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Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are experiencing significant growth in bandwidth consumption largely due to the uptake of OTT video services and the growth in numbers of connected devices per household. ISPs are therefore navigating the path of making successful investments in their networks that support OTT operators’ goals and consumers’ expectations.
Although latency and resource coordination continue to challenge those considering cloud-based remote live production, the distributed architecture model is steadily gaining traction as a cost-effective alternate to hardware-based on-premise projects. To date this IT-centric architecture has not been deployed for high-profile productions like the Super Bowl or World Cup, but remote IP-video contribution, production and distribution has allowed second-tier sporting events to be televised globally whereas they might not be - due to cost and fully remote access - using traditional production methods.
With mature, cloud-based services now prevalent across the industry, helping to process and distribute content faster and more accurately than ever before, the long sought-after promise of producing content in the cloud—reducing cost and physical barriers—prompted broadcasters and production companies to experiment with new ways to make it a common reality.
Part 1 of this series described how network-side QoE (Quality of Experience) measurement is fundamental to proactively assuring the quality of OTT services. At its core, the network-side can be an early warning system for QoS, which in turn correlates to actual QoE performance. This article considers the two types of network monitoring available to us, relative priorities for the points of measurement, and how the video platforms contributing to OTT services are evolving to support OTT quality at scale.
Red Bee Media has connected Síminn to its Channel Store and is now delivering channel aggregation services to the Icelandic telecommunications company.
The features we love about OTT services – such as combined linear and on-demand content, multi-device viewing mobility, tailored viewing experiences, and in some cases better resolutions – are driving the general rapid uptake of OTT services.
A core promise of OTT is greater customer satisfaction through a more personalised viewing experience. Instead of linear channels with scheduled content that we may or may not be interested in, OTT enables us to combine tailored VOD and Live content into a single viewing window. This specific personalised viewing dynamic tunes the experience more precisely for a consumer which in turn increases commercial value for advertisers and OTT operators. We should expect a win-win-win for consumer, advertiser and content provider.
Telco fixed access networks are “the last mile” to homes and commercial buildings. They play a key role in the delivery of OTT Video, and are undergoing big changes to support its growth. Telco fixed access networks were originally built in the 19th century to deliver telegraph services, evolving during the 20th century into telephone services. Today they provide vital telecommunications services supporting all aspects of a nation’s life including government, business, education and entertainment. Companies in this sector include the likes of British Telecom, Telecom Italia and AT&T. Over the last 30 years, the voice-first PSTN network has evolved to support data services over broadband, and today telco’s are deploying new data-first access networks.