Sonic to Bring HD Streaming Home
CineVision Adaptive HD Video Encoding Delivers Pristine Video Quality to Connected Devices without Pauses or Dropouts; Deployed to Bring High Definition Content to Roxio CinemaNow
Novato, California, (July 29, 2009) — Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC) today announced Sonic CineVision® Adaptive HD, a next-generation encoding, multiplexing, streaming and decoding system designed specifically to deliver the highest quality HD video possible to internet-connected CE devices. CineVision Adaptive HD leverages Sonic's CineVision HD encoding system, currently used for Hollywood Blu-ray title production, and Widevine's extensive expertise in adaptive streaming. The solution makes it possible for premium content, including 3D entertainment, to be encoded to Blu-ray Disc resolution at 1080p while still enabling automatic broadband scalability to ensure buffer-free playback. CineVision Adaptive HD will be deployed to bring HD content to Roxio CinemaNow® and will be made available as an option for Sonic's CineVision Master Encoding system to enable high-end compression facilities to maximize the quality of their streaming video content.
"Consumers not only want instant access to new Hollywood hit movies on their connected TVs and Blu-ray players, they want it in HD," said Mark Ely, executive vice president of strategy for Sonic Solutions. "In collaboration with Widevine, we've been able to enhance our world-class CineVision encoding system to prepare content for pristine viewing on the coming wave of connected CE devices – without requiring CE manufacturers to put costly hard drives in their products."
CineVision Adaptive HD is the world's first encoding solution to combine the compression parameters mandated by video mastering engineers with the multi-bandwidth encoding, multiplexing, and formatting required to ensure seamless delivery of HD streams to connected CE devices. With its ability to take advantage of multiple processors in multi-CPU encoding farm settings, CineVision Adaptive HD can be scaled to enable the level of high-volume content preparation required for next-day TV releases, back catalog conversion and delivering new releases on time and under budget.
"At Widevine, our approach has been twofold – ensure content is delivered securely, and ensure that it is delivered at the highest quality," said Brian Baker, CEO at Widevine. "By taking advantage of Sonic's long history of building world-class encoding systems, we've been able to further enhance the quality of our content preparation technology. We look forward to working with Sonic to deploy the CineVision Adaptive HD technology."
About Widevine
Widevine provides digital media solutions for the delivery of digital entertainment to any device. Hundreds of service providers use Widevine's multiplatform, multiformat DRM and video optimization solutions for securing high quality video and audio. Today, millions of consumers enjoy digital entertainment secured and optimized by Widevine on retail consumer electronics devices and legacy STBs from all major consumer brands. With over 55 patents Widevine is an industry leader and innovator of content protection and video optimization technologies.
Widevine is a privately held corporation headquartered in Seattle, WA, funded by Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), Charter Ventures, Constellation Ventures, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (DNP), PaceSetter Capital Group, Phoenix Partners, TELUS (NYSE: TU) and VantagePoint Venture Partners.
For more information: www.widevine.com.
About Sonic Solutions
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC) is powering the digital media ecosystem through its complete range of Hollywood to Home™ applications, services, and technologies. Sonic's Roxio® products enable consumers to easily manage and enjoy personal digital media content and, through Roxio CinemaNow®, access premium Hollywood entertainment on a broad range of connected devices. A wide array of leading technology firms, professionals, and developers rely on Sonic to bring innovative digital media functionality to next-generation devices and platforms. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.
Forward Looking Statements
This release may contain forward looking statements that are based upon current expectations, including the launch, distribution, and market acceptance of the Roxio CinemaNow service. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Sonic Solutions' annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should be read in conjunction with Sonic Solutions' most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. Sonic Solutions does not undertake to update any forward looking statements.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Roxio, CinemaNow, and Hollywood to Home, are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Sonic Solutions in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license. Specifications, pricing and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.