RealNetworks Company History Timeline

1994

RealNetworks (then known as Progressive Networks) was founded in 1994 by Rob Glaser, an ex-Microsoft executive, and a management team including Phil Barrett, Andy Sharpless, and Stephen Buerkle.

1995

August 1995: Broadcasts first live baseball game via the Internet: Seattle Mariners versus the New York Yankees.

RealNetworks were pioneers in the streaming media markets and broadcast one of the earlier audio events over the Internet, a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners on September 5, 1995.

1996

In 1996, Progressive Networks continued to focus on research and development.

1997

February 1997: Introduces RealVideo as part of its RealPlayer 4.0.

As the summer of 1997 approached, Glaser faced his first great test.

They announced streaming video technology in 1997.

1998

In November of 1998, Microsoft announced that it would sell the minority stake it held in RealNet-works.

By 1998, more than 20 million RealPlayers had been downloaded and more than 150,000 Web sites used the firm's software to offer streaming content.

1999

Dreyfuss, Joel. "RealJukebox is Real Hip." Fortune, June 7, 1999.

On a sour note, RealNetworks was hit with two class-action lawsuits in 1999.

2000

Venturing into the new millennium, RealNet-works acquired Netzip Inc. in 2000.

In 2000, the company also introducedReal.com Games, a site for downloading computer games from leading developers, and unveiled nine international editions of RealJukebox and RealPlayer 7.

According to some accounts, by 2000 more than 85% of streaming content on the Internet was in the Real format.

2001

January 2001: Partners with National Basketball Association to offer live Internet broadcasts of NBA.com TV and basketball-game audio feed through GoldPass, marking its first substantial content offering.

RealNetworks Inc. "Company Information." Seattle, Washington: RealNetworks Inc., November 12, 2001.

December 2001: Releases the beta version of RealOne Player, the successor to GoldPass, which incorporates features of its RealPlayer and RealJukebox products.

On December 4, 2001, the company was to launch the first coordinated effort to sell and deliver music from major record labels over the Internet, part of a broader initiative by the company to develop subscription Internet services aimed at Web users with fast Internet connections.

2002

January 2002: RealOne subscription service surpasses 500,000 paying customers.

In 2002, a strategic alliance was formed between RealNetworks and Sony Corporation to expand collaboration.

2003

April 2003: Announces plan to buy San Francisco-based Listen.com for $17.3 million in cash and 4.1 million shares of common stock.

In August 2003, RealNetworks acquired Listen.com's Rhapsody music service, and renamed it RealRhapsody.

2004

In January 2004, RealNetworks announced the RealPlayer Music Store, featuring digital rights management (DRM) restricted music in the AAC file format.

2005

In October 2005, Microsoft agreed to pay RealNetworks $460 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit.

2008

The domain real.com attracted at least 67 million visitors annually by 2008, according to a Compete.com study.

2010

On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody was spun off from RealNetworks.

2013

In July 2013, RealNetworks acquired Slingo for $15.6 million.

2014

The company introduced a mobile phone app called Listen in April 2014 that plays custom ringtones to those calling the user's phone.

2015

BitsAiming for a Comeback, RealNetworks Introduces the Photo-Sharing App RealTimesRob Glaser, chief executive of RealNetworks, is trying to drive the company back into relevance with a photo-sharing app, called RealTimes, that is centered on families.By Brian X. ChenMay 19, 2015

2022

"Realnetworks Inc ." Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce. . Retrieved June 21, 2022 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/realnetworks-inc

Work At RealNetworks?
Share Your Experience
Founded
1994
Company Founded
Headquarters
Seattle, WA
Company Headquarter
Founders
Robert Glaser,Andy Sharpless,Phil Barrett,Stephen Buerkle
Company Founders
Get Updates for Jobs and News

RealNetworks Jobs Nearby

RealNetworks Jobs

RealNetworks Similar Companies

Company NameFounded DateRevenueEmployee SizeJob Openings
Adobe1982$15.8B11,847363
Google1998$257.6B139,9951,348
Microsoft1975$198.3B182,268712
Roku2002$2.8B1,92567
Cloudflare2009$656.4M2,432264
Craigslist1995$694.0M50-
Oculus1994$24.0M32627
LEAD Technologies1990$7.9M125-
Surgient1999$4.0M50-
Cvent1999$518.8M3,60110
Find Jobs from Similar Companies
Personalize your job search. Where would you like to work?

RealNetworks Similar Companies Jobs

RealNetworks History FAQs

How Old Is Realnetworks?

RealNetworks is 29 years old.

Who Is The Founder Of Realnetworks?

Robert Glaser, Andy Sharpless, Phil Barrett and Stephen Buerkle founded RealNetworks.

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of RealNetworks, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about RealNetworks. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at RealNetworks. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by RealNetworks. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of RealNetworks and its employees or that of Zippia.

RealNetworks may also be known as or be related to Progressive Networks (1994-1997), REALNETWORKS INC, RealNetworks, RealNetworks Inc, RealNetworks, Inc., Realnetworks and Realnetworks, Inc.