—Brightcove launches new version: Online video platform Brightcove today officially launched a new version designed to be more flexible and versatile.. The company says the new Brightcove 3 version of video player, used by everyone from ITV (LSE: ITV) and Telegraph Media Group to 10 Downing Street, is faster, has a higher bit-rate, is easier to customize and comes with more APIs allowing more integration with other content and third-party technology. Release

Brightcove also today announces the expansion of its European activities with the opening of an office in Hamburg, Germany and the appointment of former BorderWare executive Vanessa Wade as VP of EMEA. According to the release, her job is oversee the “further expansion” of a company that already has deals with Gruner + Jahr, Europe’s largest magazine publisher and OMS, Germany’s web-based ad agency for regional newspapers who have ad-supported video on sites such as Stern.de and Brigitt.de. Release.

—Perform launches sports channels on e-Player: Sports and entertainment rights company Perform is to launch two new sports channels on its free-to-view e-Player. Factory Media-owned extreme sports site MPORA.TV has signed up to show clips from various dangerous sports pursuits and Telstra-owned Aussie Sports TV channel will provide highlights from V8 Supercars as well as NRL and AFL games. Perform is also adding highlights from US Major Soccer League to the e-Player’s Omnisport.tv International Football channel. English Premier League and Championship football highlights are currently shown via the e-Player on a host of UK sites such as ITV and New International’s national newspaper sites in a JV with Virgin Media (NSDQ: VMED) and claims 15 million unique users a month.

—Sony BMG backs free AC/DC record: Sony (NYSE: SNE) BMG is gearing up for a big campaign to back the first album from Aussie rockers AC/DC that will see the record given away free online for a week via Times Online, as Brandrepublic.com reports. The move is a first of sorts and moves the newspaper music give-away beyond the mounted CD model that reached is peak last year with Prince’s link-up with the Mail on Sunday. Sony is also kicking off a viral Youtube campaign and a tin-in with The Sun and Hard Rock Cafe.

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