RealNetworks
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Internet streaming media |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Rob Glaser, Phil Barrett, Andy Sharpless, Stephen Buerkle |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Rob Glaser (CEO) |
| Products | SAFR, Kontxt, RealTimes, GameHouse, RealDVD, Real Alternative, Helix, RealDownloader, RealAudio, RealPlayer, RealVideo, Rinse, Unifi |
| Website | realnetworks |
RealNetworks LLC is a U.S.-based technology firm that focuses on software and services for Internet streaming media delivery, with its headquarters located in Seattle, Washington. The company provides subscription-driven offerings in online entertainment, mobile media, and communication services.
History
Established in 1994 by ex-Microsoft executive Rob Glaser together with Phil Barrett, Andy Sharpless, and Stephen Buerkle, the enterprise originally sought to distribute innovative content before pivoting to Internet audio streaming. In 1997, it adopted the name RealNetworks and launched its initial public offering on Nasdaq under the ticker "RNWK" in October of that year.
As a trailblazer in streaming media technology, RealNetworks was among the first to broadcast live audio over the Internet, including a 1995 baseball game, and introduced streaming video capabilities by 1997. By the year 2000, Real’s streaming format was utilized by more than 85% of online streaming content. Nevertheless, its main income from streaming server software diminished as competitors such as Microsoft and Apple began offering free alternatives.
In 2000, RealNetworks initiated legal proceedings against Streambox over the conversion of Real Audio files. The company rolled out subscription-based music services in 2001 and established a strategic partnership with Sony in 2002. In 2005, Microsoft resolved an antitrust lawsuit with RealNetworks through a $460 million settlement.
RealNetworks grew through acquisitions, acquiring Rhapsody in 2003—later rebranded as RealRhapsody—to provide DRM-protected music streaming. The company also bought Dutch game developer Zylom in 2006 to strengthen its GameHouse segment. It developed Harmony technology to enable compatibility of its DRM music on iPods and Windows Media devices.
Founder Rob Glaser exited the company in 2010; during that year, Rhapsody was spun off as an independent entity. In 2013, RealNetworks purchased Slingo for $15.6 million and launched the Listen app in 2014 to offer customized mobile ringtones.
In December 2022, Rob Glaser reacquired RealNetworks as a private company, signaling a major transformation in its ownership structure while he continued serving as CEO.
Corporate governance
RealNetworks maintains its corporate offices in Seattle’s Home Plate Center building located in SoDo near T-Mobile Park, sharing premises with KING-TV and Logic 20/20 Consulting.
Among its distinguished former staff are Alex Alben, Washington State’s inaugural Chief Privacy Officer; Tony Fadell, credited with inventing the iPod; musician Daniel House; Philip Rosedale, founder of Linden Lab; Senator Maria Cantwell; along with Sujal Patel and Paul Mikesell, founders of Isilon.
By 2008, the website real.com attracted nearly 67 million visitors annually, demonstrating considerable market influence.
SAFR
Introduced on July 17, 2018, SAFR (Secure Accurate Facial Recognition) is RealNetworks’ facial recognition platform powered by machine learning. In 2020, SAFR incorporated COVID-19 related capabilities such as mask detection achieving 98.85% accuracy. On April 27, 2021, SAFR received a grant from the US Air Force to enhance its AI analytics for applications including rescue operations, perimeter defense, and domestic search missions.
Kontxt
RealNetworks introduced Kontxt in 2017 as a solution for managing text messaging within mobile networks by categorizing messages to ensure prioritized delivery. In March 2021, the company enhanced Kontxt by adding a voice component designed to detect and block fraudulent robocalls, thereby strengthening its communication security offerings.
RealTimes (formerly RealPlayer Cloud)
On September 24, 2013, RealNetworks launched RealPlayer Cloud, a platform that allowed users to share videos seamlessly across smartphones, tablets, and web browsers, providing 2GB of complimentary cloud storage with options for paid expansion. The service was rebranded as RealTimes in May 2015, shifting its emphasis toward generating and sharing "Stories"—video compilations that merge personal photos and clips with music—thus expanding its digital media capabilities.
GameHouse
RealNetworks made its entry into the gaming sector in October 2001 through RealArcade, a distribution platform for PC games that offered trial gameplay before purchase. The company acquired GameHouse, a game development studio, in 2004 for $35.6 million and rebranded its gaming division as GameHouse in 2010 to highlight social gaming features, including applications on Facebook. In 2013, RealNetworks broadened its casual casino game selection by purchasing Slingo for $15.6 million, reinforcing its presence in the social casino gaming market.
RealDVD
RealNetworks unveiled RealDVD on September 30, 2008, software that permitted users to create copies of DVDs they owned. However, this product infringed upon the Digital Millennium Copyright Act as well as RealNetworks' agreement with the DVD Copy Control Association by enabling copying of films without proper ownership rights. As a result, a court issued an injunction preventing further distribution of RealDVD, affecting the company's product lineup and legal position.
Real Alternative
Real Alternative was a discontinued software package that allowed playback of RealMedia files without requiring RealPlayer; its last update occurred in February 2010. This bundle included Media Player Classic and served as an alternative media player within the company's product range.
In 2010, RealNetworks initiated legal action against Dutch webmaster Hilbrand Edskes for linking to Real Alternative on his website, accusing him of reverse engineering. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2011, with the court ordering RealNetworks to pay €48,000 in damages—a significant setback for their enforcement efforts. Although an appeal was filed in 2013 alleging Edskes had uploaded the software himself, Edskes demonstrated that any uploads were never publicly accessible and had been removed prior to a 2010 investigation. This case underscored the difficulties of safeguarding intellectual property rights in digital environments.
Helix
Helix comprised a collection of streaming media software and services tailored for digital television set-top boxes, mobile devices, and platforms such as QuickTime and Flash. The suite featured the Helix open-source codebase alongside the Helix Universal Server, which facilitated multimedia content delivery and digital rights management. Introduced in July 2002, Helix positioned itself against Microsoft's Windows Media 9 Series by promoting open-source adaptability. Support for mobile devices was incorporated in 2005. The Helix product line was discontinued in October 2014.
Subscription services
In the year 2000, RealNetworks launched RealDownload, a download management tool designed to distribute small-scale software such as games to its users. Expanding upon this initiative, the company introduced GoldPass, a subscription-based service priced at $10 per month that granted unlimited access to video clips from ABC along with movie trailers. The firm further broadened its digital media distribution by forming content alliances with CBS, featuring the reality series Big Brother, and NBA basketball broadcasts.
RealDownloader
RealDownloader is a freemium download manager developed by RealNetworks that allows users to save embedded online videos in formats including MOV and FLV from websites like YouTube, Facebook, CollegeHumor, Funny or Die, and Dailymotion. It facilitates sharing of downloaded videos on social media platforms and enables transferring content to mobile devices, thereby enhancing user interaction across various channels.
Additional products and technologies
- RealAudio – an audio compression format
- RealPlayer – a multimedia player application
- RealVideo – a video compression format
- Rinse – a tool for organizing and cleaning digital music libraries
- Unifi – a personal cloud-based media service
- Mobile entertainment and messaging solutions customized for mobile network operators
- Articles with short description
- RealNetworks
- 1994 establishments in Washington (state)
- 1997 initial public offerings
- American companies established in 1994
- Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq
- Entertainment companies of the United States
- Mass media companies established in 1994
- Privately held companies based in Washington (state)
- Software companies based in Seattle
- Software companies established in 1994
- Software companies of the United States
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment