Accelerated ingest is among several enhancements to Akamai's Media Services Live delivery solutions that are designed toreduce latency, addressing a common concern raised by consumers watching live-streamed events. NAB Show attendees will be able to see firsthand how Akamai is minimizing the time between content capture and playback via in-booth demonstrations showing live OTT workflows from acquisition to end-user viewing devices.
Akamai is also showing predictive delivery capabilities that aim to improve viewing experiences through instant start-up of high-quality/high-bitrate video with no buffering. Available as a white-labeled application or as part of a suite of modular, client-side SDKs, the technology allows on-demand content to be pre-positioned and stored on mobile and in-home devices, overcoming the inherent challenges of delivering video over the radio access network and Internet. New content can be propagated based upon end-user preferences and scheduled for delivery within parameters such as Wi-Fi only or during known off-peak hours.
In addition, visitors to Akamai's NAB Show exhibit will be able to physically "walk through" 4K OTT workflows and see how the company's technology and services can help broadcasters deliver exceptional online video experiences. Demonstrations will focus on four key elements:
Acquisition and Ingest: Rapid ingest of raw, high-quality source signal and initial encoding that mitigates challenges often associated with the "first mile," including deeper visibility into network connectivity starting at the acquisition point.
Cloud-Based Processing and Delivery: Content transcoding and packaging for adaptive bit rate streaming in HLS and DASH formats, digital rights management, dynamic ad insertion and global delivery with minimal latency.
Monitoring and Reporting: Real-time, component-level monitoring across the full video operations workflow from encoder to playback with proactive issue mitigation and 24x7 support. The capabilities are complemented by Akamai's insight into global network conditions through its Network Operations Command Center and potentially malicious traffic through its Security Operations Command Center, providing a unique, integrated view of video, Internet and security metrics worldwide.
Playback: Live customer implementations will showcase the application of OTT best practices and Akamai Media Delivery Solutions to provide a range of online video experiences. Real-world demonstrations will include live and on-demand streaming across an array of devices and platforms, including client-accelerated delivery, 4K at 60 fps and virtual reality.
Akamai subject matter experts are also participating in several speaking engagements during the NAB Show, covering topics ranging from OTT and TV Everywhere to cloud technology and cyber security.
Will Law, Chief Architect, Media: Leadership for Key Players in the Industry, Cloud Innovation Conference. Tuesday, April 19th, 9:40 a.m. Room S219.
John Bishop, CTO, Media: TV Everywhere: Meeting the Multiscreen Challenge, Online Video Conference. Tuesday, April 19th, 3:45 p.m. Room N249.
Dave Lewis, Global Security Advocate: DDoS: Barbarians at the Gate(way), Broadcast Engineering Conference – Cyber Security for Broadcast Operations. Wednesday, April 20th, 4:00 p.m. Room S228.
For more information about Akamai's activities at NAB or to arrange a meeting, please visit akamai.com/nab2016.
About Akamai
As the global leader in Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, Akamai makes the Internet fast, reliable and secure for its customers. The company's advanced web performance, mobile performance, cloud security and media delivery solutions are revolutionizing how businesses optimize consumer, enterprise and entertainment experiences for any device, anywhere. To learn how Akamai solutions and its team of Internet experts are helping businesses move faster forward, please visit www.akamai.comor blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter.