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Tag: Mark Johns

  • Malaysia’s Media Prima rides ad revolution with Broadpeak

    Malaysia’s Media Prima rides ad revolution with Broadpeak

    MUMBAI: Malaysia’s media heavyweight Media Prima Berhad has jumped into bed with French tech firm Broadpeak to revolutionise advertising on its streaming platform Tonton. The partnership, announced yesterday, unleashes server-side ad insertion (SSAI) technology to seamlessly inject commercials into live streams without viewers batting an eyelid.

    Tonton, Malaysia’s homegrown streaming darling that carries the nation’s popular TV3 channel, now benefits from smoother transitions between programmes and adverts. The platform is banking on Broadpeak’s cloud-based broadpeak.io service to boost its revenue potential while delivering a slicker viewing experience across multiple devices.

    “We were looking for a trusted partner to help us future-proof our OTT monetisation capabilities,” says Tonton head of product Gregory Eu. “Broadpeak’s dynamic ad insertion service helps us increase revenue potential while giving us the scale and flexibility we need as a nimble organisation.”  

    The broadcaster hopes to extract maximum value from its advertising inventory while giving Malaysian viewers the seamless experience they increasingly demand.

    Supporting Tonton’s elevated subscriber experiences in bringing high-quality live content to multi-device audiences, the service harnesses a suite of Switch Media’s video player, content management, and application solutions — delivered via seamless technology ecosystem integration with Broadpeak. Media Prima also benefits from effortless ad server integration with Springserve, a long-term Broadpeak technology partner.  

    Switch Media played a key role in enhancing Tonton’s OTT service by providing its advanced MediaHQ platform, which powers seamless content management, high-performance video playback, and a superior user experience across multiple devices. With MediaHQ’s flexible modular architecture, Tonton benefits from streamlined video workflows—from ingest and media management to content distribution and analytics—ensuring high-quality delivery of both live and on-demand content. This integration allows Media Prima to efficiently manage and scale its OTT offering while delivering engaging viewing experiences to Malaysian audiences. 

    “We’ve enabled a scalable and efficient content workflow that enhances the viewing experience while seamlessly supporting ad integration,” exclaims  Switch Media chief executive Mark Johns.

    For Media Prima, the technology offers blessed relief from the headache of unpredictable traffic spikes, with Broadpeak’s software-as-a-service solution scaling automatically without requiring additional servers. The broadcaster needn’t break a sweat during peak viewing times, letting it focus on cementing Tonton’s position as Malaysia’s streaming sweetheart.

     Broadpeak president & chief executive Jacques Le Mancq couldn’t resist a bit of back-patting: “It’s fantastic to work with market leaders like Media Prima Berhad with a clear vision for growth. Media Prima Berhad is powering a new OTT trajectory and cementing Tonton’s position as a national-favourite streaming service with future-ready monetization and agile SaaS technologies. We’re also delighted to see our technology partnership with Switch Media enabling seamless market deployment and fast results for our joint customer base across the region.” 

    As streaming wars heat up across South-east Asia, Media Prima’s tech-savvy move might just give it the ammunition to fight off international rivals with deeper pockets.

  • Planetcast takes media to the cloud with cutting-edge AI at NAB 2025

    Planetcast takes media to the cloud with cutting-edge AI at NAB 2025

    MUMBAI: Planetcast Media Services is set to make waves at NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas, unveiling a suite of AI-driven, cloud-first innovations designed to streamline content workflows and supercharge media monetisation. As the industry grapples with rising complexities, the company’s unified Nexc platform promises a seamless, cost-effective solution for broadcasters, streamers, and content owners.

    “NAB Show is where the media industry’s future takes shape, and at Planetcast, we’re delivering the agility, intelligence, and cost-efficiency that broadcasters, streamers, content owners, and rightsholders need to thrive,” says Planetcast Media Services CEO Sanjay Duda. “From cloud-native playout and IP-based distribution to AI-powered content prep and metadata automation, our integrated solutions suite ensures seamless content management, delivery, and monetization across every platform and screen.”

    At the core of Planetcast’s NAB 2025 showcase is NexC, an end-to-end, cloud-first media content supply chain orchestration platform designed to streamline workflows and maximise efficiency. NexC seamlessly integrates content supply chain management, from ingestion to archival, ensuring smooth processing. Its hybrid cloud playout offers flexible, scalable, and ultra-responsive solutions for live and linear content, while its robust IP-based distribution enables software-defined delivery for both live and on-demand media.

    The platform also enhances post-production and compliance services with AI-powered content quality control, metadata enrichment, subtitling, and localisation. Additionally, Nexc unlocks new revenue streams for content owners through white-label OTT and FAST channel solutions, solidifying its role as a game-changer in modern media management.  

    At the heart of Planetcast’s showcase is Nexc, a next-gen media content orchestration platform that integrates cloud-based playout, IP-driven distribution, AI-powered content QC, and white-label OTT solutions.

    Planetcast is set to unveil major enhancements to its NexC solutions suite at NAB Show 2025, introducing cutting-edge innovations in sports playout, AI-driven content processing, and postproduction. Cloudx-Turbo, an ultra-responsive sports playout solution, delivers real-time content automation, AI-generated highlights for multi-platform distribution, and dynamic ad insertion for maximised monetisation. The company’s AI-powered content supply chain automation now features advanced metadata extraction, automated segmentation, and compliance enhancements to streamline content prep while ensuring cultural and regulatory adherence.

    Additionally, PlanetPost, Planetcast’s first collaboration with Postudio, brings AI-optimised postproduction capabilities, including customisable workflows, high-precision colour grading, Dolby Atmos audio, and a cloud-native platform for seamless collaboration. These advancements reinforce Planetcast’s commitment to transforming media workflows with efficiency, intelligence, and scalability.  

    With fully managed services integrated into its offering, Planetcast ensures clients not only have cutting-edge tech but also the operational support to maximise efficiency.

    “The reality is that, while media companies love great technology, they increasingly need tech tightly integrated with managed services to stay competitive,” said Planetcast Media Services EVP Mark Johns. “Our customers are choosing Planetcast over Software-as-a-Service-only providers because we don’t just sell, we operate it. The success of our service model in Asia and beyond demonstrates clearly that managed services can drive significant cost efficiencies.”

    As the industry looks to future-proof its content supply chains, Planetcast invites media professionals to Booth #W3657 at NAB 2025 for an exclusive look at how Nexc can redefine their distribution and monetisation strategies.

  • Planetcast expands online content streaming services with acquisition of Switch Media OTT, Australia

    Planetcast expands online content streaming services with acquisition of Switch Media OTT, Australia

    Mumbai: Planetcast Media Services, a leading media technology services provider in India and Southeast Asia, today announces the acquisition of one of its key partners, Switch Media, a white-label OTT platform provider deployed across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US. The transaction, which has been finalised, will transfer full control of all Switch Media’s assets to Planetcast.

    Founded in 2006, the Australian-headquartered Switch Media has innovated and delivered complex, multi-award-winning online streaming solutions, from ingest to delivery, for major brands and live events worldwide, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 for customers such as Foxtel Australia and Media Prima Malaysia. Switch Media is already a strategic partner of Planetcast and has been providing cutting-edge OTT solutions to the company. The acquisition enables Planetcast to fully integrate Switch Media’s online video solutions with Planetcast’s unified platform, NexC and ensure that Switch Media’s OTT product roadmap is perfectly aligned with Planetcast’s customer requirements.

    “Switch Media is the perfect acquisition for Planetcast’s NexC platform, providing us with proven world-class OTT capabilities that are a vital cornerstone of our media services and solutions portfolio and one that will help us build out our international expansion strategy,” said Planetcast’s CEO, Sanjay Duda. “Battle-tested across varied customer segments such as Pay TV Operators, broadcasters and Telcos, Switch Media’s OTT platform has successfully hosted some of the most sensitive global sports and entertainment properties. We welcome the Switch Media team to the Planetcast family. We are looking forward to more tightly integrating its feature-rich OTT solutions with NexC, our cloud-first unified-service platform, to ensure that our customers can streamline content operations and drive monetisation.”

    Commenting on its plans for Planetcast, Apollo Global head of India Private Equity Utsav Baijal said: “Because Planetcast adds significant value to its Indian and Asian customers, we are actively looking for such synergistic cross-border, global transactions such as Switch Media as the most effective way to build their international footprint and capability set.”

    Developed over almost two decades, Switch Media’s modular and flexible solutions meet the media and entertainment industry’s changing requirements, through a versatile workflow engine that enables customers to ingest, manage, deliver, monetise, and analyse online video. The result is exceptional online content for viewers and a flexible suite of capabilities enabling customers to drive OTT monetisation.

    Switch Media’s CEO Mark Johns said of the acquisition: “Our journey with Planetcast promises to open up new markets and broaden our

    customer base. The integration with Planetcast’s NexC platform will unlock tremendous value for Switch Media’s customers seeking to better leverage their content. Additionally, Planetcast’s large support infrastructure will further enhance agility and availability of support to Switch customers.” 

  • Planetcast expands online content streaming services acquiring Switch Media OTT, Australia

    Planetcast expands online content streaming services acquiring Switch Media OTT, Australia

    Mumbai: Planetcast Media Services, a media technology services provider in India and Southeast Asia, has announced the acquisition of one of its key partners, Switch Media, a white-label OTT platform provider deployed across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the US. The transaction, which has been finalised, will transfer full control of all Switch Media’s assets to Planetcast.

    Founded in 2006, the Australian headquartered Switch Media has innovated and delivered complex, multi-award-winning online streaming solutions, from ingest to delivery, for major brands and live events worldwide, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 for customers such as Foxtel Australia and Media Prima Malaysia. Switch Media is already a strategic partner of Planetcast and has been providing cutting-edge OTT solutions to the company. The acquisition enables Planetcast to fully integrate Switch Media’s online video solutions with Planetcast’s unified platform, NexC and ensure that Switch Media’s OTT product roadmap is perfectly aligned with Planetcast’s customer requirements.

    “Switch Media is the perfect acquisition for Planetcast’s NexC platform, providing us with proven world-class OTT capabilities that are a vital cornerstone of our media services and solutions portfolio and one that will help us build out our international expansion strategy,” said Planetcast’s CEO Sanjay Duda. “Battle-tested across varied customer segments such as Pay TV Operators, broadcasters and Telcos, Switch Media’s OTT platform has successfully hosted some of the most sensitive global sports and entertainment properties. We welcome the Switch Media team to the Planetcast family. We are looking forward to more tightly integrating its feature-rich OTT solutions with NexC, our cloud-first unified-service platform, to ensure that our customers can streamline content operations and drive monetisation.”

    Commenting on its plans for Planetcast, Apollo Global head of India private equity Utsav Baijal said: “Because Planetcast adds significant value to its Indian and Asian customers, we are actively looking for such synergistic cross-border, global transactions such as Switch Media as the most effective way to build their international footprint and capability set.”

    Developed over almost two decades, Switch Media’s modular and flexible solutions meet the media and entertainment industry’s changing requirements, through a versatile workflow engine that enables customers to ingest, manage, deliver, monetise, and analyse online video. The result is exceptional online content for viewers and a flexible suite of capabilities enabling customers to drive OTT monetisation.

    Switch Media’s CEO, Mark Johns said of the acquisition: “Our journey with Planetcast promises to open up new markets and broaden our customer-base. The integration with Planetcast’s NexC platform will unlock tremendous value for Switch Media’s customers seeking to better leverage their content. Additionally, Planetcast’s large support infrastructure will further enhance agility and availability of support to Switch customers.”