Vendor Spotlight: Zixi

Founded in 2008 in Boston Mass, Zixi began as a company that targets broadcasters, enterprises, over-the-top video providers, and service providers around the world with a content- and network-aware protocol that dynamically adjusts to varying network conditions and employs error-correction techniques for error-free video streaming over IP networks. The intention is to make it easier and more economical to source, manage and distribute live events and live linear channels securely and at scale.
Zixi’s Software-Defined Video Platform (SDVP) is a modular solution for managing dynamic and resilient live video delivery workflows. The SDVP consists of a number of primary components that address different areas of the industry. Zixi-as-a-Service (ZaaS) is a complete implementation of the Zixi SDVP integrated with video optimized and cost-efficient cloud infrastructure. With it, users can deploy video routes globally across Zixi’s managed cloud backbone while enjoying potential reductions in operating costs.
“The Zixi protocol helped shape adoption of delivery of broadcast-quality live video over IP networks.,” said Ken Haren, Director of Product Marketing at Zixi. “It allows you to establish secure live video routes over a combination of managed and unmanaged networks, reliably and at the lowest latency. Today many organizations manage live video distribution for a wide range of contribution, B2B distribution and D2C applications, all over IP networks, often across remote and cloud deployed facilities.”
While starting as a video transport protocol, Zixi has evolved in to a modular and software-defined video platform that enables operations teams to take advantages of new content delivery models while easily navigating the increasing scale, complexity and agility they require.”

Ken Haren, Director of Product Marketing, Zixi.
Zixi’s SDVP is a solution that incorporates the Zixi protocol, as well as 17 other industry protocols, can be deployed dynamically at scale on-prem, hybrid and across cloud infrastructure and delivers intuitive live operations dashboards, advanced analytics, intelligent alerts and actionable insights that modern video operations teams need.
Going forward, the company is hyper-focused on two main areas: Agility and Live Backhaul and Production Contribution workflows.
With the first, customers are launching pop-up channels FAST channels, D2C applications and increasingly frequent distribution and licensing deals across digital platforms. Operations teams must be able to rapidly spin up new live channels to meet the business requirements. A software-defined solution is required to provide video ops the flexibility and control needed.
“For live backhaul and production contribution workflows, media organizations are increasingly leveraging remote production for live events,” said Haren. “Event teams are increasingly leveraging wireless technology, including public and private 5G networks, for completely untethered field work. And bonded 5G, 4G/LTE, and LEO satellite internet connections are being used to establish ultra-low latency untethered live backhaul to cloud infrastructure.
“Then there’s cloud infrastructure managed in wireless carrier multi-access edge compute (MEC) facilities, which is enabling unparalleled ultra-low latency production and distribution workflows,” he said. “Organizations with the flexibility to reliably backhaul live video over high performance wireless networks are saving on operations costs, reducing GHG emissions and unlocking live event channels that would have been impossible or impractical in the past.”
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