JW Player

JW Player is an American video technology company headquartered in New York City. Its principal product is a web and application video player used to embed and deliver video across publisher websites, streaming services, mobile applications, and other digital experiences. The company also provides video management, hosting, distribution, advertising, audience engagement, and monetization capabilities through its broader platform offering. The product originated in 2005 as an open-source video player created by Dutch developer Jeroen Wijering. It was initially distributed through Wijering's blog and became known as JW Player, a name derived from the developer's initials. In its early period, the player was used for self-hosted web video and was also associated with the distribution of online video on services including YouTube before YouTube was acquired by Google. The software's accessibility and support for web video formats helped it gain adoption among publishers, developers, and video-hosting businesses. Around 2007, the project became associated with the advertising technology company LongTail, and a New York-based company was formed in 2008 to continue developing and distributing the player. LongTail subsequently adopted the JW Player name in 2013, aligning the corporate identity with its best-known product. Alongside the player, the company developed a video management platform that was formerly called Bits On The Run and later became known as JW Platform. JW Player's technology evolved from a Flash-era web video tool into a browser- and device-oriented HTML5 platform. Its commercial software supports features such as adaptive streaming, MPEG-DASH, digital rights management through associated technology partners, interactive advertising, interface customization, analytics, and video distribution. The company offers both a commercial software-as-a-service product and a non-commercial version distributed under a Creative Commons license. In December 2015, JW Player stated that the software was no longer available under an open-source license, while a non-commercial edition remained available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. The free edition includes company branding, while commercial versions are designed for professional use. A major 2015 rewrite focused on reducing the player's size and load time. JW Player reported that its paying customer base increased by more than 40 percent that year to 15,000 customers, with approximately 60 percent located in the United States; the company also stated that its free edition was used on 2.5 million websites and played about one billion videos per month. These figures were company-reported historical metrics rather than current operating statistics. The company has broadened its business beyond playback software. In 2016 it introduced JW Showcase, a simpler product intended to help organizations present video collections. It has also supplied technology to recognizable media, sports, entertainment, and enterprise customers, including ESPN, Electronic Arts, and AT&T, according to the referenced Wikipedia material. Acquisitions expanded its capabilities in video technology and monetization: JW Player acquired the United Kingdom-based video technology company VUALTO in 2021 and purchased London-based InPlayer in 2023 for an undisclosed amount. In October 2024, JW Player and Connatix announced a merger under the name JWP Connatix, signaling a broader focus on publisher video, advertising, and media technology. The company remains privately held, and detailed current ownership, executive leadership, financial results, and post-merger organizational structure are not established by the supplied sources.

JW Player began in 2005 as an open-source web video player created by Jeroen Wijering. Wijering initially distributed the software through his personal blog, where it attracted developers and publishers seeking a practical way to embed self-hosted video in web pages. The product's name came from Wijering's initials. During its early development, JW Player was also used to stream video on YouTube before that service was acquired by Google, helping demonstrate the player in the rapidly expanding online-video market. Around 2007, the project became integrated with LongTail, an advertising technology company. A New York-based company was established in 2008 to continue the product's commercial development and distribution. LongTail later changed its corporate name to JW Player in 2013, reflecting the importance of the player brand. The company also developed video management software that was initially known as Bits On The Run and later marketed as JW Platform. This broadened the business from a playback component into a more complete video publishing and management service. The product's technical direction changed as browser video standards and connected-device usage developed. JW Player moved from a technology environment centered partly on Flash toward HTML5 playback and support for multiple devices, including computers, phones, and tablets. A significant rewrite in 2015 sought to make the player smaller and faster to load. Version 7 supported HTML video and Flash Video, while commercial functionality included capabilities such as adaptive streaming, advertising integration, and customization through Cascading Style Sheets. The platform also supported MPEG-DASH in paid versions and provided digital rights management through technology associated with VUALTO. Licensing changed during the same period. In December 2015, JW Player stated that its software was no longer being offered with an open-source license. A non-commercial edition remained available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license, while the commercial product was proprietary and offered as a software-as-a-service solution. The free edition carried JW Player branding, distinguishing it from commercial deployments. The company reported strong historical adoption in 2015. It said its paying customer base had grown by more than 40 percent to 15,000 customers, approximately 60 percent of whom were in the United States. It also reported that the free edition appeared on 2.5 million websites and played around one billion videos per month. These figures describe the company's position at that time and should not be treated as current performance data. In 2016, JW Player launched JW Showcase, a simpler product for organizations that wanted to display video collections. The company continued supplying video technology to media, sports, entertainment, and enterprise organizations, with ESPN, Electronic Arts, and AT&T identified among its users in the referenced material. JW Player expanded through acquisitions in the following decade. In May 2021 it acquired VUALTO, a London-based video technology company. In 2023 it purchased InPlayer, another London-based company, for an undisclosed amount. In October 2024, JW Player and Connatix announced a merger and the JWP Connatix name. The combination points toward a larger media technology business connecting video playback, publishing workflows, advertising, and monetization. The supplied sources do not establish the final ownership structure, executive roster, financial terms, or operating arrangements following the announced merger.

1. 2024JW Player and Connatix announced a merger

   The proposed combined business was announced under the name JWP Connatix.

   Source
2. 2023InPlayer was acquired

   JW Player purchased London-based InPlayer for an undisclosed amount.

   Source
3. 2021VUALTO was acquired

   JW Player acquired the United Kingdom-based video technology company VUALTO.

   Source
4. 2016JW Showcase was released

   The company introduced a simplified product for presenting video collections.

   Source
5. 2015The player was rewritten and its licensing model changed

   JW Player released a smaller, faster rewrite and moved away from an open-source license, retaining a Creative Commons non-commercial edition.

   Source
6. 2013LongTail adopted the JW Player name

   The corporate identity was renamed after its flagship video player.

   Source
7. 2008A New York-based company continued development

   A company headquartered in New York was formed to develop and distribute JW Player.

   Source
8. 2007The project became associated with LongTail

   The player project was integrated into the advertising technology company LongTail.

   Source
9. 2005JW Player originated as an open-source project

   Jeroen Wijering developed the initial video player and distributed it through his blog.

   Source

An enterprise- and developer-oriented video platform combining embeddable playback with video management, streaming, advertising, monetization, and audience engagement services.

• JW PlayerVideo player and streaming technology2005

  JW Player is the company's core embeddable video player for websites and applications. It evolved from an open-source web player into proprietary commercial software supporting HTML5 playback, legacy Flash Video during the transition period, multiple delivery formats, advertising integration, interface customization, and adaptive streaming. Paid functionality includes MPEG-DASH support, while digital rights management is provided through associated technology and partners. The player is designed for publishers, media companies, video-hosting services, and enterprise developers.

• JW PlatformVideo management platform

  JW Platform is the company's video management software offering. It was formerly known as Bits On The Run and extends the player into workflows for organizing, hosting, publishing, and distributing video. The platform represents JW Player's broader enterprise proposition: rather than supplying only a playback component, it provides infrastructure for organizations managing online video libraries and delivering them to audiences across web and application environments.

• JW ShowcaseVideo presentation and publishing2016

  JW Showcase was introduced in 2016 as a simpler-to-use product for presenting collections of videos. It was intended to help organizations create a more accessible viewing destination around their content while using JW Player's underlying playback and distribution technology.

• JW Player advertising and monetization toolsVideo advertising and monetization

  The platform includes tools and integrations for interactive advertising, video monetization, and publisher revenue workflows. These capabilities complement the player and management layer by allowing media organizations and other publishers to insert advertising and build commercial distribution models around online video.

• 2024Merger with ConnatixM&A

  Both companies operated in media technology, with complementary interests in video publishing, advertising, and monetization.

  What changed. JW Player and Connatix announced a merger under the JWP Connatix name.

  Aftermath. The announcement positioned the combined business as a broader technology provider for publishers and video businesses. The supplied sources do not establish the final transaction terms or post-merger leadership.

  Source
• 2023Acquisition of InPlayerM&A

  JW Player continued expanding its video monetization and related platform capabilities.

  What changed. The company purchased London-based InPlayer. The purchase price was not disclosed in the supplied reference.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added to JW Player's broader video commerce and monetization proposition, although the supplied sources do not describe detailed integration results.

  Source
• 2021Acquisition of VUALTOM&A

  JW Player sought to expand its capabilities in secure video delivery and digital rights management.

  What changed. JW Player acquired the United Kingdom-based video technology company VUALTO.

  Aftermath. VUALTO's technology was associated with JW Player's DRM and secure streaming capabilities.

  Source
• 2016Launch of JW ShowcaseProduct launch

  The company was expanding from a player component into products for organizations that wanted to publish and present video collections.

  What changed. JW Player released JW Showcase as a simpler-to-use video presentation product.

  Aftermath. The launch broadened the company's product range beyond embedded playback toward managed video destinations.

  Source
• 2015Rewrite of the JW PlayerGeneration change

  Web video was shifting toward HTML5 and consumption on phones and tablets, increasing the importance of performance, compatibility, and reduced loading overhead.

  What changed. JW Player rewrote the player to reduce its size and load time while supporting HTML video alongside Flash Video during the transition between technologies.

  Aftermath. The rewrite became the basis of version 7 and supported the company's broader move toward a commercial cross-device video platform.

  Source
• 2015Shift away from open-source licensingStrategy

  JW Player had originated as an open-source project, but the company was developing a commercial software and service business around video playback and management.

  What changed. The company stated that the software would no longer be offered under an open-source license. A non-commercial version remained available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license, while commercial deployments used proprietary software.

  Aftermath. The licensing structure separated a branded, non-commercial edition from the company's paid software-as-a-service offering.

  Source

• 2024JW Player announced its merger with Connatix

  JW Player and Connatix announced a merger that would operate under the JWP Connatix name, combining video technology and publisher monetization capabilities.

  M&A
  Source
• 2023JW Player acquired InPlayer

  JW Player purchased London-based InPlayer. The transaction value was not disclosed in the supplied reference material.

  M&A
  Source
• 2021JW Player acquired VUALTO

  JW Player acquired VUALTO, a United Kingdom-based video technology company, expanding its capabilities in secure video delivery and related services.

  M&AProduct generation
  Source
• 2016JW Player introduced JW Showcase

  The company released JW Showcase, a simpler-to-use product for presenting and distributing video collections.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2015JW Player changed the licensing model for its player

  JW Player stated that its software would no longer be offered under an open-source license. A non-commercial version continued under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license, while commercial use was served through proprietary software and software-as-a-service offerings.

  Other
  Source
• 2015JW Player released a substantially rewritten player

  The player was rewritten with an emphasis on reducing file size and improving load time. The new version supported HTML5 video alongside legacy Flash Video capabilities.

  Product generationProduct launch
  Source

1. JW Player
2. JW Player official website