NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Vividas (LSE:VDS), the video streaming technology company, announces that it has reached a three year agreement with Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) to stream Barclays Premier League (BPL) matches in the USA.
Using Vividas VivStream PPV streaming technology, FSC, part of the Fox Cable Networks group, owned by News Corporation, will stream multiple BPL games every week. Matches will be available on FSC's popular web site www.foxsoccer.com. The three-year agreement also includes plans to add streaming of other top-tier soccer events including FA Cup fixtures and UEFA Cup matches as well as select European Championship Qualifiers. As part of the BPL subscription packages, viewers will also be offered the ability to view classic matches from the English Premier League archive.
The agreement follows successful streaming trials of 10 live matches from the 2007 Copa Libertadores (the South American equivalent of the Champions League) and European Championship qualifiers. Users were able to view full matches in high quality full-screen resolution.
Matches will be offered to a U.S. audience only, on a pay per view, subscription and advertising-supported basis. Matches will be available at prices from $4 to $8 depending on whether they are available live or on a delayed basis. A season-long subscription package is also expected.
Paul Neville, Chief Executive of Vividas, stated, "This is fantastic news for Vividas and supports our belief that Vividas provides the best streaming solution in the marketplace, offering full-screen quality, reach and cost efficiencies through http streaming. We are delighted that FSC has chosen to work with us. FSC clearly recognises the benefits of using live stream encoding and will give its audiences a true TV experience."
David Sternberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Fox Soccer Channel, said, "The Barclays Premier League is the world's best soccer, and with the start of our new three-year broadcast agreement with the Premier League, FSC is committed to delivering these games to the widest audience possible. Vividas' streaming technology is uniquely suited to deliver this thrilling content. The quality full-screen experience that customers will experience will change the way people think of Internet video."
About Vividas:
Vividas is an AIM-traded developer and provider of video streaming technology and related products which enable straightforward playback on personal computers of full screen, high quality video via discs or over networks, including the Internet, normally without requiring software installation. Vividas proprietary technology overcomes the disadvantages of competing CD and streaming market solutions. These competing technologies typically offer only partial screen, or poor quality full screen, viewing and generally require the user either to have or to install specialist player software. For more information, visit www.vividas.com.
About Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel offers the most comprehensive coverage of world-class soccer available in the United States, including Major League Soccer, England's Barclays Premier League, Argentine First Division and Italian Serie A; as well as global tournaments such as the UEFA Cup, UEFA Women's Championship, English FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and FA Community Shield. The Official Broadcast Partner of the United States Youth Soccer Association, Fox Soccer Channel also televises United Soccer Leagues and NCAA Division I college soccer matches. The channel reaches more than 30 million cable and satellite households in the U.S. and Caribbean.
Fox Soccer Channel is one of 28 national and regional programming networks within Fox Networks Group, an operating unit of the News Corporation (NYSE:NWS). These broadcast, cable, satellite and telephony delivered networks reach more than half a billion U.S. television homes, and represent one of the media industry's most diverse collections of programming operations. Fox Networks Group consists of FOX Sports, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Cable Networks and Fox Networks Engineering & Operations. For more information, visit America's most visited online soccer destination at foxsoccer.com.