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NBC Universal Selects Microsoft and Silverlight to Power Olympics Video
Allen Stern - January 6th, 2008
Just received news out of NBC Universal that they have selected Microsoft to host the online video portal for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The site will be available at NBCOlympics.com and will be powered by Microsoft’s Silverlight platform.
While NBC notes quickly that this online option is a complement to its broadcast programming for the Olympics, they also note that will deliver thousands of hours of competition video in both live and on-demand formats.
Here are the important notes from the press release, "As a result of this unprecedented alliance, "NBCOlympics.com on MSN" will deliver:
- 2,200 hours of live event video coverage, with more than 20 simultaneous live video streams at peak times
- More than 3,000 hours of on-demand video content including full-event replays, highlights, features, interviews and encore packages.
- An "enhanced playback mode" powered by Silverlight that gives users the choice of a high-quality full screen viewing experience that is as good or better than anything on the Internet today
- Unique metadata overlays powered by Silverlight that enable fans to have access not only to high quality video, but also to the wealth of related content including results, statistics, comprehensive bios, rules and expert analysis from NBC’s Olympic digital media team in Beijing
- Live video alerts so fans can stay connected to the events and teams they care most about
- Social networking features that enable fans to share aspects of their Olympic experience with friends
Certainly more interactive than when I was responsible for the Wimbledon tennis tourney back in the mid-90s.
[...] of online video that NBC would provide, 2,200 live hours and over 3,000 total hours of video. NBC is also partnering with Microsoft on their Silverlight technology and the player that NBC describes should be nothing short of [...]
nice find
Considering that the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games lost a seminal case over website accessibility back in 2000 (http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/decisions/comdec/2000/DD000120.htm), I question the choice of Silverlight 1.0, which lacks support for even basic keyboard accessibility and has no support for screen readers.
On the bright side, it could force Microsoft to address the accessibility shortcomings of their new platform sooner than later.
Silverlight 1.1 Alpha seems to have added accessibility support.
Not surprised, since they’ve worked together, but gravely disappointed. Every silverlight video player I’ve used has been awful.
The interactive offerings sound awesome, but I’m confident that the choice of Silverlight as the delivery tool is setting us up to be disappointed.
I am reading your article and many others about this “Silverlight” I wish someone would tell us what it is. Is this like Windows Media Player?