Sonic Solutions and RAVISENT Technologies Inc. today announced a joint effort to bring the new Streaming DVD video standard to millions of PC users worldwide. Sonic Solutions will deliver Streaming DVD authoring applications for the creation of interactive, streaming video content. RAVISENT will integrate support for the Streaming DVD format into its CineMaster® family of web-integrated PC Digital Media Players, and extend the new format with its Media Access Control technology, enabling secure e-commerce delivery for content creators and distributors. This collaboration allows consumers to play back streaming DVD content over the Internet using the same interactive menus and navigation as on a physical DVD disc.

Combining the interactive features of DVD with high-quality video and audio at scalable data-rates, Streaming DVD represents a major step forward in delivering compelling video content online. Using the interactive video format of DVD, Streaming DVD allows the format to be used for broadband Internet access. Streaming DVD is the first streaming video format based on industry-standard DVD, and it consists of three key components: authoring, broadcasting and playback. The Streaming DVD authoring engine will be incorporated in Sonic’s industry-leading line of DVD authoring applications, including Sonic DVD Creator, DVD Fusion and DVDit!. At the output stage of the DVD authoring process, users will have the ability to select Streaming DVD in addition to DVD-Video.

When Streaming DVD output is selected, all source video is automatically compressed into low bit-rate MPEG-2 video. Once compressed, the video and audio assets are multiplexed into a file consistent in structure with the DVD-Video file format and can be written to hard disk or even onto the DVD-ROM portion of a standard DVD-Video title. Once Streaming DVD content has been authored, it can be published on the Internet through a simple FTP upload to a standard web server, or streamed directly from the desktop using Sonic’s PersonalBroadcaster(TM) technology.

For playback, RAVISENT’s Software CineMaster® DVD player will include the ability to access, pay for if required, and play Streaming DVD content, enabling users to view both Classic DVD and Streaming DVD formats on their personal computer. Sonic plans to release Streaming DVD-enabled versions of its authoring applications in July 2000. Sonic has an active licensing program for a range of technology partners including player manufacturers, Internet hosting and service providers, and content publishers. RAVISENT will release Streaming DVD-enabled versions of its Media Player applications in July 2000.