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Tag: Synamedia

  • Synamedia saves operators up to 50% of OTT costs with streaming aware machine-learning capabilities

    Synamedia saves operators up to 50% of OTT costs with streaming aware machine-learning capabilities

    MUMBAI: Synamedia, the world’s largest independent video software provider, today announced new automation capabilities for its Virtual Digital Content Manager (DCM) with Smart Rate Control that will save operators up to 50% of bandwidth and storage costs.  Using machine-learning (ML) and Stream Video Quality™, Synamedia’s patented light weight and real-time quality metric technology, the solution automatically scales based on bandwidth requirements to minimize costs while providing consistently high video quality and without impacting the encoding computational complexity. It will debut at The 2019 NAB Showin Synamedia’s booth, #SU10125.

    This new video processing technology automates the time-consuming activity of setting the quality level and cap bitrate by leveraging ML techniques.  It can operate on the individual bitrate profile level, thus does not assume that two channels behave the same nor that the content of a channel is equally complex over the course of time, thereby providing greater flexibility and scale capabilities. 

    Currently, standard Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) solutions leverage output profiles that are set to constant bit rates with varying picture quality. This can often result in more bandwidth usage than is required due to varying quality level targets, such as switching from a high impact football game to a more static interview.  Synamedia’s Virtual DCM with Smart Rate Control and Automation scales as needed according to bandwidth requirements, minimizing distribution and storage costs while ensuring that the expected high-quality viewer experience will not be compromised.

    Operators looking to deploy on a large scale quickly benefit from Synamedia’s automation capabilities because the need for trial and error testing is eliminated. This is particularly important when distributing sports content, which can be inherently complex to encode due to the many movement variations that would traditionally require individual encoding settings. Synamedia’s Virtual DCM with Smart Rate Control and Automation sets target quality levels and bitrate caps per the ABR bitrate profile for each channel in a network. It also automatically makes adjustments when needed, thus eliminating deployment time, increasing bitrate efficiency, and uncovering new routes to cost savings.  It also supports both H.264 and H.265 coding and is future-proofed for future codecs.

    “Today, competition is fierce, and no one is more keenly aware of that than our customers. They need a competitive edge and they look to us to help them discover one.  Our new Virtual DCM with Smart Rate Control and Automation delivers on that challenge head first,” said Julien Signes, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Processing at Synamedia. “Operators tell us that our new automation capabilities are a first in the industry and can open up efficiency and scalability possibilities like never before. This is one of the many ways we help them win and keep viewers.”

  • Synamedia to highlight security, cloud and voice control at CCBN 2019

    Synamedia to highlight security, cloud and voice control at CCBN 2019

    MUMBAI: Synamedia, the largest independent video software provider, will bring its newest video security solutions to CCBN 2019 and show how pay-TV providers can migrate seamlessly to the cloud at their own pace. 

    Through its NDS China business, the company will highlight Credentials Sharing Insight, its new security software that uses AI to combat the rapid rise in streaming account sharing between friends and families, turning it instead into a revenue-generating opportunity for operators. It will also demonstrate its Rapid Watermark and VideoGuard DRM security offerings, which have been recently certified by ChinaDRM Lab.

    The company will also showcase how its secure, advanced end-to-end video delivery solutions support customers wherever they are on their journey to a blended broadcast and OTT multi-screen experience.   It will feature customer demos from its enviable portfolio of over 200 pay-TV and media customers that includes AT&T, Comcast, Disney, Liberty Global, Sky, Verizon and Vodafone.

    On show will be:

    · Credentials Sharing Insight, which uses AI, machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify, monitor and analyze credentials sharing activity across consumer accounts. It allows operators to turn casual sharing into incremental revenue, as well as detect and apply enforcement procedures on fraudulent, for-profit credentials sharing accounts.

    · Infinite is Synamedia’s fully integrated cloud platform that lets pay-TV operators process, secure, distribute and monetize premium video experiences on all devices.  Infinite helps operators attract new customers, reconnect cord cutters, and increase the lifetime value of their subscriber base. 

    · Voice-activated search and recommendations with Infinite – Synamedia will demonstrate third-party voice services integrated with Infinite giving consumers easy-to-use voice-activated search and recommendations.  By integrating voice search, Synamedia enriches the user experience and enables integration with home automation technologies.

    · Security – Watermark and VideoGuard DRM have been certified by ChinaDRM Lab, the official standards testing arm of China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA). China’s service providers can now use these solutions to protect their premium video revenue streams. Synamedia’s Watermark solution gives service providers the real-time data and insight to act swiftly to disrupt the redistribution of premium content without impacting the viewing experience.  VideoGuard DRM, which is complied with Multi-DRM framework, gives OTT providers the ability to combat piracy and securely deliver premium live and VOD content to multiple screens.

    · Video Processing technologies, including the patented low-latency ABR and Smart Rate Control, which optimize IP video processing to match traditional broadcast quality, reliability and cost.

    The market leader in CA content security in China, NDS China has been safeguarding pay-TV operators’ revenues against piracy for over 20 years.

    “At CCBN we will show how we can help our customers in China protect, secure and grow their revenue streams at a time of unprecedented piracy. CCBN gives us the ability to highlight the results of our strong and ongoing R&D investments in security and in helping our customers effect a smooth transition at their own pace to the cloud,” said Sue Couto, SVP and GM of Synamedia, APAC.

    NDS China will be on the ground floor of the Radisson hotel. Meetings are invite-only. To schedule a meeting please contact MarketingAPAC@synamedia.com

  • Synamedia appoints former Envivio CEO, Julien Signes, to lead Video Processing business

    Synamedia appoints former Envivio CEO, Julien Signes, to lead Video Processing business

    LONDON – 9thJanuary 2018 – Synamedia, the largest independent video software and solutions company, has appointed video software compression pioneer and Envivio founder and CEO, Julien Signes, as Senior Vice President and General Manager of its Video Processing business unit.

    Julien will lead Synamedia’s video processing business as the industry transitions to software-based encoding for broadcast, as well as for OTT, using either on-premise or cloud-based solutions running on commodity hardware.

    Synamedia’s products are designed to reduce the cost and complexity of video services while extracting value from investments in existing headends, video data centers and content delivery networks. Offerings include patented low-latency ABR and Smart Rate Control that optimize IP video processing to match traditional broadcast quality, reliability and cost.

    Julien is one of the industry’s foremost experts on video processing. In 2000, he founded video compression specialist, Envivio. As CEO he led the company through private equity financing and a NASDAQ IPO to create the global leader in software-based video encoding. Ericsson acquired the business in 2015. Since 2017, Julien has been advising emerging video technology businesses on strategy, investment, and helping them scale to global markets. He has also provided advice to Atlantic Bridge, a global venture capital firm and one of the early shareholders in Envivio.

    Prior to Envivio, Julien worked at France Telecom (now Orange) leading a team that worked on the development of MPEG-4, resulting in seven key patents for virtual reality and 3D graphics support required for MPEG-4. He also led the development of the first end-to-end software MPEG-4 implementation.

    “As video consumes an increasing volume of the global IP traffic, successfully monetizing the opportunities around 4K and 8K requires a flexible video processing infrastructure that can scale cost effectively. Synamedia meets this demand thanks to its impressive portfolio of video processing solutions with market-leading encoding and transcoding technologies including those originally developed at Cisco, Scientific Atlanta and NDS as well as the cloud expertise developed at Cisco,” said Julien Signes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Synamedia’s Video Processing Business Unit.

    Yves Padrines, CEO of Synamedia, said, “Julien is one of only a handful of people to combine technical prowess in video processing with acute business acumen. At Envivio, Julien spearheaded the evolution of video processing from a hardware focus to the software and cloud-based video businesses emerging today. His deep understanding of cloud architectures for video processing will ensure Synamedia customers have access to the most advanced techniques for fast, efficient delivery of both OTT and live TV to their subscribers.”

  • SKY invests in Synamedia to drive technological advantage

    SKY invests in Synamedia to drive technological advantage

    MUMBAI: Synamedia, the largest independent video software provider, today announced that Sky, Europe’s leading media and entertainment company, has taken a stake in the business, joining majority shareholder the Permira funds.

    Sky’s shareholding reinforces Synamedia’s position as a strategic long-term technology partner to a growing roster of market-leading pay-TV operators and media companies worldwide.

    Both Sky and its parent company Comcast are long-time Synamedia customers as well as strategic development partners.

    Andrew Griffith, Sky’s Group Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’ve long collaborated with the team at Synamedia to help bring great content, products and entertainment to millions of customers across Europe and this investment will help deepen our innovative partnership.” 

    Yves Padrines CEO of Synamedia, added: “At a time of accelerated evolution in the pay-TV industry, this investment is a fantastic endorsement of our product vision, R&D roadmap and service portfolio from Sky, Europe’s leading media and entertainment company.”

    As an independent firm backed by both the Permira funds and Sky, Synamedia’s mission is to help customers maximise the return on their existing infrastructure while laying the foundations for a blended broadcast/OTT multi-screen model that will deliver improved consumer choice and convenience while protecting income and opening up new revenue streams.

    Synamedia has over 200 pay-TV and media customers including: AT&T, Astro, beIN, Bharti Airtel, Charter, China DTH, Comcast, Cox, Disney, Foxtel, Get, Liberty Global, Oi, OSN, Rogers, Sky, Shaw, Tata Sky, Verizon, Viasat and Vodafone.

    The company boasts a workforce of thousands located primarily in the US, UK, Israel, India, Belgium, China and Canada.

  • Synamedia makes CES debut, offering pay-TV providers frictionless cloud migration strategies, new revenue opportunities

    Synamedia makes CES debut, offering pay-TV providers frictionless cloud migration strategies, new revenue opportunities

    LONDON : Synamedia, the largest independent video software provider, will bring its newest solutions to CES® 2019, illustrating how pay-TV providers can migrate to the cloud at their own pace, and seamlessly.  The company also unveiled new security software that combats the rapid rise in account sharing between friends and families, turning it instead into a new revenue-generating opportunity for operators.

    Synamedia is bringing to market effective solutions built to support customers wherever they are on their journey to deliver a blended broadcast and OTT multi-screen experience. Now an independent business, the company is committed to providing the world’s most complete, secure and advanced end-to-end open video delivery solutions.  Synamedia was formerly Cisco’s (NASDAQ: CSCO) Service Provider Video Software Solutions business. Its enviable portfolio of over 200 pay-TV and media customers includes Astro, Bharti Airtel, China DTH, Foxtel, Oi and Tata Sky.

    At the core of the Synamedia offerings is Foundation (formerly known as Evo), the pay-TV industry’s most widely deployed platform across cable, satellite and IPTV. Additionally, Infinite allows blended broadcast-OTT services to be delivered from a cloud-based infrastructure. With a clearly defined migration roadmap, pay-TV customers using the Foundation hybrid broadcast platform can now deploy Infinite to embark on a smooth and measured transition to the cloud.

    At CES 2019, Synamedia will showcase its leading technologies and latest offerings, including:

    •        Credentials Sharing Insight is a new offering within the video security portfolio. It uses AI, machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify, monitor and analyze credentials sharing activity across consumer accounts. It allows operators to turn casual sharing into incremental revenue, as well as detect and apply enforcement procedures on fraudulent, for-profit credentials sharing accounts.

    •        Video Processing features Synamedia’s patented low-latency ABR and Smart Rate Control that optimize IP video processing to match traditional broadcast quality, reliability and cost – currently major challenges for IP video streaming. Synamedia’s ABR solution uses patented technology to optimize the perceived quality of live streams. It includes machine learning techniques to further adapt the encoding quality target to match content characteristics.   

    •        Foundation which manages and monetizes in-home experiences on a broad range of broadcast and hybrid-IP set top boxes (STBs) and media gateways including Android TV. Deployed by 40+ pay-TV operators, it offers a smooth migration path to Infinite and the cloud.  A prime example of the power of Foundation is a first-of-a-kind integration of the Netflix application on the OSN Network. This integration enables:

    o   Consumers to gain convenient access to OTT content via a single application;
    o   The OTT provider obtains access to the pay-TV service provider market and the existing billing/payment relationship between the customer and pay-TV provider;
    o   The pay-TV operator continues to bring value to consumers via a familiar application, and can generate additional revenues when new subscribers sign up for OTT via their platform.

    •    Infinite is a fully integrated cloud service platform for pay-TV operators to process, secure, distribute and monetize premium video experiences on all devices including those available via Foundation.  Infinite enables operators to take advantage of the cloud economy and re-capture subscriber share of wallet by offering products, such as Cloud DVR, that leverage new business models and OTT partnerships. It is designed to help operators attract new customers, reconnect cord cutters, and increase the life-time value of a subscriber base.  At CES, Synamedia will showcase a joint demo with Amazon Web Services (NASDAQ: AMZN), using Alexa technology integrated into Infinite in order to provide consumers with voice activated recommendations and content information.

    “More and more of the consumer’s share of the video wallet expands beyond traditional pay-TV, pointing operators to the enormous OTT opportunity. To protect and grow new revenue streams and boost their brand value, operators need to broaden and deepen existing subscriber engagement, and entice new audiences. To do so, the sometimes difficult first steps for many are to add integrated OTT services and avail offerings across all consumer devices, which can seem overwhelming. Our roadmap takes a step-by-step approach that makes it easy to extend operators’ existing offerings and avoid any disruption to subscribers,” said Yves Padrines, CEO of Synamedia.

    Synamedia will be in Chambertin 1 on the ground floor of the Wynn hotel.

    Synamedia’s voice recommendation technology will also be shown in the Amazon booth, Venetian Ballrooms C-D.  

  • Synamedia launches Credentials Sharing Insight – turns casual password sharing into incremental revenues for service providers

    Synamedia launches Credentials Sharing Insight – turns casual password sharing into incremental revenues for service providers

    MUMBAI: In advance of CES 2019,Synamedia, the largest independent video software provider, today announced Synamedia Credentials Sharing Insight to help streaming service providers combat the rapid rise in account sharing between friends and families and turn it into a new revenue-generating opportunity.

    The solution can also be used to detect and shut down large-scale, for-profit credentials sharing accounts run by fraudsters.

    Until now most OTT providers have turned a blind eye to casual password sharing, seeing it as a way to market their service to new audiences. But the industry now recognizes that younger generations are used to accessing streaming services for free and rarely become paying customers. Media research firm Magid found that today 26% of millennials share passwords for video streaming services, while Parks Associates predicts that in 2021, $9.9 billion of pay-tv revenues and $1.2 billion of OTT revenues will be lost to credentials sharing.

    Using AI, behavioral analytics and machine learning, Synamedia Credentials Sharing Insight identifies, monitors and analyzes credentials sharing activity across streaming accounts. Real-time dashboards highlight unusual sharing activity including alerts and trend analysis.

    By integrating the credentials sharing policy engine with its subscriber database, the operator can apply specific policies – such as an action to upsell – to any account whose sharing score exceeds a predefined threshold. Armed with these insights, marketing teams can tread the fine line between finding account sharers and harassing a customer.

    For example, the solution can determine whether users are viewing at their main home and a holiday home, or whether they have shared credentials with friends or grown-up children who live away from home.  If the latter, then subscribers are offered a premium shared account service that includes a pre-authorized level of password sharing and a higher number of concurrent users.

    The learning system’s analytics take advantage of the collective, anonymized intelligence gained from multiple Synamedia customers, reducing the learning curve for new customers. The design incorporates expertise from Synamedia’s team of security experts, who understand how and where to look for suspicious activity and how to integrate this knowledge and understanding into the behavioral models.

    “Casual credentials sharing is becoming too expensive to ignore. Our new solution gives operators the ability to take action. Many casual users will be happy to pay an additional fee for a premium, shared service with a greater number of concurrent users. It’s a great way to keep honest people honest while benefiting from an incremental revenue stream,” said Jean Marc Racine, CPO and GM EMEA of Synamedia.

    Available as a cloud or on-premise offering, Synamedia Credentials Sharing Insight is already in trials with a number of pay-TV operators. Customers can manage the monetization using Infinite, Synamedia’s blended, cloud-based multi-screen platform, or by deploying Credential Sharing Insights as a stand alone product integrated with their existing Pay-TV Platform.

    Building on Synamedia’s 20-year track record in video security products and services, the solution forms part of Synamedia’s market-leading VideoGuard portfolio. Synamedia VideoGuard secures leading pay-TV operators’ broadcast and streaming content, services and revenues worldwide. It currently protects over 330 million active client devices and over $100 billion in customer revenues.

    Please join Synamedia at CES 2019 to learn more and see demos of Credentials Sharing Insight and other solutions. Synamedia will be at Chambertin1 on the ground floor of the Wynn hotel. Appointments can be booked here.

  • Synamedia expands executive team with appointment of Sue Couto as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific

    Synamedia expands executive team with appointment of Sue Couto as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific

    MUMBAI: Synamedia, the largest independent video software and solutions company, has appointed pay-TV industry virtuoso Sue Couto as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific, effective immediately. This announcement follows the news that Synamedia is open for business after the completion of Permira funds’ acquisition of Cisco’s video business. With offices in India and China, Synamedia’s portfolio of leading pay-TV and media customers in the region includes Astro, Bharti Airtel, China DTH, Foxtel, Oi and Tata Sky.

    Sue joins Synamedia’s executive team to drive growth and expand customer relationships across Asia Pacific. She will have overall responsibility for sales, marketing, partners, and delivery in the region. 

    Sue brings over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in the TV and broadcast industry in Asia Pacific, most recently as Senior Vice President of APAC Sales for TiVo, where she was responsible for overall sales strategy for software solutions. Prior to this, Sue was Senior Vice President, Video Software Solutions, APJC at Cisco, and at NDS before its acquisition by Cisco. She has built and led the teams which have been instrumental in winning key customers and enabling them to grow their businesses. Many of these players are now amongst the largest DTH platforms in the world.

    Yves Padrines, CEO of Synamedia, said, “Sue’s pay-TV industry prowess combined with her deep market knowledge and proven track record of driving transformation and growth in Asia Pacific, means she is well qualified to lead our team and support Synamedia’s business expansion plans in the region.”

    Sue Couto, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific for Synamedia, added, “With the industry’s broadest portfolio of offerings, solutions and expertise, Synamedia is the ideal partner to help operators in Asia Pacific both innovate and capitalize on new opportunities in today’s dynamic media landscape. As an independent company with renewed investment reflecting a new vision, we look forward to working with customers as they transform their businesses.”

  • Synamedia sets out corporate vision, strategy and investment focus

    Synamedia sets out corporate vision, strategy and investment focus

    LONDON: Synamedia, the new company that will be formed from the sale of Cisco’s video processing and video solutions business to private equity firm Permira funds today revealed its vision and investment focus as an independent entity.

    Building on a market leadership position and the executive team’s industry track record, Synamedia is putting innovation at the heart of its strategy. The firm’s investment strategy will help customers: optimize their current infrastructure while adopting broadcast-grade IP distribution to boost consumer choice and convenience; secure revenue streams; and develop new offerings.

    A priority will be research and development into new approaches to combat illegal streaming and protect revenue streams that will transform the way the industry tackles this growing problem. Although viewers are consuming more TV and video content than ever before, piracy can decimate operators’ revenues. Drawing on a 30-year heritage in content protection and relationships with other cybersecurity firms, Synamedia will bring to market products and services that go beyond watermarking to help customers with piracy prevention, rapid detection and response.

    For example, Parks Associates estimates that losses from credentials sharing will cost the pay-TV industry $9.9 billion by 2021. At this year’s IBC, visitors can see a demo of a solution for the prevention of credentials sharing, one element in its upcoming data analytics services portfolio.

    With the goal of helping customers build new revenue streams with ad agencies and brands, Synamedia will also be investing R&D effort on the technology underpinning targeted advertising, including both live and on demand services such as cloud DVRs. While the technology brings new opportunities for customers across all sectors, Synamedia believes this will be particularly attractive to free-to-air TV broadcasters and channels aiming to increase their revenue by offering OTT services including live streaming, catch-up TV and cloud DVR.

    Synamedia’s upcoming boost to Evo middleware investment, combined with support for Android TV and RDK within its Infinite Video Platform, will allow customers to select the option best suited to their strategy.

    As an independent company, Synamedia will forge partnerships with best-of-breed data analytics firms, network equipment providers and application developers supporting Synamedia Infinite Video Platform. It also plans to expand its professional services offerings to meet demand from existing clients looking to enhance their platform with features that meet their local needs. Synamedia believes these initiatives will result in the richest and most flexible hybrid broadcast OTT platform in the market.

    The company believes Cloud DVR and the Infinite Video Platform will help grow its customer base. While Infinite Video Platform is being deployed on DTH, cable and IPTV, Synamedia plans to ensure it supports Android TV and RDK as well as any type of companion device including games consoles and connected TVs. It will focus on new ways of enhancing the user experience as well as improving the quality of experience with multicast ABR streaming and broadcast-equivalent streaming latency.

    While Cloud DVR already supports 10 millions subscribers each week, Synamedia will be expanding its cost-effective cloud DVR solution with support for hybrid and multi-cloud environments and will work on developing a fully-managed service.

    “We are looking forward to helping our DTH and cable customers embrace IP distribution to complement and expand consumer choice and convenience, as well as helping telco customers and new entrants to pay-TV take advantage of our end-to-end platform offering. At this pivotal time in the industry when the market faces a number of challenges, we will work with our customers and partners to reinvent the way people are entertained and informed,” said Yves Padrines, incoming CEO for Synamedia and currently vice president of Global Service Provider for Europe, Middle East, Africa at Cisco.

    “I’m particularly excited about our plans to help customers secure their revenues and enhance the consumer experience by taking advantage of the convenience of OTT technologies. We will be starting with a robust and secure platform and will further develop our security offerings to tackle illegal streaming. In addition, we will leverage our expertise in targeted advertising to enable our clients to create new revenue streams,” said Dr. Abe Peled, Chairman of Synamedia.