October 2018 MANAGEMENT 21
Ooyala optimises Super RTL ’ s OTT service
Ooyala is streamlining video operations for Super RTL , a joint venture of the RTL Group and Disney , with the Ooyala Flex Media Platform , a flexible and configurable content supply chain optimisation platform that automates tasks , simplifies workflows and speeds up the time-to-market for content creators and distributors .
Ooyala is delivering an end-toend solution with Germany-based LOGIC media solutions , built using Microsoft Azure Media Services that will optimise Super RTL ’ s operations and simplify content delivery to over-the-top ( OTT ) platforms .
Boris Bolz , chief digital and marketing officer , Super RTL , said : “ The media landscape is evolving faster than ever , introducing new and growing challenges that left our existing technology obsolete .
“ We needed a solution that could provide greater flexibility and deeper insights across our entire operations , all while future-
Paywizard is building the nextgeneration version of its subscriber intelligence platform , Paywizard Singula , on the Microsoft Azure artificial intelligence ( AI ) platform .
Harnessing Azure ’ s analytics environment ‘ Databricks ’, the move enables Paywizard to extend its machine learning and AI capability . This , said Paywizard , allows its clients to better position themselves to action data insight to strengthen customer loyalty , grow revenues and win new subscribers .
Paywizard Singula , which debuted at IBC2018 , is a standalone platform that empowers pay-TV operators and over-the-top ( OTT ) providers to utilise subscriber insights and AI to recommend the ‘ next best action ’ an operator can take for each and every subscriber at the critical ‘ decision moments ’ in the customer journey .
The Microsoft Azure AI platform is an open , flexible , enterprise-grade cloud computing platform that will empower Paywizard proofing our services . The Ooyala Flex Media Platform has allowed us to build the best solution for our needs , and being implemented on Microsoft Azure , it can easily be scaled as our service grows and new technology is introduced .”
The project grew out of Ooyala ’ s collaboration with Microsoft , who had been in talks with Super RTL on migrating its digital video platform to the cloud . Microsoft introduced Ooyala to Super RTL to provide the workflow and content management components . For the implementation and local support , Ooyala subsequently brought in its local partner , LOGIC .
The Ooyala Flex Media Platform is also now providing extended support for the Interoperable Master Format ( IMF ). With IMF support , users of the Ooyala Flex Media Platform can “ significantly reduce ” the costs and improve the efficiency of their multi-version , multi-platform distribution needs , according to Ooyala .
IMF is a file-delivery standard created by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers ( SMPTE ) that reduces the number
Paywizard announces new technology partnerships
System architect and ICT integrator Qvest Media will be working with Flemish public broadcaster VRT to create what they call “ one of the most advanced media houses ”.
Daniel Url , managing director , Qvest Media , said : “ The way in which we consume media content with innovative technology is changing constantly , and in ever-accelerating cycles . In the past , media providers revamped individual sectors every eight to 10 years , but now fixed cycles are a thing
❝ Building Singula on the Microsoft Azure AI platform is a strategic move that empowers Paywizard to massively bolster our analytics power and incorporate AI going forward .❞
— Bhavesh Vaghela , Chief Executive , Paywizard
( commenting on a new partnership between Paywizard and Microsoft )
to add AI and machine learning capability to ‘ decision moments ’.
Bhavesh Vaghela , Paywizard ’ s
of the past .
“ Media companies must be able to adjust at any time , quickly and easily to new production demands . The key to an agile production and distribution architecture lies in combining people-centred company organisation with a flexible technical infrastructure . The latter helps staff to be innovative , but is not the main driver of innovation .”
To achieve this , VRT and Qvest Media are creating innovation-promoting framework
The Ooyala Flex Media Platform is a content supply chain optimisation platform that automates tasks , simplifies workflows and speeds up the time-to-market for content creators and distributors , and which was highlighted by Jim O ’ Neill , principal industry analyst , Ooyala , at last month ’ s IBC2018 .
chief executive , said : “ Building Singula on the Microsoft Azure AI platform is a strategic move that of different versions of a video file required for distribution to viewers in different markets and on different platforms around the world .
empowers Paywizard to massively bolster our analytics power and incorporate AI going forward .
“ Azure AI is perfect for that and provides the infrastructure no other platform can while offering flexibility , scalability and security .”
Separately , Paywizard has also partnered with Verimatrix to enable operators to proactively engage with customers experiencing problems by utilising quality of experience ( QoE ) data sets .
By tapping into more data through Verimatrix Verspective RT QoE updates , Paywizard will enrich the single customer view ( SCV ) created by Paywizard Singula . Vaghela continued : “ The more data operators have about customers — including service issues they are facing — the better position they are in to take effective action .
“ So , for instance , if a group of subscribers is having a service problem , the operator can immediately and proactively communicate to them that it is aware of the prob-
Qvest Media and VRT create media house of the future
conditions from spatial design to the design of the technical and operational workflows . Employees will receive the best possible support through a highly flexible technical infrastructure . This is intended to create the maximum possible scope for intuitively realising new production requirements , even without any specialist technical knowledge .
Stijn Lehaen , CTO of VRT , comments : “ Never in our history have we launched a project of this size . So we really took the time
Prior to IMF , thousands of different versions of a widely distributed motion picture — reflecting various combinations of subtitles , metadata , audio , formatting and other features — would be required in order to support multiple-market-segment distribution . The efficiencies offered by IMF have been estimated to achieve savings of 25 % or more in storage and “ versioning ” costs .
Jonathan Huberman , Ooyala ’ s CEO , said : “ Unlike other technology partners , Ooyala provides end-to-end support for IMF across the entire content supply chain . And with seamless integration of existing tools into the Ooyala Flex Media Platform , we are enabling IMF strategies for companies who would otherwise lack the necessary technology .
“ The technology community has been listening to content providers and we are equipped to help them truly capitalise on global monetisation opportunities .”
lem and working to fix it .”
Traditionally , analysis has been focused on quality of service ( QoS ) data , which is primarily used to diagnose network challenges , including streaming , audience and configuration , by operational teams and network administrators . The partnership allows this insight to be taken a step further and proactively communicate to customers in real time when issues are experienced , resulting in a better customer experience , reducing churn and increasing loyalty .
Tom Pollard , VP of product management at Verimatrix , added : “ This partnership is all about providing the best possible customer experiences and building subscriber loyalty by using data and insight wisely — whether that is dealing with a billing issue , proactively recommending a change in content package to a wavering subscriber , or addressing a QoE issue such as buffering , before the customer even has a chance to contact their service provider .
needed to find the best partner that we want to work with long term to design the media house of the future .
“ Ultimately , we decided through the selection process to choose Qvest Media , as we were convinced not just by the innovation concept , but also by the methods behind it . Qvest Media ’ s many years of experience as a systems integrator also creates synergy effects in its consultancy role which VRT can profit from .”