World-Famous Race Delivered in High-Quality Video to Cycling Fans
Online
Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced that leading
Australian public broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) will
stream the 96th annual Tour de France live online using
Adobe® Flash® technology, the No. 1 platform for delivering video on the
Web*. Cycling fans throughout Australia will be able to watch the most
prestigious and well-known bicycling event in the world, via the SBS Web
site at www.sbs.com.au/tdf.
The race begins on July 4 and continues through July 27, 2009 with 21
stages, covering a total distance of 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles).
SBS chose the Adobe Flash Platform to stream the race live in
high-definition video, and will offer instant messaging capabilities for
viewer interaction, text and audio race commentary, and real-time rider
tracking complete with elevations, routes, and rider positions.
“With Adobe Flash technology and Akamai's world-class video streaming
services, we are offering our viewers a seamless, instant-on Web video
experience for watching the Tour de France live on the Internet,” said
Toby Forage, executive producer of Sport Online for Special Broadcasting
Service. “With extensive interactivity such as the ability to chat live
with other fans, we are catering to viewers who want compelling
experiences and new ways to engage with their favorite sports.”
Enabling a seamless, instant-on Web experience
Adobe Flash Media Server software is powering the live video streaming
for the event, delivered by Adobe Flash Video Streaming Service partner
Akamai. Utilizing Adobe’s server software, SBS can deploy consistent,
high-quality video as a truly seamless, instant-on Web video experience
across all major platforms and browsers.
“With the Adobe Flash Platform, broadcasters like SBS are enabling
viewers to experience sports live in ways that go beyond the events
themselves, incorporating new levels of interactivity and community
among fans,” said Jim Guerard, vice president and general manager of
Dynamic Media at Adobe. “Adobe Flash technology supports some of the
largest live streaming events with millions of fans engaged online.
We’re looking forward to the Tour de France and providing cycling fans
with a fun, interactive online experience.”
“The Adobe Flash Platform has been globally adopted to stream live
events that want to combine high quality dynamic video and rich
interactivity,” said Tim Napoleon, chief strategist for Digital Media
for Akamai. “Working with SBS and Adobe, we’re able to take advantage of
the power and reach of the Flash Platform and deliver an online video
experience that will thrill the global Tour de France fan base.”
The Adobe Flash Platform is a complete system of integrated tools,
frameworks, clients and servers for the development of Web applications,
content and video that runs consistently across operating systems and
devices. Adobe Flash Player is on over 98 percent of connected computers
and delivers approximately 80 percent of Web video worldwide. Major
broadcasters and media companies including MLB.com, CCTV International
Networks and DirecTV, are already using the Adobe Flash Platform for
streaming live events and the platform powers social networks sites
YouTube and MySpace.
About Adobe Systems Incorporated
Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information –
anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.
* April 2009 data from independent research firm comScore
© 2009 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Adobe, the Adobe
logo and Flash either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe
Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Sandra Nakama, 415-832-4053
snakama@adobe.com
or
A&R
Edelman
Susan Puccinelli, 650-762-2926
spuccinelli@ar-edelman.com
