June 16, 2025

Short Cuts

What Is SGAI and What Are the Benefits for Live and VOD?

Server-guided ad insertion (SGAI) has been called the "best of both worlds" in a streaming adtech world long split between client-side ad insertion (CSAI) and server-side ad insertion (SSAI), and of course it's more than squeezebacks and other frame-sharing ad formats with which it's commonly associated. But what is it exactly? And what does it offer for live and VOD streaming? Google's Sourya Roy, Paramount's Jarred Wilichinsky, Muxed's David Hassoun, and Reality Software's Nadine Krefetz discuss the answer to these questions in this clip from May's Streaming Media Connect.

How Does SGAI Differ From SSAI and CSAI for Live Streaming Monetization?

As the buzz around server-guided ad insertion (SGAI) grows in the adtech and streaming worlds, what sets it apart from the more familiar server-side ad insertion (SSAI) and client-side ad insertion (CSAI), and what specifically can it do that SSAI and CSAI can't, particularly for live sports streams without period ad breaks? IAB Tech Lab's Katie Stroud, Paramount's  Jarred Wilichinsky, RealEyes Media's David Hassoun, and Google's Sourya Roy debate the differences and the potential of SGAI to enhance ad experiences in this clip from a panel at May's Streaming Media Connect.

What Is Driving the Surge in WNBA Viewership and Fan Engagement?

2023 was the breakthrough year for women's basketball, with the explosion of viewer interest in the national championship game featuring Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and that growth has carried over to the WNBA since the two stars went pro, according NBA Global Media Insights Team Leader Michelle Auguste. But a number of other factors are driving the exponential surge in fan engagement throughout the WNBA and in other women's sports, say Auguste, Team Whistle President Joe Caporoso, and Hub Entertainment Research Joe Giegengack in this clip from Streaming Media Connect 2025.

Blog

Monetization Agility and Tech Readiness Define Streaming Success

In the highly competitive world of streaming, there is no single recipe for success. As platforms proliferate and audiences grow more fragmented, it has become increasingly clear that sustainable monetization demands more than one revenue stream. Today's media companies must adopt a flexible, multi-pronged approach to monetization to remain competitive, profitable, and future-ready.

Accelerating FAST Revenue With Live News and Sports

The FAST space is experiencing explosive growth. Platforms no longer want channels that simply fill space. They demand content that drives engagement, ad revenue, and repeat viewership. The bar is much higher: content must be immediate, authentic, and often exclusive. That's why the next phase of FAST will be defined by real-time, high-value live news and sports content as platforms compete to capture and keep audiences.

Industry News

Rotana Media Services Harnesses Broadpeak’s Dynamic Ad Insertio

Partnership unlocks new ad revenues and elevates viewing experiences across MENA market

AJA Debuts DRM2-Plus Mini-Converter Frame at InfoComm 2025

Next-gen frame addresses diverse rackmount needs with flexible cooling and single/dual power supply models; streamlines Mini-Converter access

SMPTE Introduces Initial Catena Documents Launching Official Standardization of the Control Plane

An Open-Source, Vendor- and Platform-Agnostic Solution, Catena Delivers Single Secure Protocol for Control of Media Devices and Services

Teledifusão de Macau Transforms Broadcast Workflows with State-of-the-Art Playout Solution from Harmonic

Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that Teledifusão de Macau (TDM), a leading broadcaster in Macau, has modernized its media production and playout infrastructure with a cutting-edge solution from Harmonic. Harmonic’s Spectrum™ X Advanced Media Serve