Our Media Solutions Specialist Magnus Svensson shares his thoughts on the online streaming industry in this post. This is part of a monthly series, so if you don't want to miss an episode, be sure to follow us here.
In the rapidly evolving video streaming industry landscape, the race to deliver the highest quality content at the lowest possible cost has never been more competitive. As consumer demand for seamless high-definition experiences increases, streaming services are under pressure to innovate and are at increased risk of becoming obsolete.
Surprisingly, despite the availability of advanced technologies that revolutionize the production, distribution, and encoding processes, adoption remains sporadic. This hesitation not only prevents potential cost savings but also limits the ability to maintain service in a highly competitive market.
In contrast to the industry-wide approach, cloud-native streaming services with no traditional TV heritage have embraced remote production and modern workflows from the start. These services have unapologetically recognized the benefits that such technology offers, including significantly lower logistics costs and lower carbon emissions.
By leveraging the cloud for production processes, these services can more efficiently deploy workers and equipment, allowing you to capture and broadcast live events from virtually anywhere in the world. This means you can create more content.
This difference in adoption highlights the gulf between traditional and cloud-native broadcasters. The latter has been willing to invest in and take advantage of remote production technology from the beginning, positioning it not only as cost-effective, but also the flexibility inherent in cloud-based production models. I emphasized.
Their success stories serve as proof of the operational and economic benefits and encourage the rest of the industry to reconsider their hesitations and adopt these modern production methods.
In video distribution, there is a huge opportunity to explore innovative technologies and solutions to enhance the efficiency and innovation of streaming services.
It goes beyond open source tools and employs a range of cutting-edge technologies to optimize delivery networks. These advances are aimed at building a more adaptable, scalable, and cost-effective infrastructure that can support high-quality streaming demands.
However, despite these clear benefits, the industry's transition from traditional systems to innovative alternatives has been slow, and a cautious approach could miss out on the potential benefits offered by the latest technological solutions. It highlights that there is.
Optimizing video encoding plays a key role in streaming efficiency and directly impacts bandwidth and storage requirements. Optimize the bitrate ladder for specific content without resorting to more efficient codecs such as H.265/HEVC or AV1, which can significantly reduce data transmission and storage needs without compromising video quality You can make significant profits by doing so.
A standard bitrate ladder is often used regardless of content type, network conditions, target device type, etc. Analyzing content and mezzanine encoding using something like VMAF and comparing it to transcoding profiles can lead to significant savings.
Nevertheless, adoption of these optimizations has been gradual and is often hampered by compatibility concerns and required effort. On the contrary, it is undeniable that optimized encoding can lead to significant long-term savings and an enhanced viewing experience.
For the video streaming industry, integrating the latest technologies in production, innovative approaches to distribution, and optimizing video encoding are more than just cost-saving opportunities. They are essential for survival.
The ability to deliver high-quality content efficiently and cost-effectively sets leaders apart in an increasingly crowded market. A short-term focus can lead to a reluctance to innovate and ignore the strategic importance of these technologies in maintaining competitiveness.
The industry is at a crossroads, where adopting these technologies is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for future success. Streaming services that recognize this importance and act quickly will not only achieve significant operational efficiencies, but also gain a competitive edge in a dynamic streaming environment.
The future belongs to those who innovate, and in the world of video streaming, the future is now.
Looking to the coming months, the NAB Show in Las Vegas is an important benchmark for the industry and provides an opportunity to discuss the latest innovations and technologies. This year, we expect to see a focus on the efficiency gains discussed here, from advanced remote production capabilities to innovative distribution technologies and encoding solutions.
We look forward to seeing examples of how these technologies can be integrated into existing workflows to achieve efficiency and quality. This is a great opportunity for industry experts to discuss the possibilities of these topics and share their experiences. The likely “theme” of the NAB show will be cost efficiency and mergers and acquisitions.
Magnus Svensson is a media solutions specialist and partner at Eyevinn Technology. Eyevinn Technology is a leading independent consulting firm specializing in video technology and media distribution.
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