Bringing high-quality video content to billions of screens around the world is a complex series of processes that requires close cooperation between content publishers, content delivery networks (CDNs) and Internet service providers (ISPs). ).
To simplify and increase the efficiency of streaming video delivery, Disney Streaming and Lumen Technologies are leading an effort to produce standardized CDN configuration metadata and application programming interfaces (APIs) for the online video industry. streaming.
This multi-year effort is made possible by the leadership of both companies and their participation in the Streaming Video Alliance (SVA), a consortium of more than 100 video industry companies working together to improve the streaming experience for consumers.
The standardized metadata will allow content providers to use a common metadata model and a single API to publish CDN configurations to providers.
Without this standardization, organizations must separately model and publish metadata in each CDN provider’s API or proprietary management portal.
For large organizations with multiple brands, proprietary APIs are inefficient, error-prone, and expensive — issues that negatively affect customer experience.
With input and leadership from Disney Streaming and Lumen, SVA recently released the first version of the Configuration Interface Specification – the technical specification document that will serve as the streaming industry’s guide to standardization. The second version is in progress and the work should be completed by the end of the year.
“We believe that all streaming providers will benefit from standardization between commercial CDN providers and the Open Cache industry, which is why we have led the charge, working alongside companies like Lumen, to evangelize this work. important,” says Michael Fay, Vice President, Software Engineering, Disney Streaming. “Hundreds of millions of subscribers are already engaging with Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and Star+, and as demand grows for our direct-to-consumer platforms, we believe standardization will be a key driver for maintain our reputation by providing a high-quality viewing experience for large-scale subscribers.
“Lumen operates one of the largest CDNs in the world through the Lumen Edge platform, which delivers unmatched performance and speed for latency-sensitive and data-intensive applications and content,” says Pierre-louis Theron, Vice President of Lumen Product Management for Content Delivery Services. “Developing standards that reduce complexity for our media customers is key to our joint success, today and tomorrow. We will continue to contribute important work and knowledge to the standardization effort, building on the deep expertise we have gained over years of experience building and operating our own CDN.
“Commercial CDNs and open caching systems have many common requirements when it comes to defining and publishing configuration metadata,” says Glenn Goldstein, Lumen CDN Product Strategist and SVA Configuration Interface Specification Editor. “We knew we could help the industry capitalize on these commonalities while helping each company achieve its own interests. We started by agreeing on a set of engines that benefited all industry participants. These included standardizing feature definitions, providing DevOps-enabled automation, and enabling technology vendors to differentiate themselves.
Disney Streaming is part of Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution (DMED), which brings the company’s unparalleled storytelling to audiences around the world across theatrical, streaming and linear platforms. DMED is responsible for monetizing content from the Company’s content engines — Studios, General Entertainment and Sports. This includes P&L management and operations of the company’s portfolio of streaming services, including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and Star+; its linear television channels, stations owned by ABC; theatrical film distribution; content licensing and distribution; and global advertising sales.
