# Introduction

THEOplayer and Uplynk are partners in the streaming industry. [Uplynk](https://www.uplynk.com/) offers services like encoding, transcoding, server-side ad-insertion, a CDN and more.

> **Verizon Media / Edgio**
>
> Uplynk is formerly known as **Verizon Media** and **Edgio**. We are moving away from any Verizon Media references in our API. These are now marked as deprecated and should be replaced by the Uplynk API.

Uplynk offers services which can enhance the API, UI and UX of video players and applications. The most popular services are called *Preplay*, *Ping* and *Asset Info*. THEOplayer integrates these services so that developers and viewers can benefit from them.

For example,

* Viewers can skip over ads;
* Viewers can see when an ad is playing (and stopping);
* Developers can define the behavior when viewers try to seek over an ad;
* Developers can query metadata to render a playlist in their application.

A live demo of THEOplayer's integration of Uplynk is available [here](https://cdn.theoplayer.com/demos/verizon-media/index.html).

![UplynkDemo](/docs/assets/images/VerizonMediaDemo-57db7aa1e91a449a9a1d708b999251d5.png "Uplynk Demo")

For more information on the integration and available APIs, continue your read on the pages below.

## [📄️Preplay](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/preplay.md)

[This article explains how to leverage the Uplynk Preplay API through THEOplayer. This API allows developers to pre-integrate with Uplynk's Preplay service.](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/preplay.md)

## [📄️Uplynk Ads](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/ads.md)

[Uplynk offers support for server-side ad-insertion (SSAI).](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/ads.md)

## [📄️Ping](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/ping.md)

[This article explains how to use Uplynk's Ping API.](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/ping.md)

## [📄️Uplynk configuration](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/configuration.md)

[This article explains what is possible with an Uplynk configuration when setting up a THEOplayer instance.](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/configuration.md)

## [📄️Uplynk interface](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/interface.md)

[This article explains how developers can hook into the Uplynk interface. This interface allows developers to query the available assets and ads in an Uplynk stream, its properties, and subscribe to its events.](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/how-to-guides/web/uplynk/interface.md)

## [📄️What are the Uplynk challenges](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/faq/what-are-the-uplynk-challenges.md)

[The purpose of this article is to group common challenges application developers might encounter when using Uplynk (formerly known as Verizon Media, Edgecast or Edgio) as the back-end.](https://optiview.dolby.com/docs/theoplayer/faq/what-are-the-uplynk-challenges.md)

Sample Git projects are available on the following links:

* Web: <https://github.com/THEOplayer/samples-html5-sdk/tree/master/reference-apps/verizon-media-app>
* Android: <https://github.com/THEOplayer/samples-android-sdk/tree/master/Verizon-Media>
* iOS: <https://github.com/THEOplayer/samples-ios-sdk/tree/master/Verizon-Media>
* Roku: <https://github.com/THEOplayer/samples-roku-sdk/tree/master/verizon-app>