The world of video content moves quickly. It’s in ceaseless motion, and this goes hand in hand with technological advancement. In this scenario, it becomes paramount for operators and distributors in the streaming space to create seamlessly functioning architectures. It’s all about tech stacks that must normalize workflows and bring together data from multiple existing services. Of course, this is far easier said than done as content owners wish to enhance their offering with a feed of growing requirements which platform operators have for their own streaming services. Progress is perpetual, think of ratings for movies and series, specific categories for niche programming, or even broadcast identifiers.
Marquis – 2nd generation digital migration: if it were easy, everyone would do it!
Many years ago, digitization offered a panacea; a mechanism to rid the world of analogue and proprietary digital video tape formats and make content more easily accessible and exploitable. Using supposedly non-proprietary encoding schemes, the content became independent of the physical media, so future migrations would be easy. Robotic data libraries and control software automated many processes, removing the need for many staff. Carefully annotated and indexed content using new DAM systems would make assets inherently exploitable, watermarking would offer protection, and early speech-to-text processing would make for the richest set of metadata.
IMSC-Rosetta: A new era for subtitle formats – bridging broadcasting and streaming
In the realm of media, delivering subtitles consistently across various platforms has posed challenges. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) identified the pressing need for an innovative subtitle format. This format should seamlessly suit both conventional TV broadcasts and contemporary streaming services. Historical subtitles have been fragmented, existing in diverse proprietary and generalized formats. However, none of these formats proved universally fitting for all content types and languages.
Blu Digital – Fere nihil sine deo – thoughts on AI, localization and humanity
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
What a glorious decade for global media distribution. Content consumption is higher than it’s ever been, borders have been stretched, pushed or removed entirely, “foreign” content is captivating “foreign” audiences and the inaccessible is finally becoming accessible to all.
Beam Dynamics – Intelligent technology lifecycle management
If you run any but the smallest media business you have hundreds, and probably thousands, of pieces of technical equipment from multiple approved vendors. Not just cameras or servers, but radio microphone transmitters, portable monitors, lipsync testers and lighting stands. The number of individual items quickly spirals.
Red Hat – Empowering Media Companies with Interoperable Containerized Platforms
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, media companies face the dual challenge of delivering content efficiently while addressing environmental concerns. As the media industry evolves, it is crucial to adopt innovative approaches that transform existing media workflows, security, scalability, and carbon efficiency. To further future-proof media infrastructure and experience these benefits, the industry should focus on developing interoperable Software Media Functions (SMF) as software-based solutions, adopt a dynamic media factory layered model, and implement a common control framework to better anticipate the changing media functions landscape. When changing into a world of software-defined applications, a good foundation is essential. It should be agnostic of clouds (private or public) since interoperability needs to be guaranteed in case a business decision requires a migration to a new environment. Some content providers are already taking advantage of machine learning to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Traditionally this is not the domain of the broadcast or media specialists since this was handled by the vendors using embedded OS and Kubernetes in their hardware.
Simplestream – Live events orchestration: why a flexible CMS solution is integral to business success
What are the biggest challenges in managing live event schedules with content provided by multiple operators? The answer can be rather straightforward, and it comprises several key aspects, mostly related to the pain points platform owners are facing today when distributing content across digital channels.
Cleared for landing: The smoothest route to linear/digital convergence – Imagine Communications
Traditional linear television has been around for more than 80 years, and in that time audiences have got used to its look and feel. They appreciate a lot of what it gives them: there are values in linear television that appeal.
Programs are shown at appropriate times. There are regulations around the amount of advertising and the way it can be presented.
The linear advertising experience is the result of all those years of striving to deliver for both audiences and advertisers. It is in everyone’s best interests if spots are not repeated too often as audiences will disengage. Choosing the right commercials for the program ensures that audiences are likely to be receptive.
Scheduling and commercial campaign placements have become core skills in running a successful linear channel. We tend to call this superior experience the “broadcast premium.”
But new entrants to the market, like the digital-first providers, now see the broadcast premium as something they aspire to. They want to give audiences the convenience of watching when and where they like, but still with the qualities associated with linear channels.
In simple terms, digital and linear media services are converging. This is an inevitable, inexorable process. But it does throw up three big issues that need to be addressed.
Combining Media Evolution and Revolution – Codemill
Media and entertainment is a well-established industry, with a heritage to be proud of. But maintaining a pivotal role in the consumer landscape for several decades comes with a unique set of challenges. As media and broadcast has evolved from a handful of linear channels through to a multi-platform ecosystem, more content needs to be reformatted and repurposed to reach an increasingly fragmented audience.
Turning Old Archives Into New Revenue Opportunities – Dalet
Long-established media organizations that serve up our favorite films and episodic content are often sitting on an enormous amount of valuable media that could be the key to unlocking new revenue opportunities, whether it’s repacking existing programs for new streaming opportunities or enhancing a new program with rich archival material. However, you need a cost-effective way to rescue and reuse archived content from the siloed systems and labyrinth of formats and files accumulated over the years. It has to be an accessible component of your media supply chain.