MediaKind is launching a pre-integrated low latency solution for broadcasters and operators delivering live content to consumers using ABR technology for OTT or streaming services. The solution leverages ‘direct path’ technology between encoder and packager to reduce the time to move content from one media processing function to the next. When combined with other MediaKind products, this optimized AV solution can dramatically enhance ABR content delivery, including high-quality encoding using a constant video quality (CVQ).
Today, streaming video from a live event such as sport has an element of delay when watching on a mobile or second screen device. The delay is due to content being captured, encoded, packaged, stored and then moved over to content delivery networks (CDN) for delivery to end consumers. To reduce latency and enable consumers to see the action as close to real-time as possible, MediaKind has developed a solution that addresses the layers of delay that cause high glass-to-glass latency in OTT streaming and ABR content from 45-60 seconds to 3-7 seconds. The solution combines components from its Aquila solutions portfolio, including linear encoding, packaging, and video storage & processing, to provide advanced technology for consumer delivery of next-generation TV services.
Richard Mansfield, director of advertising and media delivery platforms, MediaKind, said: “Reducing latency for live unicast content across distribution and devices is a key topic for today’s media industry, especially with the schedule of live international sports next summer. Therefore, it’s imperative TV operators, content owners and service providers using ABR delivery are armed with the latest technology that will reduce latency for delivering live OTT and streaming services. MediaKind can provide a glass to glass solution for reducing latency that is pre-integrated and tested, taking the burden away from dealing with multiple vendors and overcoming interoperability of individual components.”
The solution supports the CMAF standard, which aims to bring a single standard to segmented media for delivery and decoding to an end user device. It complements CTE for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH) as a packaged output format. This greatly reduces the minimum data size of a delivered segment down to an individual chunk, instead of multiple seconds of video, and is optimized to integrate with media players to minimize latency whilst enabling reliable delivery.
It brings together the enriched capabilities of MediaKind’s award winning technologies: Encoding Live, Video Storage & Processing Platform (VSPP) and MediaKind Packaging. When combined with other MediaKind offerings, it can provide ABR content delivery, and ensure high-quality encoding delivering a constant video quality.