Comcast's ThePlatform Adds More Controls To MPX System

Comcast's thePlatform unit announced several enhancements to its MPX Beta video-publishing system -- designed to give customers greater control over business policies, including the ability to enforce content restrictions -- and separately that the Outdoor Channel has migrated to its system.

MPX, introduced earlier this year, now includes: tools for creating and managing curated video feeds; integrated support for applying advertising policies; and additional capabilities to enforce viewing restrictions on content (by country, region, metro code, city, area code or postal code), such as setting blackout restrictions for sporting events.

In addition, thePlatform announced that Outdoor Channel has picked the MPX system to manage online video for OutdoorChannel.com. The programmer is using the social-media capabilities of thePlatform's video player, which is integrated with sites including Facebook, Twitter, Digg and Yahoo Buzz.

Previously, Outdoor Channel had used the video-publishing tools of VisibleGains (formerly called PermissionTV) for OutdoorChannel.com, which currently receives approximately 1 million unique visitors per month. "ThePlatform's proven video publishing system will provide us with a simpler, scalable and robust back-end to serve our viewers' appetite for our authentic outdoor content," Outdoor Channel president of digital media Todd Merkow said.

Other customers of Seattle-based thePlatform include Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Cablevision Systems and Rogers, as well as Big Ten Network, CNBC, Fox Sports Network, PBS, Sony BMG, Starz Play and Travel Channel Media.