NBC Sports Launching Streaming Video Company

23 May, 2016 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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NBC Sports Digital May 23 announced the launch of a new technology service called Playmaker Media, designed to market live streaming and video-on-demand functionality to proprietary and third-party services.

Taking a page from Major League Baseball Advanced Media, whose BAM Tech is the backend tech provider for HBO Now, HBO Go and WWE Network, Playmaker Media will utilize the experience of NBC Sports Digital’s 10-plus years of live streaming high-profile events, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Super Bowl, Sunday Night Football, the Stanley Cup Final, the Premier League and Notre Dame Football, among others.

“The growing demand for live streaming support in the marketplace combined with our experience and expertise make this the perfect time to launch Playmaker,” Rick Cordella, SVP and GM of digital media for NBC Sports Group, said in a statement.

At launch, Playmaker will partner with Adobe, Akamai, Microsoft, iStreamPlanet, and Comcast Wholesale — the latter in February bowing theVideoPlatform, which enables broadcasters, multichannel networks and publishers to launch, manage and provide OTT video across any screen.

The International Olympic Committee signed with Playmaker to provide live streaming video support for the IOC’s Olympic Channel, a global digital initiative expected to launch later this year. Playmaker will also provide live streaming video support for NBC News’ coverage of the 2016 presidential election.

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