How to Win the QoE Battle in OTT Video

Once upon a time, content was all that mattered for a streaming service to be successful.

It’s still the main concern, of course. But with the proliferation of streaming services, it’s no longer enough. Great content at the right price lets you in the game; great quality of experience differentiates you.

But delivering a high quality of experience on an OTT platform can be a challenge. And the challenges are intensifying with the emergence of next-generation video formats – with 4K and HDR entering distribution streams and a potentially embracing surround viewing, virtual and other extended-reality formats, volumetric holographic content and, eventually, 8K.

BaishanCloud Upgrades “Enterprise Secure Acceleration” Solution to Empower Digital Transformation

In 2020, all industries have undergone a sudden "stress test" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While digital transformation is providing a way out for businesses and organizations, it is bringing the same amount of challenge. How to transform the business while reducing cost and improving efficiency? How to enhance security measures to protect core data assets? How to protect brands and the customer experience in times of uncertainty? Companies are on the lookout for more comprehensive and efficient digital solutions. BaishanCloud (Baishan), a global edge cloud service provider specializing in cross-border content delivery and edge security, has upgraded its "Enterprise Secure Acceleration" service to a one-stop solution that will help businesses and organizations to accelerate their digital transformation.

Next Gen CDN Services in Asia

The next 5-10 years could be a prime time for the global content delivery network (CDN) market, thanks to high-speed network rollout, reduced data cost, rising demand for video/OTT services, and the surging internet consumption in all formats during and post the pandemic. While North America still dominates with the largest market share, the Asia Pacific region is showing the strongest growth momentum with a CAGR at 33%. The disruptive growth is due to the growing number of internet subscribers, the massive mobile internet consumption, and the thriving of eCommerce, live gaming, and online education in Asia, especially in India, China, Southeast Asia. As such, we see all major global CDN vendors investing in the region to cater to the rising demands. Meanwhile, a wider spectrum of local players is adding content delivery solutions into their service offerings, including local Telcos, hosting service providers, and all kinds of specialty-focused technology platforms. Yet, not everyone can truly capitalize on this opportunity. Global providers need to understand what’s unique in the region and develop their service roadmap accordingly to compete in the Asia market. Now let’s take a close look at the uniqueness of the Asia market and how it’s driving the evolution of CDN services.

In Conversation with Deltatre

In this IABM TV interview, Gilles Mas (President, Video Experiences, Deltatre) discusses some of the innovations in OTT/streaming that he is exited about, how Deltatre has adapted to the challenges presented by COVID, and how believes the industry will change over the next few years for both customers and end-users. Gilles also dives into other topics such as the ‘streaming wars’, 5G, AI and AR.

What’s at stake in the battle against live streaming piracy?

Live streaming of sports and other linear content has gone mainstream as consumers increasingly turn to OTT services for programming they once could only get from traditional TV providers. However, mounting losses due to media piracy, tempered only momentarily by the coronavirus-induced sports lull, have triggered demand for tools and procedures that go well beyond security systems optimized for on-demand viewing. In this white paper we take a closer look at the audience and revenue of live streaming, the role of sports, the UHD/HDR factor, sensitivities to live streaming latency, and the impact of piracy and associated attack modes.

Need for speed: protocols for low-latency broadcasting

Low broadcast latency has become a mandatory requirement in any tenders and competitions for building of head-end stations and CDNs. Previously, such criteria were applied only to sports broadcasting, but now operators require low latency from broadcast equipment suppliers for every sphere: broadcasting news, concerts, performances, interviews, talk shows, debates, e-sports and gambling.

Covid success story: Edgeware

Like many sectors, the TV industry is not how it once was. At Edgeware, we’ve had to adapt quickly to the challenges of the pandemic, remote working and the uncertainty that’s hit all aspects of the market. Our customers – telcos, cable operators, broadcasters and content providers – have also had no choice but to respond to these changes. But doing so comes with potential risk, which has emphasised the importance of remaining in constant dialogue with our customers and partners. Providing support in a business environment hit by hesitancy and disruption is essential, even when conducted remotely.

Lessons from Digital Native Media Companies

The past decade has seen an influx of digital-native media companies which have thrived completely online. These are companies that have scaled up without the legacy infrastructure that their traditional counterparts have long relied on (and now have to wean themselves off). The proliferation of digital-native media companies can be largely attributed to shifting demographics and consumption patterns. Today, millennials often dictate the trends and technologies of the time as they form a large part of the consumer base. As a generation, they gravitate towards digital platforms to access information on the go.

A Terrestrial Alternative to Satellite-based Video Distribution

On 19th November 2019, Ajit Pai, chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), announced a public auction of the C-band spectrum (about 500 MHz of bandwidth between 3.7 to 4.2 GHz) to facilitate the development of 5G. The C-Band, a swathe of satellite spectrum that has been historically used for fixed wireless services, plays a crucial role in broadcasting and live production of content such as news reporting and sports feeds.

A 3-Step Plan for the Media and Entertainment Industry to Cope with COVID-19

COVID-19 has ripped through the global economy. As people adjust to the new reality of social distancing and remote working, consumer behavior too, has transformed. And, as a majority of global population self-isolates at home , media consumption levels have gone through the roof. According to a recent report from Global Web Index, 87% of US consumers and 80% of UK consumers revealed that they are consuming more content than ever before.

Unfortunately though, these high media utilization rates come at a time when new content production— from live sports to sitcoms and movies—has come to a grinding halt. Cast and crew members are now safely ensconced in their homes, often in separate countries.

But there’s good news too. Progressive incumbents in the media industry have taken creative approaches to cater to viewer demand. For instance, traditional sports are increasingly turning to virtual competitions to keep their fans, sponsors and broadcasters engaged. Major sports and Esports leagues are making it possible for star athletes like Kevin Durant and Charles Leclerc to participate in live tournaments. This lets supporters watch their favorite athletes live, and fills up empty airtime for broadcasters. Even celebrity talk shows are now playing out of hosts’ living rooms and bedrooms .

How to Win the QoE Battle in OTT Video