Signiant announces that the National Hockey League has deployed its digital media distribution technology as part of a strategic plan to super-serve avid fans with video content. Using the technology, the NHL will quickly and easily acquire behind-the-scenes content shot in the field, providing a unique video experience to fans via NHL Network Online, and deliver very timely game highlights to NHL arena Jumbotrons. As a result, the League can highly engage its avid fans with video content, as well as expose them to more events taking place League-wide.

The NHL boasts 53 million of the most passionate, technically sophisticated fans in North America, and the League is seeking to capitalize on two marketing opportunities: making NHL.COM the premier online destination to super-serve avid fans with video content from games and behind-the-scenes; and to generate increased interest in events taking place beyond a fan’s local market.

With Signiant, the NHL can quickly ingest, manage and control the distribution of game footage and other promotional video to and from its 30 arenas in the U.S. and Canada, plus NHL Network Online, a landmark online video initiative launched in April. As a result, the League can keep fans immersed in the game as never before.

Signiant allowed the NHL to leverage existing IP connectivity at all of the League’s 30 arenas. As a result, Signiant’s IP-based solution deployed more quickly and for less cost than some of the NHL’s other options, including signal-based solutions.

Prior to implementing Signiant’s digital media distribution management suite, the NHL’s proprietary venue-based IP network was only used to transfer scoring data, and provide IP-based voice communications. With the ability to closely control media transfers, Signiant’s solution allows the NHL to accelerate the movement of large video files over its network while managing and optimizing bandwidth usage to ensure that these vital, existing services remain uninterrupted.