MediaKind - 2021: A Media Odyssey - The Age of Streaming-First by iThink Media

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Damien Montessuit, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, at MediaKind, introduces us to the next evolution in the era of video content delivery. It’s a time where streaming will enable us to watch what we want, when we want, and anywhere we want it – but in a way we have never seen before.

Written by Anna McMahon • Produced by Danielle Harris 2

The MediaKind brand name may be one you’re unfamiliar with. But the chances are, you’ve probably watched video content that has utilised some of its products and services.

ediaKind’s software components and solutions enable its customers to create, manage and distribute media content in all its

various formats. Put succinctly, MediaKind’s technology spans from ‘glass-to-glass’. It enables the process of acquiring content from the moment video is recorded through the camera’s glass lens, all the way through to the delivery on the glass of a screen on a mobile device or a big television. MediaKind is the successful spinoff of the former video wing of

the global telecommunications firm, Ericsson. Although the MediaKind brand itself is less than three years old, it boasts a rich heritage that spans almost three decades of pioneering digital video evolution. Ericsson spent a decade building an extensive media portfolio, acquiring some of the best media technology 6

companies in the industry. It was a period when the rise of digital consumption was experiencing exponential growth. In 2018, Ericsson decided to focus solely on its core business – building mobile networks. It spun off its media business unit, creating the

“Since the start of the pandemic, our customers, particularly those involved in live video content, have had to adapt to a multitude of challenges on a scale that we’ve previously never seen” all media processing and delivery requirements, including hardware and software. It includes Emmy award-winning video compression solutions for contribution and directto-consumer (DTC) video service distribution; advertising and content personalisation solutions; highefficiency cloud DVR; and TV and video delivery platforms. MediaKind entity. Today, MediaKind is an established joint venture, majority-owned by the New Yorkbased One Equity Partners (51 per cent), with Ericsson retaining 49 per cent of the business. MediaKind’s end-to-end portfolio of media solutions is built to address

2021: The next chapter in the MediaKind tale So, what happens next in the MediaKind story? It’s here that Damien Montessuit, Senior Vice President, Global Sales at MediaKind, picks up the MediaKind narrative. 7

“When it comes to our channel partners, we have strong relationships with Lutech in Italy and MoMe in Spain” 8

Damien has spent 25 years in the technology space, working for BT Global Services and Microsoft, before joining Ericsson in 2013. Having been part of MediaKind’s executive leadership team for the past two and a half years, he plays an instrumental role in helping his organisation formulate and evolve its go-to-market strategy. “We live for innovation at MediaKind; it motivates and drives us,” Damien explains. “Since the start of the pandemic, our customers, particularly those

Do you want to shape the next entertainment experience ? Continuous innovation and revenue generation Improve Customer Engagement & Monetization Optimize Operations and reduce Management cost

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Solutions for low latency contribution of Audio / Video signals E2E solutions for the broadcasting of Audio / Video services on Terrestrial (DVB-T) and Satellite (DVB-S) networks Advanced solutions (i.e. cloud-based) for the treatment and distribution of Over The Top (OTT) Audio / Video services Solutions for IP migration of legacy baseband systems (SDItoIP)

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Big & Fast Data, Data Warehouse, Business Intelligence & Analytics Robotic Process Automation and Intelligent Automation solutions CRM, Marketing Automation and Contact Center solutions Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques applied to text, audio and video contents

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Network Operation Services (Provisioning & Assurance) for Telco Operator Migration from traditional infrastructural solutions to cloud models and virtualized container-based technologies Networking solutions for data, voice and video Security solutions for core network infrastructures

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Lutech is the best service experience for your customers. A comprehensive Group of companies with a unique proposition on the European ICT market, integrating specific competences of the ICT world with a Media dedicated solution portfolio. Lutech DIEM is the Group entity specialized in satellite communications and digital broadcasting solutions, to support the media sector in the digital transformation journey towards new infotainment models through innovative and flexible infrastructure to increase process automation, minimize time to market and enable the creation of unique customer experiences.

www.lutech.group

involved in live video content, have had to adapt to a multitude of challenges on a scale that we’ve previously never seen. 2020 saw empty sports stadiums, empty classrooms, empty theatres – even regular social interactions disappeared from our lives. “But it’s also clear the constraints of the pandemic have acted as a catalyst for innovation and creativity. We’ve seen broadcasters and operators embrace the rapid, global demand for streamed content, and it has had a unifying effect. It has enabled people all over the world to stay connected, continue to receive access to education and be entertained.” For most businesses worldwide, there was no blueprint, let alone a detailed plan for business continuity and employee safety, in the event of a global pandemic. But with its foundations and technology credentials already well laid in the video space, MediaKind was well equipped to help its employees transition to a new working from home environment with relative ease. Damien continues: “For all of us, it has meant changing the way live video content is prepared, captured and distributed, and 11

“We live in a cloud-fi world, but you can ad that list – ‘streamin impact of this stream universally across a theatres, cinema – yo

Damien Montessuit, Senior Vice Pres

irst and mobile-first dd another term to ng-first.’ We see the ming-first trend all industries. Gaming, ou name it!”

sident, Global Sales, at MediaKind

using a different set of workflows. All of these global changes have driven our decision to change the emphasis of our primary strategy, with a far greater focus around organising our teams to concentrate on specific industry verticals rather than regions. Our strategy is now focused around Multichannel Video Programme Distributors (MVPDs) and operators, broadcasters and live event organisers, spanning sports, conferences and festivals. “By providing a full suite of components and solutions across these various segments, we can be more accountable, reliable and offer greater stability to our customers and partners while also strengthening our ability to balance our revenues and continue to be financially secure. Our strategy has already enabled some inspiring results, including in our European operator segment, which grew by six per cent over the past 12 months.”

The transformation of the media technology marketplace One of the most significant shifts in the media sector has been the transition towards software-centric and cloud-based ecosystems. This shift has helped to facilitate the number of viewers who are now able to watch across an array of different services and delivery mechanisms, 14

including traditional broadcast (terrestrial, satellite and cable), linear, over-the-top (OTT) via the internet or video-on-demand (VOD). It has also given rise to the terms ‘cloud-first’ and ‘mobile-first’, which is now where much of the media ecosystem operates. Operators in this space have evolved with these cloud-first and mobile-first environments, achieving this by either building their own cloud services or partnering with larger cloud providers. Damien adds: “We live in a cloud-first and mobile-first world, but you can add another term to that list – ‘streamingfirst’. We see the impact of this streaming-first trend universally across all industries. Gaming, theatres, cinema - you name it! The streaming-first world is changing our behaviours as consumers and transforming how we connect with one another, whether it’s socially, professionally or through education. “The primary benefit of the streaming-first approach lies in scale and reach. You can reach a diverse and multiplatform audience. Through cloud-based technology, we

MEDIA & TELECOMUNICATION ENGINEERING

MoMe provide Engineering, Consulting, Supply and Integration solutions for projects, as well as value-added services associated with the new technologies used, such as pre- and post-sale support, training and financing. MoMe take care of providing the highest quality solutions for your Company, from the implementation of Satellite Communications systems or

Digital TV, to the integration of the Supervision and Management software necessary to monitor and guarantee the optimal performance of the same.

From Contribution to Distribution in any kind of network

From Broadcast to Streaming

From on premise to True Hybrid cloud solutions

Fully monitored and managed

A great and highly skilled team with a full range of added value services

www.mome.es

“Futurion provides expertise on end-to-end deployments of innovative media solutions which support the entertainment business needs of MediaKind’s customers. Telestream combines MediaKind’s award-winning media delivery products with the power of its market-leading monitoring solution to enable high-quality OTT delivery” can drive the impact of streaming to deliver high-quality viewing experiences with reduced time-tomarket requirements and optimal operational efficiency. “As technology evolves and traditional value chains shorten, so too will the relationships between broadcasters, content owners and consumers. DTC propositions have enabled operators to 16

become orchestrators of popular entertainment services, and this has opened up two-way, transparent dialogues between brands and consumers. In the future, I believe the vast majority of service providers will rely on operators for coverage and reach.” The big question for all business investors is where the next creative industry boom will take place.

Video Quality Assurance. Protect Revenue, Retain Subscribers, Improve Your Brand. End-to-end monitoring of live and on-demand OTT services.

Protect Revenues, Reduce Costs. • Monitor quality and availability of primary content and DAI Ad markers. • Measure performance of delivery networks.

End to End Monitoring of Live and VoD Delivery Chains.

Flexible Deployment and Payment Models.

• Monitor live channels, live events, before and during events. • Check availability of most valuable VoD assets.

• Appliances or containerized software: perpetual or subscription licenses. • SaaS for usage-based payments and easy global cloud deployment.

For more detailed information, visit our website: www.telestream.net/iq/overview.htm

Thanks to the rapid migration towards IP environments, a few clues are emerging. For Damien, faster content delivery, with greater portability, flexibility and reliable connectivity all point to rapid acceleration and mainstream success for the world of gaming. During spring 2020, several high-profile eSports events took centre stage at a time when physical sporting events couldn’t take place. Several leading broadcasters were able to attract younger audiences, using various streaming platforms when VOD services saw a significant uplift worldwide. “The experience we have at home today is not down to one particular piece of tech or one component, but a combination of cloud, network, content, distribution and algorithms,” says Damien. “This combination enables immersive streaming experiences that viewers can access anywhere in the world. If you think about the success of Instagram, it is the creative crossing of the phone used as a digital photo device, the network, the technology within the phone, and the social need. “The blend of different components has revolutionised social networking. Gaming is close to achieving this creative 18

“We have used Microsoft’s Azure cloud in conjunction with our MediaFirst TV platform service to great effect by building our platforms on its cloud technologies” 20

crossing of experiences. The next step for this sector will be to bring a higher level of interactivity and personalisation to these audiences, enabling exciting crossovers between real and virtual events.”

Why MediaKind values the importance of partnerships The change in traditional media workflows has heightened the need for greater collaboration and

New ways to experience the worlds of sports, music, and entertainment

Creativity in the Digital Age

partnerships. Collaborations can pool diverse resources and expertise, which can help lay the foundations for robust innovations that can bridge the gap between legacy and emerging technologies and new sources of revenue. Through a diverse network of partnerships, from global companies to more local partners, each player can bring its own unique set of benefits. Damien says: “Today’s media industry is very fragmented, and we continually look to find new ways to build familiarity and understanding with our partners, as well as to find collective ways of working and areas where we can knowledge-share. All our partners bring something different to the company, and that’s why we love working alongside various businesses. “In some instances, we look for compatible companies who can integrate our solutions within their customers’ ecosystems. Our close partnership with Microsoft is a testament to that; it’s a key player in the industry that we are proud to have built a strong relationship with. We have used Microsoft’s Azure cloud in conjunction with our MediaFirst TV platform service to great effect by building our platforms on its cloud technologies. 22

“Our strategy is now fo Multichannel Video Pro (MVPDS) and operators, live event organisers, s conferences and festiv

ocused around ogramme Distributors , broadcasters and spanning sports, vals”

“Indeed, some of our biggest successes over the past 12 months have been driven by our partnership with Microsoft. Returning to the start of the pandemic, it was clear that inperson events would not be possible for many months. With Microsoft, we created a blueprint that enabled a physical independent film festival to take place as a fully virtual event 23

“We work with iWedia to enhance the quality and consistency of the content we deliver across a wide variety of platforms and devices through our MediaFirst TV Platform”

last May. Due to the success of this project, we were then able to consolidate our scalable, cloud-optimised video platform to power the first fully digital Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January this year, where we streamed live and on-demand video content concurrently to millions of virtual attendees around the world. This use case is a real example of the value and capability of successful partnerships. We can now use this blueprint continually, refine it and repeat it for our prospective customers worldwide.”

“As we move further into this streamingfirst world, operators have a ripe opportunity to capitalise on their data and compete in the land of giants, dominated by Google, Facebook and Amazon”

Demonstrating the power of close collaboration Another example of MediaKind’s close associations can be seen through its relationships with Futurion and Telestream. Futurion provides expertise on end-to-end deployments of innovative media solutions which support the 26

entertainment business needs of MediaKind’s customers. Telestream combines MediaKind’s awardwinning media delivery products with the power of its market-leading monitoring solution to enable highquality OTT delivery. Damien says: “We are also working alongside iWedia, a renowned provider of software components

“When it comes to our channel partners, we have strong relationships with Lutech in Italy and MoMe in Spain. Our local partners are knowledgeable, familiar with our portfolio of solutions, and can position themselves not only as distributors but as advisors to our customers. “If there is one area where I feel partnerships can have an even greater impact in the future, it’s the advertising space. As we move further into this streamingfirst world, operators have a ripe opportunity to capitalise on their data and compete in the land of giants, dominated by Google, Facebook and Amazon.

and solutions for TV devices, to combine our respective technologies so that we can enhance the living room TV experience via the set-top-box. We work with iWedia to enhance the quality and consistency of the content we deliver across a wide variety of platforms and devices through our MediaFirst TV Platform.

“To do so, we believe operators and broadcasters have to join forces to monetise their data and audiences while working hand-inhand with technology suppliers like ourselves to deliver premium advertising solutions that will help them compete in this space. MediaKind is providing products and solutions that are creating highly personalised, data-driven advertising experiences that are related to the viewer’s sphere of interest.” For further information on MediaKind, visit www.mediakind.com 27