Accedo – ECOFLOW: Helping to steer the streaming industry towards a sustainable future

Accedo – ECOFLOW: Helping to steer the streaming industry towards a sustainable future

François Polarczyk, Sustainability Director, Accedo

Focus and momentum around sustainability in the streaming industry has been visibly building over recent years. During this time, a number of organizations such as Humans Not Robots, Greening of Streaming and DIMPACT, have formed with sustainability as their raison d’être. Their work is doing much to broaden industry knowledge around the topic of sustainability. Additionally, there is a growing willingness among media organizations and technology vendors to reduce their carbon impact and contribute to making the entire value chain more sustainable.

However, to make a real difference and reduce their carbon impact, media companies need increased visibility on the energy consumed at each stage of the value chain. This is currently challenging not least because the value chain is highly complex, but also because of the lack of an industry-wide standardized framework for collecting, reporting on and improving sustainability metrics. Without such a framework, it’s difficult for individual companies, or the industry as a whole, to advance the vision of a sustainable streaming industry.

Understanding the current state of play

Opinions on energy efficiency in streaming remain divergent, data is all too often weak, and significant supplier challenges make it difficult to build a clear understanding of the present situation. And without clarity around where you currently stand, it’s impossible to know what impact changing the various parameters in the value chain will have. The need for both deeper insight into impact, and a unified approach to what and how we measure impact is clearly evident.

It was with these challenges in mind that Accedo partnered with Humans Not Robots, a cloud analytics platform for sustainability, to develop the ECOFLOW project. The initiative, which was part of the IBC 2024 Accelerator Programme, set out to increase certainty and information about the energy use of key components in the streaming value chain, and understand how they react under different conditions. The project findings are being used to help explain and educate on measurement guidance as well as forming the foundation for defining optimal strategies for energy efficient streaming and audience engagement for the future.

Power of collaboration

When tackling a challenge of this scale and complexity, collaboration is absolutely critical. This is exactly why the Energy-Conserving Optimization for Future-ready, Low-impact Online Workflows project, or ECOFLOW for short, gathered leading sustainability streaming media organizations and initiatives together. Accedo and Humans Not Robots (HNR) co-led the project which also involved partnership working with leading companies from across the video streaming ecosystem. The contributing organizations represented every corner of the industry, from sustainability experts Greening of Streaming, DIMPACT, Fraunhofer FOKUS, the EBU and the IET, to broadcasters BBC, ITV, and RTL NL, as well as technology vendors Quanteec, Bitmovin and Cognizant.

The success of this collaborative initiative, which was a first of its kind for the industry, proves that when streaming stakeholders with a shared goal collaborate, we can make great strides.

ECOFLOW design: measure, impact, educate

The project was structured to evaluate, reduce, and raise awareness around the environmental impact of streaming. The initiative was organized into three core working groups, each with specific, measurable objectives. The first group, ‘Measure’, led by HNR, aimed to quantify energy use and carbon footprint across the supply chain, whilst increasing the knowledge available in the specific area of display devices. This foundational work provided valuable, actionable data that supported the goals of the other groups.

The second group, ‘Impact’, led by Accedo, was tasked with helping broadcasters test and compare energy-saving features across their operations. This hands-on approach, using a specifically developed demo app, enabled the group to evaluate the effectiveness of these features while fostering a greater understanding of sustainability among audiences.

The third group, ‘Educate’, had the task of sharing knowledge and progress made by initiatives like Greening of Streaming, EBU, and DIMPACT, to advance sustainability knowledge across the industry. It also had the role of highlighting key barriers to sustainability identified during the project and ensuring that stakeholders could overcome them. The group also worked to educate individuals, including CEOs, engineers and sustainability officers, working within broadcast and media companies to deepen their understanding of sustainability frameworks, challenges and best practices, to empower them to make better decisions.

Project findings and next steps

The ECOFLOW project marks a significant step forward for the industry, providing valuable insights and a foundation for further work to be done. A key focus was to refine our understanding of energy consumption, with particular attention to data from CDNs and cloud services, both critical elements of the streaming supply chain. However, even as the project drew initial conclusions, it became clear that these efforts had only begun to explore the full scope of the project. It very quickly became clear that the work started by ECOFLOW would need to continue beyond IBC to make a lasting impact.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a key finding of the project was that to achieve a comprehensive understanding of environmental impact, there needs to be active participation across the entire value chain, from end-to-end. One of the most significant challenges we encountered was getting the necessary data from various suppliers. While the involvement of large media organizations undoubtedly helped raise visibility, there remained a lack of willingness among some suppliers and technology providers to share data, even with the influence of key industry players.

The findings also show that for meaningful and impactful data, there is a need to include both attributional and consequential approaches to data collection and analysis, which together can provide a more accurate view of current impact and how this might change over time because of certain actions.

The project also highlighted the organizational challenges within the industry. Although the ECOFLOW participants represent a committed group of innovators, they are still only a small part of the larger industry. For many companies, embedding sustainability as a key performance indicator remains an uphill battle, as the importance of reducing carbon impact has yet to permeate all areas of decision-making.

Looking ahead, the ECOFLOW team is already taking steps to carry the project’s momentum forward and advance ECOFLOW’s objectives and reach. The group has already developed a microsite, www.ecoflow.tv, to host project data, findings, and recommendations, to serve as a resource for media organizations eager to take the next step towards becoming more sustainable. We’re all very aware that making the streaming industry sustainable is a long-term endeavor, far beyond what is possible to achieve in four months.

Through initiatives like ECOFLOW, we aim to build momentum and demonstrate the benefits of transparency and collaboration. While cloud giants hold much of the data and control over their energy footprint, industry-wide efforts like DIMPACT are fostering dialogue, setting benchmarks, and creating tools that encourage all stakeholders to engage in this transition. That said, we’re under no illusions—our project is just part of the solution. Collaboration is essential, and we’re hopeful that by demonstrating the benefits of sustainability and the risks of inaction, we can encourage greater openness. To that end, ECOFLOW is just the beginning, so stay tuned for further updates!

 

Pixel Power, a Rohde & Schwarz Company – Playout automation: doing more with less

Pixel Power, a Rohde & Schwarz Company – Playout automation: doing more with less

James Gilbert, Pixel Power, a Rohde & Schwarz Company

Automated playout of linear content has advanced tremendously since the turn of the century. Cart machines, various flavors of VTRs and master control switchers are gradually finding their way into museums and no longer does a project engineer need to spend a day conjuring up an RS422 cable that coerces a reluctant piece of equipment into obedience under a device control automation system.

But there are of course plenty of new challenges facing content owners and distributors today; multiple platform delivery, cybersecurity, regulatory requirements, diluted revenue streams and a skills shortage to name but a few. A modern linear playout automation solution must play its part in meeting and addressing those challenges – simply put, doing more, with less.

Viewing habits have changed enormously – it is not just millennials who consume much of their content on-demand. No longer is feed-off to satellite uplink or transmitter enough – broadcasters must deliver over the internet, through catch-up services and via third party aggregators. These multiple deliveries may have different rights and compliance requirements, or even target different countries, requiring careful versioning. The automation system should be configurable to address these needs; for example, metadata-driven slating to manage rights on alternate delivery platforms; rules-based audio shuffling to manage multi-lingual content and support for multiple subtitle languages with modern TTML transported over 2110-43. Continuity graphics and branding must also be versioned for the platform, and this too can be fully automated where the automation vendor has decades of graphics and automated branding experience built into the solution.

Of course, live television is still the foundation of linear channels, whether sports, news or live entertainment productions and a modern automation must deliver a high-quality viewer experience, especially challenging in the unpredictable world of live sports. While one operator can manage a large number of channels of thematic content, improving the ratio for channels with live content whilst maintaining operational excellence remains a challenge. But the latest automation systems can help here too; features like junction preview, allowing an operator to preview critical parts of the schedule with all the ancillary graphics and access service content, allows scheduling or content errors to be checked ahead of time. Some automation systems have a built-in automated content check workflow, ensuring that transferred media files are fully playable. A flexible user interface allows a control surface to be built in an optimal way for the operator role or type of programming being managed, reducing the chance of human error and making sure the critical information is available without any distraction. Monitoring by exception also helps reduce the workload on operational staff without compromising quality; automation features like configurable alarms which highlight the offending part of the schedule and business logic driven automated or operator assisted failover to a backup chain can play their part here. As well as the automation client interface the operators also rely on a multiviewer / monitoring system in their daily work. A close integration between the playout automation and the multiviewer system, including using the monitoring function of the multiviewer to drive business logic in the automation, can alert the operator to potential problems in the various points of the distribution chain and even suggest remedial actions.

To maximize the value and audience for live content it must be made available for catch-up viewing and on-demand services, perhaps with a different break structure and different graphics. In the past broadcasters often had separate workflows for recording and publishing live content, but now this task can be handed to a carefully selected playout automation system. Live events can be recorded for later replay, even a few minutes after the live event starts, and alternative graphics, subtitles and audio overlays can be composited over the recording to version it for different platforms and services. Play while record and the ability to render file-based content from an alternative schedule faster than real time all help streamline the broadcaster’s operations and provide fast turnaround for live programming.

The rising number of geopolitical risks, such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, anti-globalization and the rise of nationalism are leading to increased frequency and severity of cyberattacks, which are often state sponsored. Not only must broadcasters protect their content from being interfered with or pirated, but they must also ensure their infrastructure and operations are as secure as possible. The replacement of hardware control systems and SDI transports with software-defined solutions and IP streams increases vulnerability unless the solutions have security designed-in from the outset. Encryption of control and content in motion, multi-factor user authentication and a resilient architecture are just a few of the many important security criteria to be considered when choosing an automation system. It is also important that the vendor has security at the heart of its own business.

The final challenge for many broadcasters is technical staffing of projects and operations; with a generally ageing workforce, attracting new talent to the TV industry is facing competition from high-tech startups and global internet companies – all with media ambitions. Broadcast engineering and IT skills need to be acquired and public broadcasters can no longer afford to maintain large teams of experts in-house. Here too, the right automation vendor can help fill the knowledge gaps by offering consultancy services to guide the broadcaster into making the right choices around technology and especially workflows which optimize operational efficiency without compromising on quality. The consultative approach fits well with modern agile software development methodologies, delivering an optimal solution which can continuously adapt to the evolving needs of the broadcaster who is under constant pressure to deliver content in new ways to new audiences.

TMT Insights shifts content library management from manual to automatic

TMT Insights shifts content library management from manual to automatic

Cloud-based collaboration combines machine learning, product-agnostic tools, and industry expertise to accelerate opportunities for total library optimization

Brett Beers, SVP, Engineering, TMT Insights

 The current state of content library management is either an insurmountable challenge or an unprecedented opportunity – it’s all a matter of perspective. An ever-increasing amount of content is being produced, stretching libraries to near breaking points with legacy formats and duplicate versions, so the overwhelming efforts to resolve the issues can feel daunting…or we can simply take advantage of the growing number of collaborative tools available to the media and entertainment (M&E) industry.

Suddenly, library management quickly evolves into a logical set of automated processes that can decrease the time it takes to reconcile large asset catalogs and archives, and help content owners manage, deliver, and monetize their valuable content in the most efficient ways possible.

The latter approach is clearly emerging as the operational choice for M&E organizations. That’s certainly true for TMT. We are continually fostering new collaborations to build a more open and accessible industry, and this philosophy is at the core of one of our recent technology partnerships: a joint solution with BitPress to reimagine content library management.

BitPress and Polaris transform library management

Through a combination of BitPress tools, TMT’s Polaris operational management software and managed services expertise, content teams are able to manage and visualize their content library assets at any stage alongside every other aspect of their content and media supply chain — all from a single user interface. In addition to getting a better handle on library assets, content owners can realize a significant bump in quality control and a streamlined process for meeting the delivery specification requirements of networks, streaming services and production companies.

As a cloud-based managed service solution, we’re also providing an accelerated path for organizations to migrate their operations to the cloud. This partnership streamlines and automates the identification, analysis, and conformance of inbound media assets required for high-volume catalog reconciliation and bulk distribution projects. 

Back to the current state …

Every library is in a different state of readiness with varying sizes and scopes, but the one constant challenge is there’s usually a tremendous amount of legacy content and duplicate versions. This includes localized language cuts, TV and streaming versions, are they 1080P, 4K, PAL or NTSC, REC 709 and on and on. All these files in different locations need to be matched and many may be nearly 95% the same except for differences such as opening or closing credits, or specific scenes. However, to go through individual pieces of content by hand to find bit-for-bit matches, or to determine if two pieces of content conform, is expensive and time consuming. Plus, redundant versions take up expensive storage space.

The integration with BitPress delivers machine learning features to help understand how pieces of content relate to each other or, more important, when they don’t. We can detect legacy formats, duplicates or older versions, keep the best and delete the rest. We can determine with a high degree of confidence that two pieces of content are the same and BitPress will even conform them. Now, we can set up a pipeline image conforming process that’s able to learn over time to identify similar pieces and alert operators whether or not they should be ingested as a pristine piece of content, categorized and organized properly.

Visibility is everything

Polaris acts as the visibility layer across the content management workflow. Team members can visualize and understand everything through a “single pane of glass” view that describes where content is, and what’s happening at any given moment at any point in the media supply chain, or in the business overall.

When an organization is running a process to normalize its content, that could involve hundreds of thousands of pieces of content. Not everyone is willing, or able, to go to a MAM or cloud storage bucket to find content. Polaris is that normalization layer giving everyone – whether they’re highly technical or not – a view into the entire process, while organizing data in a highly contextual manner. Essentially, it translates the content workflow into a common language so everybody is talking about things in the same way.

In a business where success often is measured in speed, having a library that’s fully reconciled, normalized and optimized means that those hundreds of thousands of content pieces can be prepped and ready for delivery in days or weeks, not months or even years. Add to that any pre-project ramp-up time to assemble the necessary human resources, which for larger jobs could be six to eight months, and the need for effective management methods are more apparent.

A common language also is critical when dealing with customers’ widely varying house specs and program delivery requirements. One streaming service may specify every title must be delivered in MXF, while others may accept a wider variety. The commonly used ProRes format is still a common standard, while the newer EIDR format is growing in popularity.

Clients are getting stricter about delivery specs, which affects certain production decisions about metadata output or how data is organized, normalized, and cataloged. The bottom line is that, once a library is reconciled and normalized, varying delivery specs cease to be a challenge.  Now, it’s really just a matter of a few simple adjustments to handle a specific endpoint.

A Future in the cloud

Looking ahead to M&E’s future in the cloud, content library management aligns with a solid cloud migration plan. In fact, the cloud makes library management easier as the challenges of decades past are erased. With the cloud, any piece of content can easily be turned into any other piece of content, with some exceptions. That’s just one example of where the industry is headed, and why cloud-based content library management is so important to an organization’s future success.

 

Vubiquity – Cracking the code: navigating the challenges of monetizing FAST channels

Vubiquity – Cracking the code: navigating the challenges of monetizing FAST channels

Nate Frink, EVP Global Operations, Vubiquity

Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels have emerged as an attractive option for content monetization. FAST offers a unique opportunity to monetize content that might not perform well in Video-on-Demand (VOD). Think of the back catalog of classic game shows. Driven by nostalgia, people will often watch, but will they search for them? And will major streaming services promote them?

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, FAST’s US ad revenues approached $4 billion in 2022 and are expected to reach just under $9 billion by 2026. The promise of substantial advertising revenues is also a significant driver for FAST’s European growth​. According to Omdia, by 2027, the opportunity outside the US is expected to be approximately $1.6 billion with strong expansion and increasing adoption.

When done right, FAST can generate real money, but channels face numerous challenges. And many struggle to simply survive.

The struggle is real: the reality of monetization

Take the example of Tastemade TV. Despite engaging content, the channel couldn’t attract a sustainable viewership due to a lack of differentiation from other food and travel content. By pivoting their strategy and partnering with multiple streaming platforms, Tastemade attracted a larger audience to become a prominent FAST player.

Despite their increasing popularity, many FAST channels still struggle to achieve profitability. There are three primary reasons.

The first could be described as the “field of dreams” mentality. “If you build it, they will come.” Many operators believe that merely distributing quality content will attract advertisers. This is a critical misconception. Without a robust strategy to attract advertisers, good content is not enough.

Consider the CPM (cost per mille), which calculates the total ad spend per 1,000 impressions. Many FAST channels grapple with ad marketplaces that don’t match their content, leading to low CPM and lower revenue. Even worse, channels without active monitoring face insertion rates as low as 5% or less, leaving unfilled revenue opportunities running as generic slates (we’ll be right back). A low fill rate and CPM mean operating costs exceed revenue, leaving channels financially strained.

The second hurdle is the technological complexity of FAST channels. Broadcast media benefits from decades of streamlined vendor support. FAST is still in its adolescence and requires integrating multiple technologies, an often fragmented process. Efficiently delivering high-quality video via the internet demands content delivery networks (CDNs) capable of handling fluctuating bandwidth. Plus, dynamically inserting ads without disrupting the viewer’s experience requires sophisticated ad-decision servers and real-time bidding systems.

Playback technologies must ensure that content is accessible across multiple devices and platforms, from smart TVs to mobile phones. Varying device specifications require adaptive bitrate streaming and robust transcoding. Analytics and reporting tools to monitor performance, viewer engagement, and ad effectiveness need the integration of multiple data sources and backend systems.

The fragmented nature of these technologies means any incompatibility can significantly hinder performance. It is not just a matter of assembling the right pieces; those pieces must work seamlessly together, a complex and ongoing challenge.

The third consideration are the many government regulations. For example, European FAST channels face the stringent requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which mandates that consumers provide active consent before ads can be served. This regulatory hurdle significantly impacts the revenue potential for European FAST channels, adding another layer of complexity to monetization strategies.

FAST Forward to Profit

How do you overcome these common, yet significant, challenges? First, partnering with server-side ad platforms and matching ad marketplaces to your content can improve ad placement and monitoring. Continuously monitoring channels will ensure they hit the desired CPM and fill rates. Actively adjusting ad-run times, breaks, and targeting can provide better monetization outcomes.

Attracting FAST advertisers requires data-driven strategies, targeted marketing efforts, and strong relationships. Channels must demonstrate value to advertisers by leveraging viewer data and analytics to offer targeted ad placements.

FAST employs two primary monetization models:

  • Revenue-Share: The platform sells ads and shares the revenue with the channel. This is the most prevalent model.
  • Inventory-Share: Both the platform and channel sell ads and retain their respective revenues. This provides more control over sales and access to audience data.

In Europe, Revenue-Share models with syndication platforms are a more viable strategy since direct consumer delivery conflicts with GDPR requirements. Syndication endpoints, such as Samsung TV+ and Freevee, handle insertions and provide a single opt-in for ad delivery, a more straightforward path to monetization.

Additionally, the competitive landscape of streaming services necessitates continuous innovation. Channels must understand audience preferences to create content that attracts viewers and keeps them engaged. This ongoing effort can increase viewership, making the channel more appealing to advertisers.

Media companies need a managed services partner like Vubiquity who understands this technology’s intricate nature. Comprehensive, end-to-end solutions are essential for seamless operations. A full suite of services will help reduce your juggling act with multiple vendors. Careful partnering provides access to FAST technology expertise, allowing you to focus on creating content.

A streamlined approach ensures that channels operate efficiently and effectively, free from the technological hiccups that often plague FAST. This enhances viewer experience and optimizes your operational workflows.

The future is FAST

Despite the challenges, there is reason to remain optimistic about FAST’s future. Take the example of Pluto TV, a FAST pioneer offering a variety of channels and on-demand content. It succeeds by curating content that appeals to diverse audience segments. A user-friendly interface that mimics traditional cable TV with linear channels make it attractive to cord-cutters. The acquisition by ViacomCBS in 2019 expanded its offerings and secured financial backing.

The importance of matching content with the right audience cannot be overstated. Quality content can attract an audience and make money where it couldn’t otherwise. FAST also lowers the cost of making niche content profitable, provided the right ads match the content.

From technological fragmentation to regulatory hurdles and monetization issues, navigating this landscape requires expertise and innovative solutions. By simplifying the tech stack, partnering with ad platforms, and understanding regional regulations, businesses can unlock this burgeoning market’s full potential. Are you ready to take your content to the next level with FAST channels?

 

VisualOn – Harnessing the power of content-adaptive encoding: a revolution in video streaming

VisualOn – Harnessing the power of content-adaptive encoding: a revolution in video streaming

As digital content consumption reaches unprecedented levels, the demand for efficient video streaming and storage solutions is more critical than ever. Content-Adaptive Encoding (CAE) emerges as a game-changer, revolutionizing video delivery by dynamically adjusting encoding parameters based on the unique characteristics of each video. This innovative approach leads to significant improvements in video quality, bandwidth efficiency, and storage optimization, all without disrupting existing workflows.

What is content-adaptive encoding?

CAE builds upon previous innovations such as Netflix’s per-title, per-chunk, and per-shot encoding strategies, pushing video compression even further. Unlike traditional encoding methods that apply uniform settings across an entire video, CAE analyzes factors such as motion, texture, and complexity within the video to optimize encoding settings dynamically. This approach delivers high-quality video while reducing file size and bandwidth needs.

Key benefits of content-adaptive encoding:

  1. Enhanced quality: CAE dynamically allocates bitrate, ensuring high-motion scenes maintain visual fidelity, while simpler scenes use lower bitrates, resulting in consistently high-quality playback.
  2. Bandwidth efficiency: By optimizing bitrate for less complex segments, CAE reduces overall bandwidth, offering smoother streaming, especially for users with limited internet speeds.
  3. Cost savings: Lower bandwidth usage directly translates into cost savings for streaming platforms and CDNs, benefiting both providers and users.
  4. Storage optimization: CAE minimizes storage needs by producing smaller file sizes, allowing more content to fit within existing storage capacities.
  5. Scalability: As demand for 4K and 8K content grows, CAE offers a scalable solution, enabling high-resolution streaming without significantly increasing bandwidth or storage requirements.

Applications of content-adaptive encoding

  1. Video streaming services: Enhances user experience by delivering high-quality videos with minimal buffering on platforms like Netflix and YouTube.
  2. Social media platforms: Handles diverse video uploads efficiently, ensuring optimal quality on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, without overburdening the platform’s infrastructure.
  3. Online education: Provides high-quality instructional videos accessible to students with varying internet capabilities.
  4. Corporate communications: Produces and distributes high-quality videos for communication, training, and marketing.
  5. Broadcast and media companies: Optimizes content delivery for live broadcasts and on-demand content on digital platforms.

Introducing VisualOn Optimizer

VisualOn’s AI-enhanced Universal CAE Optimizer, unveiled at IBC 2023 and awarded Product of the Year at NAB 2024, is a single-pass transcoding technology that analyzes content frame-by-frame, dynamically adjusting encoders to achieve target quality with minimal bitrate. It supports H.264, HEVC, AV1, and integrates with any CPU, GPU, or ASIC-based encoders.

Optimizer revolutionizes media streaming by integrating dynamic coding with scene recognition and image enhancement. It reduces bitrates while maintaining or improving video quality, as shown by VMAF scores, using machine learning to predict optimal encoding parameters for efficient compression.

Optimizer maintains high video quality at minimal bitrates by adjusting encoder settings based on real-time scene analysis and quality evaluations (PSNR, SSIM, VMAF). It also offers optional preprocessing like sharpening and noise reduction. Live streaming tests with FFmpeg confirm its efficiency, stability, and industrial readiness.

As shown in Figure 1, Optimizer integrates seamlessly into any streaming workflow via a simple API call, without disrupting other modules.

Figure 1: Optimizer workflow illustration

 

Optimizer is integrated within the FFmpeg ecosystem and can be easily used with video encoders via FFmpeg’s APIs. It has several variants for different use cases:

  • Optimizer Live: For streaming workflows with real-time transcoding. Its efficient implementation allows it to achieve zero additional latency with reducing both average and peak bitrates without compromising visual quality, ideal for large events.
  • Optimizer VOD: For VOD workflows, using FFmpeg’s filter-complex to transcode the entire ABR ladder in a single command.
  • Optimizer Fidelity: For visually lossless file-to-file video transcoding to reduce the storage requirements of massive mezzanine video files.
  • Optimizer: For general purpose file-to-file transcoding to reduce size of video files.

 

Key benefits of Optimizer include:

  • Universal compatibility: Not bound by any encoder implementation, making it suitable for various use cases and workflows.
  • Efficiency: Significantly reduces average video bitrate while maintaining or improving video quality, as demonstrated in Figure 2 below, leading to reduced bandwidth and storage costs, better visual quality, improved KPIs (startup time, buffering ratio), and lower energy consumption.
  • Visual quality: Drastically improves visual quality without increasing video bitrate, as illustrated in Figure 3 below.
  • Easy integration: Can be integrated into any streaming workflow without disrupting existing operations or requiring additional hardware.

Figure 2: bitrate comparison

Figure 3.1: The quality improvement – left x264, right x264 with Optimizer

Figure 3.2: VMAF score comparison per frame

The following sessions show some benchmark results with Optimizer in action.

Production results:

VisualOn Optimizer is a production proven solution that has been successfully deployed by multiple customers with dramatically improved results, not just in terms of bandwidth and storage reductions, but also in improved user experience KPIs, such as startup time and buffering ratio. Table 1 below shows the comparison of Integral operation results before and after adopting Optimizer [1].

  Before Optimizer After Optimizer Improvement
Average bitrate 3.0mbps 1.36mbps 54.67%
Startup time 1.84s 1.51s 17.93%
Buffering ratio 0.195% 0.185% 5.13%

Table 1: x264 vs. Optimizer with x264

Another customer, EiTV in Brazil, was able to integrate Optimizer with their production workflow on their own within one week, and achieved over 40% average bitrate reduction [2].

Optimizing open-source encoders

In our study, we evaluated VisualOn’s AI-Enhanced Optimizer across various codecs and hardware/software environments, including X264, HEVC, AV1, Nvidia NVENC, Intel QSV, Qualcomm ARM encoders, and ASIC hardware encoders. Benchmarks showed significant bitrate reductions and VMAF score improvements with the Optimizer, all while maintaining or reducing encoding times. For detailed results, please see the full tables in the original study which will be published soon.

Evaluate your encoding processes and explore CAE’s potential with VisualOn. Integrate CAE into your workflow for smarter, more efficient video encoding. Visit www.visualon.com to download your Optimizer evaluation copy and experience the transformation.

  1. https://www.visualon.com/index.php/press/intigral-selects-visualon-to-optimize-bandwidth-cost-and-video-quality-for-vod-network/

https://www.visualon.com/index.php/press/eitv-selects-visualon-optimizer-to-enhance-video-streaming-efficiency-2/

 

 

Telestream – Cloud-based workflow systems revolutionizing the broadcasting industry

Telestream – Cloud-based workflow systems revolutionizing the broadcasting industry

Simon Clarke, CTO, Telestream

The importance placed on innovation in cloud technologies and their implementation continues to gather pace, yet real-world deployments still need to be improved. The demand for high-quality content to be delivered across multiple platforms in real-time has meant that the stakes have never been higher.

Leveraging cloud-based solutions and IP workflows is the key to success in an industry that demands rapid adaptation. These workflows are not just about technology updates; they are strategic tools for unlocking the full potential of media businesses in one of the most competitive and complex eras we have experienced.

Cloud-based workflows offer unparalleled flexibility, efficiency, and scalability, enabling media players to tap into new audiences and revenue streams. Yet despite this, broadcasters have only dedicated 11% of their media technology budget toward cloud providers or cloud-based products (Devoncroft). This demonstrates the continued apprehension around making the leap to fully cloud-native workflows, as media service providers continue to operate on-prem or with a hybrid set-up. Increasingly, though, the benefits of the cloud are becoming too hard to ignore as margins are squeezed and economic pressures grow.

Accelerating change driven by innovation

Cloud workflow systems uphold audience expectations while offering an intuitive, highly responsive, and efficient alternative to more traditional architectures. On-premises infrastructures often struggle with the growing demand for high-quality content, particularly as new advanced video formats and codecs have emerged. This leads to costly hardware upgrades and operational inefficiencies.

In addition, by utilizing a cloud-based production architecture model, the responsibility for infrastructure shifts to the cloud provider. As a result, broadcasters and content creators can allocate fewer resources to infrastructure concerns and concentrate more on supporting events and production technologies.

Leveraging the cloud accelerates innovation significantly compared to on-premises environments. Cloud-based workflows allow teams to experiment at a much faster pace, with minimal costs for trying out new and innovative approaches. For example, cloud environments support rapid deployment and scaling of new services, enabling teams to iterate quickly and bring new features to market faster, with increased productivity and creativity.

The cloud’s scalability is essential for handling the unpredictable nature of audience demand. By leveraging elastic cloud resources, broadcasters can scale up or down to meet spikes in demand without the need for significant upfront investments. This flexibility supports business growth and adaptation and reduces the risk of underutilizing resources during periods of lower demand. At a time when budgets are tighter than ever, switching to a cloud workflow will certainly ease some of these constraints by optimizing resource allocations and maximizing operational efficiency.

UHD content delivery
Scaling up older physical infrastructures for UHD content production demands significant cost and time. This drives broadcasters to adopt cloud-native solutions, which can seamlessly and efficiently scale to handle 4K and even 8K content. More advanced cloud technologies, such as distributed computing and GPU acceleration, simplify the production process and offer a more cost-effective solution, providing audiences with a more immersive experience at a much greater resolution than HD.

Broadcasters transitioning to the cloud benefit from a simplified UHD content management process. They ensure a flexible and viable long-term operation by minimizing hardware dependencies and relying on continuous cloud-based software updates; they ensure a flexible and viable long-term operation. This cost-efficient approach empowers broadcasters to focus on content creativity and innovation, freeing up resources and technical bandwidth. The cloud provides media companies with a streamlined and economical alternative to on-premises solutions.

Enabling remote production and staff efficiency

The cloud’s flexibility fosters highly collaborative and productive workflows for geographically separated teams, expanding the scope of production and access to talent. The BBC’s recent coverage of the UK General Election saw it successfully and remotely manage 369 live feeds from vote-counting locations across the country. This provided audiences with an immersive and interactive viewing experience as the cloud gave the BBC the tools to go beyond traditional broadcasting methods and handle peak traffic without investing in additional hardware. It allowed the BBC to be exactly where its audience wanted them, keeping them engaged and glued to their screens as the results came in.

Cloud-based production also offers an unprecedented level of flexibility. As production needs fluctuate, additional resources can be easily allocated or scaled down without the traditional obstacles of capital expenditure, coordination, and facility management. A remote working mandate in mid-2020 accelerated ITV Daytime’s cloud transition, and the team needed a solution compatible with their Avid systems for remote editing. Telestream’s Kumulate and Vantage solutions pushed the content to the cloud and made it available to all remote editing systems via the Avid Interplay system. This versatility and efficiency eliminate those added hardware and infrastructure costs while making it easier to reach audiences at scale.

The cloud’s the limit!
The cloud is playing an increasingly central role in shaping the industry’s future. It is not just a technological shift—it has become critical to how media companies operate in this digital, multi-platform age. Regardless of the size of your media organization, implementing cloud-based solutions is now essential to staying competitive.

However, the journey to cloud adoption is not without challenges. Concerns such as security, latency and cost must be addressed. Media organizations should engage in open discussions with their suppliers, ensuring they work with partners prepared to innovate to solve their unique ecosystem challenges. For example, edge computing can mitigate latency issues, while choosing the right cloud provider with robust security protocols can alleviate security concerns.

The cloud’s elastic resources enable broadcasters to dynamically adapt based on content volume, output resolution, or any other factor. Automated workflows are also gaining momentum in their importance. Implementing innovative new solutions can be leveraged to build improved efficiencies, allowing editors and content creators more time to focus on their creative work.

When media companies see the cloud as an expansion of their technology toolkit rather than an unsettling change, they will put the control of their content destiny firmly in their own hands. As we prepare for future challenges, those who successfully leverage cloud workflows now will be best positioned to secure long-term business success.

ST Engineering iDirect – Revolutionizing connectivity: bridging The Digital Divide WITH SKYflow

ST Engineering iDirect – Revolutionizing connectivity: bridging The Digital Divide WITH SKYflow

Bart De Moor, Senior Manager, Product Marketing ST Engineering iDirect

In an increasingly digital world, the disparity in access to remote learning resources has become a pressing issue. Remote learning, particularly in developing countries, remains inaccessible to many families, and children, due to a lack of essential resources or supportive government policies.

Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the education of hundreds of millions of students has been disrupted. During this time, education ministries implemented remote learning measures to maintain educational continuity, but data reveals that 31% of global school-age children are beyond the reach of these initiatives – largely due to a lack of access to radio, television, or the Internet, and the absence of conducive remote learning policies.

In reality, across the world, only one out of every three school-age children has Internet access at home, with figures dropping dramatically in regions like West and Central Africa, where only 5% of children are connected. Online learning, which most closely replicates in-person instruction, remains the preferred method but is unattainable for many due to these digital divides.

Connectivity in Peru

Due to its dynamic landscape, inaccessible roads and mountains, the health of Peru’s population differs vastly across the country because of access challenges, leading to large portions of its residents having little to no access to healthcare. What’s more, 30% of Peru’s population – primarily in rural and impoverished areas – has long struggled with limited access to public broadcasting services. The National Institute of Radio and Television of Peru (IRTP) quickly realized they were incapable of effectively communicating critical public health news and information via public broadcasting and providing a learning platform to the 30% without connectivity. A solution was needed to address these gaps in connectivity infrastructure that included both video and non-video data.

To help address this challenge, the SKYflow ecosystem was officially deployed earlier this year in Peru; a solution which leverages the innovative DVB Native IP (DVB-NIP) standard and bridges the gap between broadband and broadcast networks and paves the way for a truly converged media distribution solution. It uses the efficiency of broadcast networks for large-scale content distribution to modern IP devices, fully integrating broadcast technologies with those used in broadband networks. The aim of the groundbreaking solution is to bridge the connectivity gap and bring vital digital services to the unconnected.

The Future of connectivity

SKYflow is an innovative collaboration between partners, EKT, EasyBroadcast, Quadrille, EZDRM and ST Engineering iDirect. The DVB native IP over satellite ecosystem offers cost-effective, ultra-fast, low-latency delivery of live,on-demand video and files to mobile devices and large screens alike for global audiences.

With the rising demand for Over-The-Top (OTT) content, providers are increasingly seeking innovative methods to distribute IP content across broader geographical areas. This not only helps in offloading their networks but also in connecting underserved regions, like Peru. Satellite technology, as demonstrated by SKYflow, plays a pivotal role in this evolution.

The solution uses the satellite’s capability to multicast, making it highly efficient. SKYflow is capable of providing unidirectional or bi-directional live or linear distribution, where the bi-directional delivery utilizes a satellite return path using a VSAT platform.

The launch of SKYflow in Peru has simply been transformative. With the system’s ability to deliver educational and governmental content, healthcare information, and even entertainment to underserved regions in Peru it has opened up new opportunities for personal and community development. SKYflow’s deployment in Peru showcases its capacity to provide free-to-air channels to residents across the country, addressing both entertainment and informational needs. The availability of self-install kits further simplifies access, ensuring that even the most remote households can benefit from this technology.

This advancement has already begun to aid the Peruvian government in achieving its goal of reaching every household with valuable educational video and media content.

Looking ahead

The capabilities of satellite technology are unparalleled in remote areas, yet it represents only a part of a broader connectivity ecosystem. The potential for satellite technology in bridging the digital divide continues to expand. SKYflow’s early success in Peru serves as a model for other regions facing similar challenges and the system’s scalability and adaptability mean it can be deployed in various contexts, from other Latin American countries to remote areas in different parts of the world. As technology advances, the integration of two-way communication capabilities and enhanced content offerings will further revolutionize digital inclusion.

Overall, SKYflow stands as a testament to the transformative power of satellite technology in addressing connectivity issues in remote and underserved areas. As the landscape of satellite usage in the broadcast space continues to evolve, initiatives like SKYflow will pave the way for a more connected, informed, and inclusive society.

 

Levira – Leading the way: Levira’s blueprint for broadcast management excellence

Levira – Leading the way: Levira’s blueprint for broadcast management excellence

The managed services market has undergone significant transformations in recent years. The advent of transformative technologies such as Cloud computing and AI has revolutionized business models, pushing service providers to continuously invest in innovation while optimizing their resources. Concurrently, the rising importance of security and sustainability has added layers of complexity, making these factors essential components of the managed services equation. Additionally, cost reduction initiatives across the industry have led media companies to increasingly outsource technology provision, creating new growth opportunities for managed service providers.

In this rapidly evolving broadcasting landscape, operational efficiency and technical reliability have become crucial. The demand for high-quality, cost-effective solutions is more urgent than ever, compelling broadcasters to adopt innovative strategies and seek out trusted partners to navigate these challenges. Levira, a leading managed services provider, exemplifies this approach, offering a blueprint for success that the industry can learn from. With their extensive experience and strategic approach, Levira effectively balances cost efficiency with service excellence. Here are some key insights and advice for broadcasters aiming to enhance their managed service capabilities.

Balancing cost efficiency with quality

One of the most significant challenges broadcasters face is reducing operational costs without compromising service quality. This balance is crucial for sustainability and growth. Levira’s experience shows that the key lies in adopting a flexible, hybrid approach that combines the latest IP-based technologies with traditional broadcast disciplines.

“Evaluate your current workflows and identify areas where new technologies can replace or enhance existing processes. Aim for solutions that streamline operations and reduce costs without sacrificing quality. A phased transition, coupled with thorough testing and a dual-running period, can help mitigate risks and ensure a smooth changeover.”

Customization and flexibility

Broadcasting operations often have unique requirements, necessitating customized solutions. Levira’s tailored approach, which integrates third-party platforms and customizes workflows, exemplifies how flexibility can meet specific client needs effectively.

“When selecting a managed services partner, prioritize those who offer flexible, tailored solutions rather than one-size-fits-all services. Ensure that your partner is willing to understand your specific requirements and can adapt their offerings to fit seamlessly with your existing systems and processes.”

Proactive monitoring and problem solving

Proactive monitoring and quick problem resolution are cornerstones of Levira’s service excellence. Their ability to anticipate issues and address them promptly has significantly improved service reliability for their clients.

 “Implement robust monitoring systems that provide real-time insights into your operations. Ensure that your team or service provider is equipped to respond swiftly to any issues that arise. Regularly review and update your monitoring protocols to stay ahead of potential problems.”

Ensuring security and reliability

Security and reliability are paramount, especially for large broadcasters expanding into new markets. Levira’s redesign of their distribution network to enhance security and reliability illustrates the importance of robust infrastructure.

“Conduct a thorough security audit of your current systems and identify any vulnerabilities. Invest in secure, scalable infrastructure that can support your expansion plans. Ensure that your managed services partner has a proven track record of maintaining high security standards.”

Strategic partnerships

Levira’s success is also a testament to the power of strategic partnerships. By treating each client’s needs as a priority and fostering deep trust and collaboration, they have built strong, lasting relationships that drive mutual growth.

“Build strong relationships with your service providers based on trust and mutual understanding. Regular communication and feedback loops are essential. Choose partners who are as invested in your success as you are, and who will go the extra mile to support your goals.”

Advice for Broadcasters and Media Organizations

Embrace innovation, cautiously – innovation is key to staying competitive, but it should be approached cautiously. Test new technologies thoroughly before full-scale implementation to avoid disruptions.

Focus on core competencies – by outsourcing technical operations to reliable partners like Levira, broadcasters can focus on their core competencies, such as content creation and compliance, thereby enhancing overall productivity and quality. Make sure the chosen partner has the competences to deliver the needed quality.

Plan for the future – anticipate future needs and challenges. Whether it’s geographical expansion, new channel launches, or evolving audience demands, having a forward-thinking strategy is crucial, as well as having a flexible partner to implement with. “We receive more and more requests around testing new ideas and need to be quick with implementation, to stay up to date and test out the viewers’ demands.”

Invest in training – equip your team with the skills and knowledge they need to leverage new technologies and processes. Continuous learning and development can significantly enhance your operational efficiency.

Monitor market trends – stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies. Being aware of what’s on the horizon can help you make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. It is very important to do so in a practical sense – test the ideas and the tech, to validate the trends.

Levira’s journey in managed services highlights the critical components of successful broadcast management: cost efficiency, customization, proactive monitoring, security, and strategic partnerships. By embracing these principles, broadcasters can enhance their service capabilities, reduce operational costs, and maintain high-quality standards. Levira’s insights offer a valuable guide for any broadcaster looking to navigate the complexities of modern broadcasting with confidence and foresight.

In an industry where change is the only constant, staying adaptable, proactive, and client-focused can make all the difference. Levira’s example sets a benchmark for excellence, providing a roadmap for others to follow in their quest for operational excellence and sustained growth.

 

Cerberus Tech’s Livelink: driving efficiency and agility in live video delivery

Cerberus Tech’s Livelink: driving efficiency and agility in live video delivery

Chris Clarke, CRO and Cofounder, Cerberus

The media industry has been focused on cloud and IP adoption in recent years. With that shift, more and more vendors have been offering virtualized services in the cloud, enabling broadcasters to reduce their reliance on hardware-based on-prem infrastructure. For many operations, however, always-on hardware maintains its appeal, despite being overprovisioned or underutilized. And even in the cloud, broadcasters have continued to build siloed workflows dedicated to specific projects, then start all over again each time they launch another project. Using a series of disconnected services, they’ve had no incentive to consider creating comprehensive, repeatable workflows.

With the Livelink self-service cloud platform for live video provisioning and orchestration, Cerberus Tech has set a new standard, giving broadcasters the ability to spin up and spin down entire IP delivery workflows on demand, with confidence, in a repeatable way.

Designed as a broadcast-first platform, Livelink connects cloud services to create familiar workflows that operators can fluidly and fluently scale up when needed, shut down when not in use, and then rebuild and launch once again in a matter of minutes. When operators spin up a workflow to transport live linear or OTT content from point-to-point or multi-point, they’re using “running resources” within Livelink. When they spin down again, “stopped resources” preserve the data, connections, and functionality in a dormant state and can be used to recreate and start that workflow up again when needed. As a result, the operator has confidence the workflow will work every time. The broadcaster reduces both resource usage and operational costs, particularly as compared with traditional on-prem workflows, becoming more efficient while moving closer to internal sustainability targets.

Cohesive and comprehensive capabilities

Cerberus Tech’s provision for cloud-based processing and transport isn’t unique, but Livelink’s utilization of third-party best-in-class integrations and other technology solutions is. Livelink makes it easy for broadcasters and other content owners to create workflows that do exactly what they want them to do, and to fire them up with the click of a button. This self-service model is intended, in part, to help democratize the broadcast industry, giving businesses the tools they need to leverage cloud workflows for themselves rather than remain beholden to large-scale service providers. The result is a first-rate product that allows operators to experience the familiarity of a traditional broadcast workflow that operates as if on premises, but in the cloud.

Complicated transport setups can be created once by an engineer and turned into presets and templates that allow operators to manage complex distribution projects with efficiency and low risk of error. Tier 1 transcoding and conversion services are available within the platform to ensure global delivery of content in the right profile and format, without compromise. New push and pull packaging functionality supports OTT workflows by first creating versions of content in all required bit rates, resolutions, and frame sizes, then conforming those versions to meet various specifications, such as Apple’s HLS spec, so they can be fed directly to an OTT CDN platform. Advanced monitoring tools built into the Livelink platform provide the visibility, monitoring, and measurement capabilities essential to ensuring service quality across linear broadcast and OTT content delivery.

These components all look as though they fit together within Livelink because they do; the platform was designed that way. Freeing the broadcaster from all the legwork involved in deploying other companies’ software and toolsets via API so they work together smoothly, Cerberus Tech has crafted it all into Livelink with a cohesive look and feel. And through collaborative development and ongoing integration of industry-leading technologies into Livelink, Cerberus Tech brings ever greater efficiency and convenience to cloud-based broadcast workflows.

Flexible scaling and optimization

Central to the Livelink self-service offering is the ability of users to decide, at every stage, what resources they need, whether they really need them, and if or when to stop or delete them. One size does not fit all, and the platform accommodates the full range of use cases. After a broadcaster or another user creates a Livelink account, they launch an environment which becomes the logical and physical container for everything they want to do for any purpose.

Each environment is priced and scaled according to how much the user can put through them. While some users need gigabits per second of throughput on a regular basis, others need just megabits out on an occasional basis. This approach allows broadcasters to deploy the exact footprint they need, sizing the system and resources appropriately to prevent excess power usage or, crucially in the macro-economic environment, avoid unnecessary overspend. Should the scale of a particular workflow shrink, for example, the broadcaster can downsize to a smaller instance while retaining all necessary connections and settings. They can maintain the same familiar broadcast workflow while tailoring operations to be more sustainable.

Commitment to sustainability

Sustainability is a key part of the design process as Cerberus Tech develops “future-proof” solutions for the broadcast and media industry, ensuring customers can make environmentally conscious purchases. The company is also committed to continually improving its own environmental credentials by setting and achieving, even exceeding, target metrics around waste generation and energy consumption.

With its Livelink platform, Cerberus Tech offers a cloud-centric, broadcast-first solution that maintains for users the same look and feel, the same SLAs and uptime standards, that have been established over decades of on-premises operations. Enabling that functionality and experience in a self-serve model has been the company’s primary objective, but a close second has been to put forward the best possible product and give users the freedom to scale their workflows as needed and to spin up and down those workflows for efficient resource usage that’s reflected in their bottom line and environmental footprint.