Wowza Media Server（TM） Pro Is First to Support Live H.264 Streaming to Flash（R）

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Wowza Media Systems, emerging leader in streaming media server software, today announced that its award-winning Wowza Media Server(TM) Pro is the first Flash media server to bring live streaming to Adobe? Flash players utilizing the plethora of readily available H.264 encoders that support standard RTP/RTSP protocol.
    Part of the Wowza Media Server Pro 1.5.0 preview release, this exclusive capability empowers broadcasters, users and makers of telepresence systems, IPTV providers, content owners, and CDNs to immediately stream live H.264 SD and HD content to the Flash player, the most widely deployed media player on the Internet, without any changes to encoders.

    Not only does this innovation protect broadcasters'' and netcasters'' investment and significantly reduce the cost of deploying high-quality, real-time H.264 streaming for Flash, but it completely eliminates the need for encoders to support the proprietary RTMP Flash protocol.

    "Wowza is clearly a visionary in the streaming media space," commented Oisin Lunny, Product Manager, Online Distribution & Media Services, Interoute. "For a global CDN like Interoute, Wowza''s innovation not only lets us use existing encoding workflows but even more importantly gives us the ability to expand our market leadership by offering our customers advanced media delivery services that make economic and operational sense."

    H.264 for video and HE-AAC for audio are already the de facto compression standards in many facets of broadcasting, online media and entertainment. In addition to IPTV and telepresence applications, H.264, in its 3GP variant, is the most popular video encoding format for mobile video. H.264 is also the encoding format of choice for Blue-ray, which recently became the high-definition DVD standard.

    Additionally, Wowza Pro 1.5.0 fully supports on-demand H.264 video and HE-AAC audio streaming and offers audio netcasters a unique capability of restreaming HE-AAC and MP3 SHOUTcast/Icecast sources to Flash.

    "This capability is something I''ve been eagerly waiting for," said Raymond Dulieu, Founder and CEO of Freecaster.tv. "Since 2005, Freecaster has been delivering superior picture quality using H.264 video and QuickTime streaming. Wowza just made it extremely easy for us to retain our video quality and expand our global audience via Flash streaming without any changes to our encoding infrastructure. I''m looking forward to a substantial increase in viewership for the 50 extreme sports events we stream every year from all corners of the world."

    "Wowza continues to innovate and enable the industry with more efficient, higher quality and cost effective ways to stream content," said David Stubenvoll, CEO & Co-Founder, Wowza Media Systems. "With this Wowza Pro exclusive capability, we open the floodgates for sporting events, concerts, keynote addresses, distance-learning, and other time-critical programming delivered online in high-quality H.264 format."

    Wowza Pro 1.5.0 is available for download from http://www.wowzamedia.com/h264.html. It has been tested for interoperability with Apple QuickTime Broadcaster, Vara Software Wirecast and HaiVision SD and HD hai1000 series network video system. Additional encoder product certifications are in progress.

    The product is scheduled for general availability in April 2008. The price of Wowza Pro 1.5.0 edition will remain $995. A free upgrade will be available to all current Wowza Pro licensees.

    About Wowza Media Systems

    Wowza Media Systems, a software company headquartered in San Jose, CA, is a developer of interactive streaming media server software. Its flagship product, Wowza Media Server Pro, features an innovative server architecture that delivers unmatched performance, functionality, and scalability. Wowza Media Server Pro enables customers like Macy''s, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cengage (formerly Thomson Learning), Interoute, and Julius Blum GmbH to deliver interactive and entertaining Flash applications and content, including video on demand, live video distribution, video recording, and chat. Wowza Media Server Pro is deployed by over 5,000 global licensees in a broad range of industries, including entertainment, social media, advertising, enterprise, education, government, and Internet commerce. For more information, visit Wowza Media Systems at http://www.wowzamedia.com.

    Wowza and related marks are trademarks of Wowza Media Systems. Adobe and Flash are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Source: Wowza Media Systems