Live from the Middle East: the Pussycat Dolls, via MySpace

MySpace, streaming encoder provider Kulabyte, and network systems provider Akamai will pool their resources for "Operation MySpace," a new initiative that will offer streaming webcasts of concerts in high-definition live Kuwait.

The team's stream will offer video content good enough to be viewed on a full screen or large LCD screen, along with regular-sized PC monitors, according to Kulabyte.

Operation MySpace will stream the performances live to as many people in the world who choose to see it, using Kulabyte technology to encode the video and Akamai technology to deliver the content to MySpace. A satellite will pick up the feed live from Kuwait, send it to a link on the East Coast, direct it to another satellite, and it will arrive to MySpace servers located in Los Angeles.

Once the feed arrives in L.A., Kulabyte's TimeSlice technology will use a two-pass Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoder to organize the feed before Akamai takes over. TimeSlice works by taking a video feed, "slicing" it, and encoding each slice independently. Kulabyte wants to be able to properly encode cable, satellite, and broadcast feeds for viewing through the Internet, and hopes to use Operation MySpace as a testing ground.

Akamai's network command center will help MySpace and Kulabyte show the concert to millions of users around the world.

The first Operation MySpace concert lineup includes Disturbed, Jessica Simpson, The Pussycat Dolls, DJ Z-Trip, Filter, and Metal Sanaz, and will be hosted by Carlos Mencia. The concert will take place on Monday, March 10, starting at 2 PM EST. This MySpace video presents a preview.