Reducing the complexity of linear channel management with Veset Stratus

Authored by Igor Krol, CEO at Veset. The content and opinions in this post are those of the third-party author and AWS is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this post.

Over the past couple of decades, the way that video content is consumed has changed dramatically. The rise of OTT services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, coupled with the tendency for the younger generation to watch live streams on social media platforms, has disrupted video distribution. It is not surprising that this has caused a drop in linear TV viewing, especially amongst the younger generation.

At the same time, however, content providers are increasingly looking for new revenue models and monetisation possibilities. Linear TV offers unrivaled advertising power, especially when coupled with targeted advertising, getting advertisers in front of the right audience. This means that linear TV may be on the cusp of a resurgence thanks to its importance as a revenue generator coupled with the availability of cloud tools. Traditionally when we talk about linear TV, this involves a complex setup of on-premises hardware and software solutions. It also requires a large amount of engineering resources to manage those solutions. Even in those cases where content providers use virtualised playout solutions in virtualised environments, this still involves complex processes and requires engineering teams to manage those.

For linear TV channels to compete in this new world of video consumption, content providers need to be able to deliver those channels quickly and cost-effectively and without the complexity that is normally associated with linear TV. Some modern content providers adopt the approach of stitching segments together into a stream; however, this does not provide an optimal viewing experience for consumers. For those providers looking to create a linear experience that is more akin to a traditional linear channel, there is still a certain amount of complexity involved. This includes scheduling, applying graphics, managing live events. and inserting SCTE35 markets to enable appropriate ad insertion downstream.

Veset, an AWS Advanced Technology Partner, is an all-in-one cloud platform that allows for the easy creation and scheduling of new linear channels in the cloud. Veset has two main offerings:

• Veset Stratus is an easy-to-use web app, which is aimed specifically at the customer starting their journey into linear TV.
• Veset Nimbus is an enterprise cloud playout solution for advanced channel management, predominantly for customers graduating from Veset Stratus or moving from on-premises or virtualised solutions.

Veset Stratus as a stepping stone on the linear TV ladder

Veset launched its Stratus product in the AWS Marketplace to offer Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers an easy way to launch and manage linear TV channels in the cloud. It offers a pay-as-you-go subscription model facilitated by AWS Marketplace and enables anyone with an AWS account to launch a linear TV within minutes and pay on a per-hour basis.

Customers can use Stratus to create high-quality IP streams ready for distribution. This includes the ability to combine live and pre-recorded content, add broadcast graphics and generate an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), as well as being able to add SCTE-35 markers for ad insertion. Stratus also enables creation and management of frame accurate playlists and template schedules to simplify daily planning.

Thanks to interoperability with AWS Media Services, users can quickly and easily produce, process, and deliver linear channels to multiple platforms. AWS Media Services are pay-as-you-go services and appliance products, which offer the video infrastructure needed to deliver great viewing experiences to any screen. Combining Veset Stratus with AWS Media Services allows users to set aside the undifferentiated heavy lifting of acquiring and maintaining video hardware, so they can focus on creating and delivering innovative linear video experiences and delighting viewers.

Stratus works alongside AWS Elemental MediaLive, a broadcast-grade live video processing service that lets users create high-quality video streams for delivery to multiple devices. The service works by encoding live video streams in real-time, taking a larger-sized live video source and compressing it into smaller versions for distribution to your viewers. With AWS Elemental MediaLive, users can easily set up streams for both live events and 24×7 channels with advanced broadcasting features, high availability, and pay-as-you-go pricing.

Using AWS Elemental MediaConnect means that content owners can securely and reliably transport live video to multiple platforms. Stratus output feeds can also be distributed using Amazon CloudFront, a fast content delivery network (CDN) service to securely deliver videos directly to various vMVPD and OTT platforms.

By using Veset Stratus combined with AWS Media Services, content owners can drastically reduce the complexity of creating and delivering linear channels, without sacrificing on quality and while being able to integrate premium features. This will be crucial to keeping linear channels relevant for modern consumers.

Learn more by visiting Veset Stratus in AWS Marketplace.

About Veset

Veset develops and markets a pioneering cloud playout software as a service solutions. Our solutions eliminate the need for upfront investments in hardware, long-term commitments or hidden financing arrangements. It also reduces demands on broadcasters and media service organisations to maintain playout infrastructures in-house by leveraging market-leading cloud computing resources. Contact Veset