Metamedia teams with HCL, hits 3,000 screens
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 20 December 2021
After securing a long-term partnership agreement with HCL Technologies (HCL), global, cloud-based distribution platform MetaMedia, has expanded its entertainment network to more than 3,000 screens across the US and Canada.
MetaMedia screen 20Dec2021
This means that the rescue of provider of entertainment for cinemas, drive-ins and other out-of-home venues now covers all the top 50 cities in the two countries. MetaMedia attributes hitting its 300–screen milestone to several key partnerships with venues and premium content providers that use its network.

The MetaMedia Entertainment Network is designed to provides for the secure, rapid, targeted and cost-saving cloud-based delivery of premium programming such as films, live-streamed events and advertising. Its principal benefits are said to be expanded content options and the creation of additional revenue streams saving venues and content providers time and money.

Over the last year, MetaMedia expanded the network via partnerships with 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 in 2021 it also partnered with eSports data analytics, league development and player management tech provider Harena Data and Encore Live’s Encore Drive-In Nights, which showcases live experiences at drive-in venues and select cinemas. In August 2021, MetaMedia announced a partnership to bring the Magic Screen interactive platform for animated and live content to cinemas and other out-of-home venues around the world.

In its new partnership with the dedicated Microsoft business unit, HCL will develop, integrate and maintain solutions on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, aiming to give MetaMedia improved scalability, security and functionality, and accelerate the company’s global expansion. HCL will provide MetaMedia with engineering teams to expand its platform’s capabilities and hardware support for a platform utilising high performing Dell workstations. The expansion will include an interactive theatre network as well as deployments into new international markets. HCL will also develop and operate a custom network operation centre that will allow MetaMedia to monitor real-time platform performance, control remote cameras and microphones and facilitate theatre-to-theatre and studio-to-theatre interactions.

“HCL is proud to support MetaMedia with its top-tier design, engineering and deployment services for its global expansion,” commented 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,” added MetaMedia CEO Jason Brenek. “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.”