Dolby announces it has acquired THEO Technologies, a provider of video players, and solutions for low-latency, live delivery of sports and entertainment content.
Bringing together Dolby and THEO was the next step in building solutions for sports and entertainment companies who are looking to create real-time digital experiences for live events that are more interactive and personalized, to increase fan engagement.
Live sports or entertainment in real life is a shared experience that is naturally interactive and engaging. But there is an unpredictable and inconsistent delay of up to a minute before that content reaches viewers’ screens. This leads to familiar issues like neighbors cheering before you see a key moment in a game.
Combining Dolby Millicast, an ultra-low latency streaming solution which delivers less than half a second of latency, with THEO’s cross-platform playback and low-latency live streaming solutions, sports and entertainment companies can deliver experiences with no perceptible difference between what you see in-person and what is streaming on your device, making them as close to a shared live experience as possible.
“People want to engage with their content in real-time and have a more personal relationship with their content,” says Giles Baker, Senior Vice President of Dolby Cloud Solutions. “With Dolby Millicast, we’ve enabled service providers to improve the audiovisual experience, and offer experiences that are delivered in real-time. Adding THEO’s suite of products creates a comprehensive cross-platform solution for sports and entertainment companies seeking to enable the most interactive real-time digital experiences.”
“Dolby and THEO have a shared vision to offer customers the best in real-time streaming experiences that drive fan engagement and interactivity. Together, we are set to transform the industry, creating streaming experiences so immersive they rival being there in person,” says Steven Tielemans, co-founder and CEO of THEO Technologies.
“By joining forces, we will leverage Dolby’s expertise, resources, and market presence to accelerate growth and product innovation. We’re excited to create new era of content innovation, making it more compelling, interactive, and accessible,” says Pieter-Jan Speelmans, co-founder and CTO of THEO Technologies.
• Dolby Millicast: an ultra-low latency streaming solution with less than half a second of latency, that delivers synchronized viewer experiences, ensuring you never miss a beat in engaging audiences.
• THEOplayer: a cross-platform video player available, enabling leading media and entertainment companies worldwide to deliver advanced video experiences, efficiently and across all devices. It supports all standard delivery formats and works on all major playback platforms.
• THEOlive: a live streaming solution that delivers high-quality, ultra-low latency streaming at scale. Available as a standalone product or combined with Dolby Millicast to create a comprehensive solution with features like pause, rewind, and instant replay, catering to a wide range of customer needs.
• Dolby Hybrik: a cloud-based media workflow management service designed to deliver optimized media experiences across a variety of platforms, from theatres to mobile devices. It makes video transcoding and QC faster, easier, and more cost-effective, so you can get the job done right — no matter how massive your workload.
