Companies join to enhance BD Live functionality

CES: New technology to be demonstrated at Consumer Electronics Show

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 1/6/2009

JAN. 6 | Ascent Media Group, Akamai Technologies and Sofatronic are jointly launching an application to enhance BD Live functionality.

To be demonstrated during this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the technology aims to give studios and other Blu-ray Disc content creators a more cost-effective way to build such Web-enabled bonus features as e-commerce and online communities. The companies are touting the BD Live solution as a way to improve authoring, menu functionality, quality assurance and download speed.

One key element to the new BD Live technology is that large file downloads and rich media content should be more easily delivered to Blu-ray users. Distinct BD Live authoring and design services also are featured.

At this point, no Blu-ray title has yet incorporated the new BD Live technology.

“In partnership with industry leaders Akamai and Sofatronic, we are able to offer studios a new solution to BD Live functionality, which simplifies the process of delivering this new and exciting experience to the consumer,” said Jose Royo, Ascent Media Group CEO. “Our head-to-toe package still leaves room for flexibility, plus our best-in-breed partnership allows us to deliver high-quality performance with greater efficiencies for our studio and Blu-ray distribution partners.”

Tim Napoleon, chief strategist at Akamai, added, "Blu-ray is one of the first convergent devices to hit scale in the connected living room. Studios recognize the power of the Internet, and with that, the entertainment paradigm is shifting. BD Live is designed to help studios build social communities around entertainment content and get more for their investment through a platform for merchandising brands, promoting future sales and creating direct relationships with consumers.”