The way we consume video content has changed rather drastically over the last two decades. With the emergence of broadband connections, faster Internet, and cloud-based servers, content consumption evolved quite quickly. Streaming platforms took over, while movie studios also had an opportunity to approach content storing, managing and delivery from a completely fresh standpoint: The Cloud. More importantly, with Dan Goman and his cloud-based platform, the entire process has now become even more efficient.

Cloud enablement reshaped basically each and every industry, and naturally the media supply chain followed suit. CIOs of OTT services and movie studios suddenly needed a new, more scalable and time-efficient way to store – manage – process – deliver – monetize their content to various end points across the globe.

This is especially true for both big streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, HBO GO), but also for other less known OTT platforms (our favorites include: Mondo, Shudder, Nerdist, 420TV). This type of content delivery requires high levels of flexibility, scalability and accessibility, which is something traditional physical server cannot provide. Or they can, but the upfront costs are simply too overwhelming.  

Dan Goman, OWNZONES and IMF as a Solution  

Dan Goman, cloud-based solution, OTT, movie studios

Dan Goman created Ownzones as a cloud-native platform that helps OTT companies and movie studios store, manage, process, deliver and – ultimately – monetize their content much more quickly and time-efficiently, with significantly reduced both CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operational expenditure) costs, and thus eliminate all the insurmountable pitfalls of on-prem servers.

Some of the most pertinent issues OTT companies and studios face through operating on physical servers include:

  • Incremental manual software updates
  • Hardware updates are due every 3 – 5 years, which is often overwhelmingly expensive
  • Security is a big and crucial element which requires manual setup and maintenance, most typically by the in-house staff
  • In order to handle peak workloads and provide a glimpse of streamlined workflows, they need frequent maintenance and optimization (also a time-consuming manual task)   
  • They are not cost-efficient since on-prem servers are not dynamically scalable and optimized (you need to pay huge money upfront in order for your infrastructure to handle peak workloads, while during regular and low workloads these servers are sitting idle)
  • Quality Control is typically quite a slow and error-packed process with physical servers

This is where this cloud-based platform and IMF come into play.

Dan Goman and his team came up with an elegant model through which they managed to create a successful symbiosis between their media management solutions and the utilization of IMF (Interoperable Master Format) – the format that completely reshaped the media supply chain industry landscape (or should we say cloudscape).

This made way for their two class-leading platforms to be developed: Connect and Discovery, which enable the following advantages:  

What Is IMF and Why Is It So Ground-Breaking?

The technology behind the Interoperable Master Format enables you to process and manage all the files belonging to a certain title as 1 master file. This master file features separate components for audio, video, subtitles, metadata, etc; that you can change and alter the way you want and thus create numerous versions of one master package for various geographic markets and endpoints. IMF also makes sure file losing related disasters are obviated.

Let’s take a look at this on-prem VS Ownzones case study for the project of 30 titles:

  • On-Prem: 30 files (each 1Tb) = 30Tb of storage space and slow processing
  • OWNZONES: 30 files (each 1Tb) = 1 master media IMF package taking 1.5Tb of space and unparalleled processing and delivery speed (up to 75% faster processing)

Benefits of Adopting IMF and Deploying Cloud-Native Media Management

Dan Goman, cloud-native media management, entertainment industry

Cost-Efficiency, Scalability, Flexibility

Utilizing IMF through cloud-based media management platform , streaming companies and studios achieve the highest possible levels of scalability, accessibility and flexibility in terms of processing and delivery, while the capex and opex costs can be reduced to up to 90%.

The Importance of Being Futureproof

Being able to keep up with and leverage current entertainment industry trends is vital if you want  to stay ahead of the curve, but being able to adopt any new technological innovation and emerging file formats is what makes all the difference. This is why the company’s cloud-nativeness and their futureproof quality are currently reshaping the media supply chain architecture.

Dynamic Infrastructure

This type of dynamic environment created by Dan Goman and his creative team allows for faster workflows, removes the annoying hassle that involves dealing with periodic updates, upgrades and incremental changes (like fixes, compliance edits and other maintenance tasks), while it also speeds up delivery across multiple endpoints and therefore reduces TTM and boosts overall ROI.

Complete Control Over Media Libraries

Just like with on-prem servers, Dan Goman and his company and IMF technology allow you to have utter control over your files and manage them the way you see fit. Whether you want to manage your master file, or create new versions of that title – you can do that without having to deal with multiple vendors.

All these benefits helped Dan Goman to lock deals with some of the greatest brands from the media supply chain industry and cloud-based technologies – Netflix, Dolby, AWS, Microsoft, GrayMeta, Fotokem, and Virtual Post; while some of their biggest clients – like Magnolia Selects, MGM and 420TV – reported up to 40% cost savings after deploying this cloud-based solution.

Posted by Elaine Bennett

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