By combining the KickApps Platform with Akamai’s enterprise class rich media management platform, Stream OS, web publishers now have access to powerful tools for turnkey creation and management of players for video publishing. Through the integration between Akamai’s Stream OS media management system and the KickApps Platform, the offering provides web publishers drag-and-drop video player customization, a comprehensive media management system, social media enhancements, High Definition (HD) video players, and new video revenue opportunities.

Using the KickApps Widget & Video Player Studio, web publishers can easily create, manage and program an unlimited number of custom online video players. Together with the automated digital distribution workflow of Akamai’s Stream OS business rules, web publishers now have on-demand access to a robust online video publishing solution. In addition, KickApps’ video players can be deployed with a range of social media features (e.g. rating, tagging and one-click viral syndication) to drive deeper levels of audience engagement with video content.

“This is a huge step for KickApps’ customers, web publishers and the industry as a whole,” said Tim Napoleon, chief strategist for digital media at Akamai. “This solution offers a simplified way to build players and monetize content with an efficient workflow that is made available through Akamai’s Stream OS. Together, we’re hopeful to remove the final barriers to adoption by making available a highly sophisticated video publishing platform to web publishers of all sizes.”

Together, KickApps and Akamai offer web publishers many options for creating unique and differentiated video experiences. In addition to industry-leading video player customization, the offering also provides publishers with a solution for on-demand deployment of HD video. As consumer expectations and demand for HD quality video increase, the challenge for media companies and web publishers will be to easily access these technologies at an affordable price.