AVP Pro Beach Volleyball announced today it has signed a two-year agreement with Microsoft Corp. to use Microsoft Silverlight 3 to deliver high definition (HD) live streaming video of professional beach volleyball matches to fans around the world. AVP will utilize its new AVP.com HD Video Player application powered by Silverlight 3 and Internet Information Services (IIS) Live Smooth Streaming to bring worldwide professional beach volleyball fans a new and unique option for watching their favorite sport.

“Silverlight is the premium platform for online streaming in the market today,” said Jason Hodell, CEO, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball. “We are eager to enhance our streaming video capabilities to bring our beautiful sport to a larger audience online. We intend to cover both outer court and stadium action to bring fans an authentic game day experience.”

Microsoft worked with the AVP to develop the Silverlight AVP HD Video Player and will license AVP adequate license right to deploy it on AVP and any AVP partner websites. Additionally, AVP and Microsoft will share web presence on each company’s respective website.

“The AVP’s use of Silverlight and IIS Live Smooth Streaming is a great example of how our customers can deliver high-definition, engaging online video experiences to their viewers,” said Brian Goldfarb, director of the Developer Platform Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft is excited to work with customers like the AVP to dramatically change the way sports fans engage with events online.”

Utilizing Silverlight 3 and IIS Live Smooth Streaming, the AVP began HD streaming from its most prestigious and historic event, the AVP Crocs Slam Bud Light Manhattan Beach Open, July 17-19 live from the sands of Manhattan Beach, Calif.  Now users can watch archived preliminary round matches, semifinals and finals in the avpTV area of AVP.com. Click here to start watching!