backstage reports to viewers of MTV’s multi-platform offering.
“Every year something sensational happens at this awards show,” said Alec Hendry, Director of Digital Media Operations & Development at MTV Networks Europe. “And we wanted to ensure our audience could feel that they were part of the action as it occurred. Last year, after we asked Garland Partners to assist us in implementing a Web streaming solution for the event, we had 3.2 million video streams and a 35% increase over the previous year on unique visitors to our website. GPL had suggested we use the Niagara Pro, which was so reliable and easy-to-use that we immediately knew that would be our choice again this year.”
Not only was the event hosted by an American, but U.S. acts dominated the wins for the evening. Britney Spears was the night’s big winner, taking home awards for Album of the Year and the Act of 2008. U.S. rock band, 30 Seconds to Mars, received Rock Out and Best Video awards, while Pink picked up Most Addictive Track (best song) and hip-hop star Kayne West won the Ultimate Urban award.
Following on the success of last year, European fans were once again allowed to vote for 10 of the 11 awards offered. More than 78.8 million votes were registered (a 360% increase over 2007). In a nod to the power of the audience and the Internet, 1980s star Rick Astley won Best Ever Act after his song “Never Gonna Give You Up” became a cult hit on the web in the last few months.
Garland Partners Limited (GPL), a U.K.-based reseller of digital video streaming and IPTV solutions, worked along with ViewCast to provide assistance to MTV as it deployed two Niagara Pro units to broadcast the show’s dynamic presentations and performances.
The Niagara Pro dual-channel encoder is a professional rack-mountable streaming media appliance capable of delivering two channels of full D1 high-quality streaming video. Digital SimulStream® technology from ViewCast enables simultaneous streaming of multiple resolutions at multiple data rates in multiple streaming formats. The Niagara Pro’s three preprogrammable “A-B-C” buttons allow users to create custom encoding profiles or to use predefined encoding profiles, then execute those profiles simply by pressing a single button on the encoder’s front panel.During the show, the Niagara Pro’s provided Live streaming Flash® and WM9 content, which in turn were delivered to Akamai for live streaming on www.mtvema.com.
“This is an exciting and prestigious event, and we are pleased that MTV called on us once again to assist them with product suggestions and technical support,” said Malcolm Harland, Director of GPL. “We know this is a demanding streaming environment, and ViewCast’s appliances were the perfect solution to ensure access by a maximum audience.”
More information about the Niagara Pro and other ViewCast products is available at http://www.gpl-uk.co.uk/viewcast.htm
About Garland Partners Limited
Garland Partners Limited (GPL) is an expanding U.K. company working with several leading suppliers of digital video streaming and IPTV solutions to deliver professional end-to-end systems for many applications including internet TV, mobile TV, IPTV, and broadcast services. The company focuses on meeting customers’ system requirements, providing a full package of technical and commercial support with the best available products. Customers range in size and application, and GPL’s strength is its flexibility in matching the right technology to client needs. For more information, visit GPL at www.gpl-uk.co.uk.
Garland Partners Limited (GPL) is an expanding U.K. company working with several leading suppliers of digital video streaming and IPTV solutions to deliver professional end-to-end systems for many applications including internet TV, mobile TV, IPTV, and broadcast services. The company focuses on meeting customers’ system requirements, providing a full package of technical and commercial support with the best available products. Customers range in size and application, and GPL’s strength is its flexibility in matching the right technology to client needs. For more information, visit GPL at www.gpl-uk.co.uk.
ViewCast develops industry-leading hardware and software for the transformation and delivery of professional quality video over IP and mobile networks. ViewCast’s award-winning solutions simplify the complex workflows required for the Web-based streaming of news, sports, music and other video content to computers and mobile devices, empowering broadcasters, businesses and governments to easily and effectively reach and expand their audiences. With more than 300,000 video capture cards deployed globally, ViewCast sets the standard in the streaming media industry. ViewCast Niagara® streaming appliances, Osprey® video capture cards, and Niagara SCX® encoding and management software provide the highly reliable technology required to deliver the multi-platform experiences driving today’s digital media market.
ViewCast (www.viewcast.com) is headquartered in Plano, Texas, USA, with sales and distribution channels located globally.
About MTV Networks International
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One, Neopets, GameTrailers, Shockwave, Addicting Games, Atom Films and Xfire. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 560 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via more than 150 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 350 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
Contact us; e-mail: info@gpl-uk.co.uk tel: +44(0)1455 22 11 88
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