REDMOND, Wash. and HONG KONG, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. and Movideo Pty Ltd. today announced a four-year strategic agreement in which Movideo will migrate its integrated online video platform to Windows Azure to drive business growth across Asia Pacific (APAC) and beyond.

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Movideo is a media-centric and integrated online video platform, delivering positive business outcomes via an end-to-end video solution, encoding, storing, managing, syndicating and delivering audiovisual content to multiple end-user devices, and featuring powerful business intelligence tools for detailed analysis. Movideo is owned by the ASX-listed MCM Entertainment Group Ltd. (MEG).

"The global alliance with Microsoft is first a technical alliance whereby Windows Azure becomes the infrastructure platform for our cloud software as a service product, Movideo," said Tony McGinn, Movideo CEO and MEG founder. "The strong road map for Windows Azure resources the scalable infrastructure that underpins the Movideo offering, allowing us to get on with our role of optimizing the management and delivery of our customers' great content. Second, the alliance is about sales and marketing support and coordination to drive growth for Movideo and Windows Azure. We can leverage tremendous advantages working beside such an experienced and far-reaching software partner."

Movideo is planning to take full advantage of the booming global online video market, which is forecast by AccuStream Research's January 2012 Video Value Chain report to grow from $4.4 billion (U.S.) in 2011 to more than $10 billion (U.S.) by the end of 2014. AccuStream forecasts that video platforms and content delivery will account for approximately 50 percent of this value chain.

Movideo is focused on becoming a dominant force in the digital media environment, specifically with media customers across APAC.

"We are excited about the growth prospects for Movideo in APAC, particularly since we are based in and very committed to the region," McGinn said. "However, we are looking at the broader worldwide opportunities that now exist thanks to this new collaboration with Microsoft."

Movideo is undertaking one of the largest Java transitions to Windows Azure.

"We come from an open source background and typically used a Java stack inside our environments. It is a big transition moving onto the Microsoft stack, but working closely with the Microsoft China Cloud Innovation Center, Microsoft Hong Kong office and the Microsoft Redmond product engineering teams, we are making it a smooth transition," said Cameron Moore, chief technology officer, Movideo. "The migration is expected to be completed in May. By migrating to Windows Azure, we can now take advantage of the added services that Windows Azure provides beyond just being infrastructure and accelerating our development road map of product features for our media customers with assurances that the scalability, redundancy and robustness of the back-end infrastructure are taken care of."

Kathy Lee, Azure Platform Strategy advisor, Microsoft Hong Kong, said, "Movideo has a proven track record in delivering great content to customers, and the strategic relationship announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise and a proven ability to execute. By leveraging the power of Windows Azure, Movideo is creating a scalable solution that can be easily customized to grow with the needs of its customers."

The global alliance between Movideo and Microsoft incorporates a long-term pricing agreement, technical support, and sales and marketing backing.

Background

Movideo launched to market in 2010 and now services 30 customers, including Network Ten in Australia, MNC Group Indonesia, South China Morning Post Hong Kong, Reader's Digest Singapore and Astro Group Malaysia, and is focused on the rapidly emerging markets in APAC.

More information about how Movideo is betting on Windows Azure and its growth strategy across APAC can be found in the Q&A with McGinn and Moore. Those interested in further information should visit these websites:

• Microsoft News Center — Cloud Virtual Press Room
• STB News Bytes Blog
• Interoperability@microsoft blog
• Movideo video

About Movideo Pty Ltd.

Movideo is the largest Software as a Service (SaaS) Online Video Platform business based in the APAC region. Movideo was developed within the publicly listed Australian media business, MCM Entertainment Group from 2006. Following its success within the domestic media market for MCM, Movideo was established as a SaaS and consulting business within the group in 2008. It now has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and Shanghai. www.movideo.com

About MCM Entertainment Group Ltd.

MCM Entertainment Group MEG comprises three stand-alone businesses; MCM Media Pty Ltd. one of Australia's leading media production companies offering premium content creation delivered across radio, digital, television and events; Igloo digital Pty Ltd. — a full service digital agency providing outstanding web design and; Movideo Pty Ltd. — a world-class digital media software solutions provider.

Combining the strengths of MCM Media, Movideo and Igloo, MCM Entertainment Group can draw upon each individual company's expertise in content, technology and design to develop powerful solutions for clients across multiple media platforms. www.mcmentertainment.com

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft MSFT is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.