Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, has announced that Axel Springer SE, international media and technology company, has deployed Player Web X, Bitmovin’s next-generation web video player. This deployment sees media powerhouse Axel Springer SE using Player Web X to power audio readouts of news articles for its WELT brand, alongside its audio-only news channel.

Bitmovin’s Player Web X is a high-performing video player for streaming live and on-demand video across web-based devices. It brings together fast and efficient playback, vertical video capabilities, and advertising support in a single, lightweight package, enabling monetization for short-form and social media content without the bundle size penalty typically associated with ad-enabled players.

Built with structured concurrency and a modular player design, Player Web X is designed specifically for web-based video playback to ensure fast page loading, instant video startup and seamless switching between sources. The ability to preload main content and ads allows for near-instant transitions between content and ad breaks, for a seamless user experience.

James Varndell, Senior Director of Product Management, Playback at Bitmovin, commented, “Viewers and listeners expect the highest quality from the WELT brand. By choosing Bitmovin’s Player Web X to power its new audio experience, Axel Springer is ensuring that the high-quality that its viewers enjoy when watching news video streams, is also extending to the audio streams of its written news content.”

Stephan Zech, Executive Director, BILD Video/TV Business at Axel Springer, added, “By expanding WELT’s digital offering to include lightweight experiences such as audio readouts of news articles, we’re giving consumers even more choice over how they engage with our news content, while at the same time extending our reach and unlocking new revenue potential. For this new audio experience, we needed a player that provides fast video startup, reliability, and doesn’t slow down web page loading speed. Bitmovin’s Player Web X ticks all of these boxes and facilitates monetization from day one.”