Upon securing a long-term partnership agreement with the leading global technology company HCL Technologies (HCL), MetaMedia, the world’s first global, cloud-based distribution platform for cinemas, drive-ins, and other out-of-home venues, today announced that it has expanded its entertainment network to more than 3,000 screens across the U.S. and Canada, covering all the top 50 cities.
“HCL is proud to support MetaMedia with its top-tier design, engineering and deployment services for its global expansion,” said Anil Ganjoo, Corporate Vice President, HCL Technologies. “HCL has enabled many media and entertainment companies to deploy disruptive technology platforms. MetaMedia’s platform for digital out-of-home entertainment programming and distribution is generating a lot of great industry attention and we look forward to helping them grow and succeed.”
“For our company born just last year, having access to 3,000 available screens is a significant milestone,” said Jason Brenek, CEO, MetaMedia. “Thanks to a number of critical, strategic partnerships, we’ve been able to continue to expand our network despite last year’s challenges. We’re excited to partner with HCL, which has a long, proven track record of assisting many reputable and successful tech companies scale globally.”
Despite a global pandemic and periodic industry shutdowns, MetaMedia, one of America’s fastest growing entertainment technology companies, announced that it has installed its cloud-based technology on 3,000 screens. MetaMedia attributes this milestone to several key partnerships with venues and premium content providers that utilize the MetaMedia network.
With a dedicated Microsoft business unit, HCL will develop, integrate and maintain solutions on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform for MetaMedia’s improved scalability, security, and functionality. MetaMedia’s partnership with HCL, which provides infrastructure, operations, and support for some of the world’s leading technology companies, will accelerate the company’s global expansion. Under the new agreement, HCL will provide MetaMedia with top-tier engineering teams to expand its platform’s capabilities and hardware support for a platform utilizing high performing Dell workstations. The expansion will include an interactive theater network as well as deployments into new international markets. HCL will also develop and operate a custom network operation center that will allow MetaMedia to monitor real-time platform performance, control remote cameras and microphones and facilitate theater-to-theater and studio-to-theater interactions. This technology will support marketing efforts, panel discussions, focus groups, corporate events, product introductions, e-sports and many other live events. HCL will also collaborate with MetaMedia to develop further groundbreaking services and products.
MetaMedia CTO Shai Priyadarshi added, “We picked HCL specifically because of their expertise in global platform development and management, as well as their worldwide reach with top-tier experts in all the countries we have targeted for our next wave of expansion. Our new partnership with HCL ensures our infrastructure continues to keep pace with our rapid growth and helps us maintain the best-in-class service we provide for premium content providers, cinemas and other out-of-home venues around the world.”
At the core of this rapid growth is the MetaMedia Entertainment Network™, which provides for the secure, rapid, targeted and cost-saving cloud-based delivery of premium programming such as movies, live-streamed events and advertising. The network also expands content options and creates additional revenue streams saving venues and content providers valuable time and money. Over the last year, MetaMedia expanded the MetaMedia Entertainment Network™ via partnerships with several major global cinema operators, including Cinemark, Cinépolis, Landmark Cinemas of Canada, Emagine Entertainment, and the Independent Cinema Alliance (ICA) as well as a number of independently-owned drive-ins. Earlier this year, the company also partnered with Harena Data, Inc., a data analytics, league development and player management tool for the esports industry, and Encore Live’s Encore Drive-In Nights, which showcases live experiences from some of the world’s most iconic stars, such as Bon Jovi, at drive-in venues and select cinemas. In August, MetaMedia announced a groundbreaking partnership to bring Magic Screen, the world’s first interactive platform for animated and live content, to cinemas and other out-of-home venues around the world.