CLOUDPORT
Cloud Playout
Broadcast-grade channel playout platform for TV & OTT
What is CLOUDPORT
CLOUDPORT is Amagi’s award-winning cloud-based channel playout platform. It offers broadcast-grade quality with the flexibility of true cloud or edge deployment, and can be used to deliver channels over satellite, fiber, or IP. Unlike traditional playout systems, CLOUDPORT leverages automation of processes such as playlist generation, and quality checks for configurable parameters. CLOUDPORT can be also deployed to manage live broadcast and can ingest content from multiple live sources, while the Digital Video Effects (DVE) and advanced graphics make the experience even richer for the user.
CLOUDPORT is the most versatile playout platform available today and can ingest all industry-preferred formats for audio, video, and subtitles. It can generate output in multiple formats such as HLS, RTMP, and HD-SDI, and can also be used for VOD delivery to vMVPD platforms.
Benefits
- Flexibility of cloud with broadcast-grade quality
- 99.99% SLA and 24x7 support
- Automation-driven playout management
- Advanced dynamic graphics
What can you use CLOUDPORT for?
Launch Digital-First Channels
Launch linear OTT channels on leading OTT streaming and vMVPD platforms such as YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Verizon, Sony PlayStation Vue, Roku, Philo, XUMO and Twitch, among others.
Centrally manage multi-country linear TV feeds
Deliver content directly to the operators using true cloud or edge playout. Both options offer remote playout management.
Improve efficiency of large broadcast operations
Manage hundreds of feeds and scale up at will using cloud and automated processes for QC and monitoring.
Features
Available as true cloud as well as edge playout
Launch linear TV and OTT channels with unmatched flexibility, and reduced OPEX. Channels can be launched using existing media management and delivery infrastructure through a fully virtualized playout.
User-friendly, configurable UI dashboard
Intuitive asset management and metadata editing console, with configurable rules for asset management. Detailed analytics on playlist status, and asset status are available in the Web dashboard.
Automation for scheduling, QC, and monitoring
Automated alerts, QC configurations, and scheduling for effective playout management. Configurable automated email alerts for invalid assets, or playlist mismatch.
Multi-layered, dynamic graphics
Support for dynamic graphics template, with rich video effects such as Credit Squeeze, PIP, L-band and more. Up to 10 hardware layers and unlimited software layers of graphics.
Best-in-class live event handling on cloud
Frame-accurate live switching, with the ability to simultaneously ingest from IP and HD-SDI and dynamically going into or exiting from live breaks.
Wide range of formats supported for audio/video
Highly versatile playout and output options with support for MXF, MOV, MPG, PCM, Dolby Digital AC3, AAC, IBMS, ELG, XML, TXT, and CSV. Supports output in RTMP, HLS, UDP, and HD-SDI.
Highly compatible with third-party systems
Can be deployed on AWS or Microsoft Azure, with compatibility for multiple scheduling and media asset management systems such as Omneon, DIVA, and Suitcase TV.
Advanced playout operations and access controls
Supports region-wise live opt-in, skipping of video/graphics. Possible to configure multiple users using role-based permissions.
Want to experience the CLOUDPORT demo?
Technical Specifications
Ingest Features
- Video: MOV, MXF, MPG,MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-TS etc.
- Audio: Up to 16 tracks supported PCM, Dolby E, Dolby Digital AC3, AAC, MP2
- Graphics: TGA, MOV, Adobe After Effects (Dynamic)
- Subtitles/ Closed captions: Upto 16 subtitles (Open/closed) EBU STL, SRT, PAC, DVB, Teletext, .890
Playout Features
- Multisite workflows with the ability to perform HD to SD down / up conversions in output
- Multichannel playout in SDI/IP/ASI output
- Evergreen content played as rescue to avoid blackouts
- Customizable AsRun logs
- Role-based user permissions, audit trails of user activities, and customizable alerts
Live Playout Controls
- Real-time master-control view
- Live on/off
- Live ad breaks
- Play live graphics
- Logo on/off
- Skip/Skip next
- Play now/Play graphics now
- Real-time text such as ticker, social media feeds.
Graphics
- 10 Hardware graphics layers & unlimited software layers
- Dynamic graphics from media database, asset meta data and playlist data
- Adobe After Effects compatibility
- Full-screen graphics
- Social media integration
- Static/Animated logos/bugs
- Countdown timers
- Ticker/Scrolls/Lower thirds overlay
- L-bands
- Picture-in-Picture (PIP) effect
- Video squeeze back
- Voice overlays
Customer Stories
FAQs
How is Amagi different from cloud playout vendors?
Unlike other cloud playout vendors, Amagi’s services and solutions are based on in-house tech stack, automated, error-free, with faster deployment timelines. Amagi provides complete transparency and flexibility, and can launch channels on both TV or OTT platforms with ease.
How is Amagi different from traditional playout service providers?
Amagi’s offering is built on cloud native platforms, which allows TV networks to spin up new channels without high upfront CAPEX, and with lower OPEX.
I have a sports channel? How can Amagi platform support sports?
Amagi can help you launch sports channels with either an end-to-end managed service model, or with CLOUDPORT playout platform. Amagi’s solution covers all aspects of live channel requirement such as:
- Cloud-based media asset management
- Live controls for ad insertion
- Scheduling
- 24x7 Multi-feed playout monitoring
Amagi has helped launch premium sports channels for leading networks such as DSPORT by Discovery Communications, and IMG EdgeSport.
I have to deliver my channel to cable headends? Can you deliver the feed to them?
Yes, Amagi can deliver directly to the headend using IP, satellite, or fiber. Amagi’s CLOUDPORT server can also be installed at the operator headend and still give you complete control of playout
How secure is the cloud? What if you get hacked?
Amagi’s offering is built on some of the most secure cloud instances available, such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Content, playout, and all assets such as graphics are stored with advanced 128-bit encryption. Additionally, Amagi’s user interface is protected by user defined access to avoid any unauthorized access.
What SLAs can you guarantee?
Amagi can guarantee an SLA of 99.99%. In case of an end-to-end playout and delivery service, distribution SLAs may vary based on the choice of satellite or fiber vendor. Amagi also guarantees resolution of critical issues within one hour and provides a 1+1 redundant playout configuration.
How do you provide 24x7 support? How do you ensure 365x24x7 uptime for my channel?
Amagi’s services are offered in ‘follow-the-sun’ model with a full-fledged playout management facility located in Bangalore. Amagi’s user interface enables the playout management teams to provide 24x7 support remotely. The playout management services offer three levels of support to ensure maximum uptime for your channel.
What support is included in your offering?
Amagi offers on-call and email L1, and L2 support, and L3 technical support for all customer deployments, and uses JIRA ticket management system for on-time resolution of all issues.
- L1 Support is the first point of contact for any issues and is responsible for ticketing and monitoring. - L2 support team includes direct phone or email-based ticket resolution for all CLOUDPORT playout platform issues. - L3 support team works on issues that may require bug fixes or enhancement requests.
I don’t want to use public cloud? Can I use my private cloud?
Yes, Amagi’s platform can be configured for private or hybrid cloud deployments.
I want my feed to go to multiple countries with different time zones? Do you support it? How?
Amagi can create a regional or time-adjusted feed using the edge or cloud playout solutions. Both options eliminate the need to launch multiple satellite or fiber feeds.
For Edge playout, content can be sent to the CLOUDPORT edge playout servers using internet. Once the content is stored on edge servers, playout can be managed remotely as per regional schedule using the web user interface.
Cloud playout can be used for purely cloud-based delivery. In this case, the channel playout is completely on cloud, and final output is directly sent to the operator.