Alpha Networks
Alpha Networks powers live streaming
with Bitmovin and Akamai
Alpha Networks is a leading provider of software solutions for global video distribution with around 100 media, telecom, sports, and content production customers worldwide, including beIN Media Group, Bouygues Telecom, TeleCentro, and more. Alpha Networks chose Bitmovin Live Encoding on Akamai Connected Cloud to power live streaming for Alpha Networks’ platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) products, Gecko and Bee, and its modular video software, Tucano.
Gecko is an advanced white-label video streaming platform that handles everything from content management to delivery to front-end apps. Bee is a SaaS video platform that allows customers to produce, manage, and monetize video content while reaching a global audience on any device. Tucano helps customers deliver and monetize video and audio content across different platforms and technologies.
The main requests
- Securely stream content in resolution up to 4K across more than 50 device types
- Deliver reliable streaming across networks with highly variable bandwidth
- Build a free, ad-supported service with digital ad insertion
Challenges
As broadcasters, media companies, telecom operators, and content creators increasingly seek to differentiate by adding live streaming for a multitude of use cases, Alpha Networks needed a best-in-breed live streaming solution that would help them optimize streaming costs without sacrificing video quality. Additionally, Alpha Networks needed the ability to securely deliver content at up to 4K while ensuring a consistent viewer playback experience across more than 50 device types while also offering customers the ability to generate new, incremental revenue from their live streaming content through server-side ad insertion (SSAI).
“Since the beginning, Alpha Networks has been successful in the video distribution market by bringing the right products that address real market needs. Customers have been under increasing pressure to reduce operating costs, retain and grow subscribers, and generate revenue from new sources. We chose Bitmovin’s live encoding SaaS on Akamai Connected Cloud because we knew that we could substantially reduce our cost and that we could pass those savings on to our customers while maintaining or even increasing video quality.”
— Guillaume Devezeaux, Chief Executive Officer at Alpha Networks
What the “Better Together” solution delivered
- Multi-vendor solutions run natively in the cloud for Premium ecosystem
- Robust APIs and low-code / no-code customization
- Consistent, reliable, and familiar user experience across device types
“Better Together” Benefits
- Launched in weeks rather than months
- Resilient end-to-end cloud workflow
- Pay-as-you-go pricing optimizes OPEX by scaling with subscriber growth
- A consistent user experience for subscribers
- High-quality video playback across the widest range of viewing devices
The “Better Together” Solution
Bitmovin Live Encoding SaaS on Akamai Connected Cloud significantly reduces streaming total cost of ownership (TCO) by lowering egress / data transfer out (DTO) costs by optimizing adaptive bit rate (ABR) outputs without sacrificing perceptual video quality. Bitmovin Live Encoding’s API and Bitmovin Player SDKs save valuable staff and resource time so you can focus them on what you do best — creating exceptional content and delivering the most engaging viewing experiences. Data from Bitmovin Playback provides additional insight to optimize your ABR encoding ladder to eliminate unnecessary and under-utilized profiles that further reduce your egress and CDN costs.
Akamai Connected Cloud is a massively distributed edge and cloud platform that allows developers to build, run, and secure applications across a continuum of computing power. Bitmovin Live Encoding on Akamai Connected Cloud reduces latency and elevates media streaming experiences by bringing video processing closer to customers. Bitmovin Live Encoding also helps customers significantly reduce total streaming cost without sacrificing video quality.
Benefits
Alpha Networks was able to significantly lower operating costs without sacrificing image quality. Using Bitmovin’s live encoder reduced its live transcoding costs by 55%.
Learn how Bitmovin Live Encoding on Akamai Connected Cloud can help you reduce your total streaming cost without sacrificing video quality.