Online video publisher thePlatform launches new social media video player

ThePlatform, Comcast’s video publishing subsidiary, has unveiled a new video player that integrates access to ten social media networks. The new player — which is a part of the company’s latest Player Development Kit (PDK 4.2) — also includes other features that makes sharing videos online easier for consumers, while also keeping intact the financial obligations between content producers, distributors, and advertisers.
The company is a direct competitor to Brightcove, and its products are used by media companies like the Associated Press, BBC, Comcast, and Time Warner for publishing and managing video content across the online, TV, and mobile spaces.
ThePlatform elaborates on its new PDK 4.2 features in a recent blog post. By default, the new player will have access to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, Windows Live, Yahoo! Buzz, and VodPod. There’s also leeway to integrate other social networks into the new player.
As shown in the screenshot above, you can also select a specific portion of a clip to share — a feature that’s been immensely useful on Hulu. The company also mentions that the new player will have better customization options — including the ability to customize any button or icon, and a slew of interface tweaks. In addition, it will allow for consistency of shared content — including full implementation of advertising policies regardless of the length of the clip, and complete control over the embedded player.
The addition of better social media features into thePlatform’s new player  isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but it’s significant because it will bring richer social media integration into mainstream media sites.
Based in Seattle, Washington, thePlatform was founded in 2000 with the goal of helping companies deal with large quantities of broadband media. The company was purchased by Comcast in 2006.
Companies: Theplatform