GridCasting is a high-quality, low cost managed service offering that is Powering Internet Television. It provides unmatched quality as an outsource solution for media customers wishing to stream or provide downloads on the Internet, but don't want to go to the expense or challenge of developing a core competency, and infrastructure, for content delivery themselves.
With GridCasting, millions of consumers can simultaneously view any television program or movie on a computer or full-sized television with HD clarity and high fidelity sound. Internet television delivered by GridCasting starts-up quickly and streams without buffering or interruptions. Best of all, even though it provides the best quality user experience in the industry today, GridCasting service costs a fraction of what it typically costs to use a conventional content delivery network (“CDN”) that delivers low quality video that doesn't display on a full screen.
Solutions for media companies
GridCasting, the managed Internet television delivery service, is designed for use by media and entertainment companies, television networks, movie distributors, and web portals wishing to stream or download high quality programming to Internet-connected consumers. Content companies wishing to stream or provide downloads on the Internet can outsource their distribution needs to GridNetworks and its GridCasting service.
The ability to predictably and reliably monetize television content on the Internet has everything to do with “stickiness,” and the willingness of consumer viewers to return to, or regularly use the web portal or other Internet source of the content. This, in turn, is often very dependent on the overall quality of the user experience. By providing the best quality of user experience with its form of Internet television, Gridcasting plays a key role in creating the stickiness that will fuel the predictable, extended advertising distribution that is critical for content monetization.
How it works
GridNetworks has combined the best of traditional, hosted networking and content technologies, with a unique, sophisticated type of peer-to-peer client software. The result: GridCasting, a managed Internet television service. GridCasting can stream or download full screen, HD-quality programs and movies to millions of computers and living room screens without buffering or interruptions.
GridCasting is based on a hybrid set of technologies that include the GridCast Connector and Grid Network Control – a network-hosted system that orchestrates real-time service management and network-friendly video streams. Grid Network Control and GridCast Connectors work in tandem to ensure that millions of viewers can simultaneously watch television programming from Internet broadband connections without re-buffering or interruptions.
After a viewer makes a programming selection, television images are initially streamed or downloaded directly from Grid Network Control to ensure a HD-quality experience from the start. Within a few moments, Grid Network Control transfers the video streaming responsibilities to a virtual network of GridCast Connectors that are available at that time to complete the interaction. If a viewer seeks, fast- forwards, or changes channels, GridCast Network Control again automatically steps in to ensure the viewer continues to enjoy HD-quality Internet television.
In addition to ensuring consistent, HD-quality video, GridCasting provides precise management of all aspects of video publishing.
GridCasting monitors the viewer's computer and network connection to make certain that video sharing does not affect other activities like web surfing, IP telephone calls and gaming.
GridCasting features built-in redundancy that ensures viewers have access to hundreds of sources for their programming and movies.
GridCasting is designed to overcome Internet congestion issues that cause interruptions, waiting and buffering.
