VisMedia
BT Group is working with major broadcasters and platforms to support the delivery of live events coverage over IP.
Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery (MAUD) technology has been developed by the Content Delivery Research team at BT’s Research Labs, based at Adastral Park in Suffolk
It is aimed at improving viewer experiences and increasing the efficiency of the complex journey that content takes to reach them. Major broadcasters, including the BBC, will be involved in evaluating and potentially trialling the technology to support a range of live content.
Unlike traditional ‘unicast’ delivery, where each viewer watches the action via a dedicated, personal internet stream, MAUD uses ‘multicast’ to group single streams into a single shared stream, directing it to those that want to watch the action. MAUD has a further significant advantage over ‘ordinary’ multicast streams, as its integration is made completely transparent to the player application. This means content service providers don’t need to modify their customer apps to take advantage of this technology – saving time and money.
Removing the need to select and serve millions of individual streams to viewers substantially increases the efficiency of content delivery, but also reduces environmental impact and overall costs for broadcasters, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and internet providers.
“MAUD is a major breakthrough in how we deliver content over the internet. Developed in our world leading labs at Adastral Park in Suffolk, MAUD could be a key solution to how we manage ever increasing traffic loads. By combining individual streams, MAUD delivers a more reliable, consistent picture, no matter whether customers are watching over Wi-Fi, fibre or mobile networks,” explained Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer, BT Group.
MAUD technology uses up to 50% less bandwidth during peak events, reducing energy usage through the use of fewer caches. By freeing up internet capacity, it also helps deliver a higher quality of experience for both live and non-live content.
Commenting on the initiative Paolo Pescatore, Founder at PP Foresight, said audiences still valued live content. “Whether it’s the Euros or Eurovision, gaming over Twitch or gigs from Glastonbury, data shows that audiences still value the live experience even in the on-demand era. With live sports and events driving peak network demand to new heights, it’s great to see innovation ensuring that high-quality, premium live content can reach the widest possible audiences across multiple types of device, and to be possible in an increasingly environmentally sustainable manner.”
Research commissioned by BT found 90% of British audiences still valued live content on TV, primarily news and sport, with more than half watching at least once a day.
Those watching also prioritise their viewing experience; despite new service innovations, more than 9 in 10 viewers believe picture quality and reliability are paramount, outstripping interactive features, commentary and stream syncing by nearly 3.5 to 1. Picture quality is also prioritised over latency, even when it comes to sport, when the action is potentially delayed.
