Akamai Puts Media Companies Back in Control with New Workflow Capabilities

Rhea-AI Summary

Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) has introduced new video workflow capabilities at IBC, giving media companies greater control across the video delivery chain. The new features combine Akamai's cloud and delivery platforms with its growing partner network, offering unprecedented flexibility to tailor media experiences.

Key points:

• Customers can bring their preferred workflow components and run them as needed
• Support for multicloud architectures eliminates vendor lock-in
• Akamai's distributed cloud platform minimizes egress fees
• Media companies can choose from multiple software and partner options for content management
• Akamai added media-optimized, NVIDIA-based GPUs to its cloud solutions

These developments address industry concerns about control, competition, and costs associated with centralized cloud models, as highlighted in recent studies by Forrester Consulting and a survey of media and entertainment businesses.

Positive

• Introduction of new video workflow capabilities offering greater control and flexibility
• Support for multicloud architectures, eliminating vendor lock-in
• Minimized egress fees and generous allowances due to Akamai's distributed cloud platform
• Addition of media-optimized, NVIDIA-based GPUs to cloud solutions
• Trusted by all top 10 video streaming services

Negative

• None.

The distributed cloud provider tackles pent-up frustration over control, competition, and cost challenges of today's centralized cloud models

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today introduced new video workflow capabilities at IBC that give media companies greater choice and control across every part of the video delivery chain. The new capabilities aggregate Akamai's cloud and delivery platforms with the company's growing partner network to give customers unprecedented flexibility to tailor media experiences to meet customer demands.

"Streaming services, broadcast networks, and online video platforms are all asking for more control over their workflows. They don't want to be locked into one vendor. They don't want to be taxed for moving content. And they don't want to help subsidize competitive services. We're giving them an open platform to bring their workflow components of choice and run them when and where they see fit," Jon Alexander, vice president, product management, Akamai.

In a 2024 commissioned study of individual contributors and leaders responsible for building/maintaining end user applications conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Akamai, three-quarters of respondents said it was important or critical to have flexibility to deploy compute resources closer to the end user, while maintaining central management and control. Meanwhile, a 2023 survey of media and entertainment businesses found that 73% of the responding organizations were considering moving away from large, legacy cloud providers in favor of more portable, cloud-native setups due to cost pressures.

By opening its distributed cloud platform to applications and platforms across the media workflow ecosystem, Akamai gives customers control over every aspect of their workflow and access to a vibrant and growing third-party partner network. Support for multicloud architectures that eliminates vendor lock-in so customers can leverage the best products and services for their needs and evolve their use of cloud services as they grow. The scale of Akamai's massively distributed and connected cloud gives it the unique ability to minimize egress fees and offer generous allowances, providing unmatched price-performance from core to edge.

Media companies can choose from multiple software and partner options across each step of their workflow to transport, prepare, process, deliver, secure, and monetize digital content. Akamai media services, trusted by all top 10 video streaming services, include solutions for contribution, transport, transcoding, packaging, digital rights management, ad insertion, and content security.

Earlier this year, Akamai added media-optimized, NVIDIA-based GPUs to its portfolio of cloud solutions. The new GPUs and workflow features extend Akamai's push to give media and entertainment companies a more cost-effective and efficient way to build scalable, resilient architectures and deploy workloads that will be faster, more reliable, and portable, while taking advantage of the world's most distributed cloud platform and integrated content delivery and security services.

Akamai will show its range of cloud-based media delivery, computing, and security capabilities during IBC 2024 in Amsterdam, September 13-16. Akamai will host visitors at the Akamai Lounge, located at the RAI Amsterdam in the Elicium (Hall 13) on the third floor.

About Akamai
Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences — helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. Akamai Connected Cloud, a massively distributed edge and cloud platform, puts apps and experiences closer to users and keeps threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's cloud computing, security, and content delivery solutions at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on X, formerly known as Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Contacts:

Akamai Media Relations
Mike Maney
mmaney@akamai.com
+1 215 589 5443

Akamai Investor Relations
IR-InvestorRelations@akamai.com

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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.

FAQ

What new capabilities did Akamai (AKAM) introduce at IBC 2024?

Akamai introduced new video workflow capabilities that give media companies greater choice and control across every part of the video delivery chain, combining Akamai's cloud and delivery platforms with its growing partner network.

How does Akamai's (AKAM) new offering address vendor lock-in concerns?

Akamai's new offering supports multicloud architectures, eliminating vendor lock-in and allowing customers to leverage the best products and services for their needs and evolve their use of cloud services as they grow.

What advantage does Akamai (AKAM) offer in terms of egress fees?

Due to the scale of Akamai's massively distributed and connected cloud, the company can minimize egress fees and offer generous allowances, providing unmatched price-performance from core to edge.

What recent addition did Akamai (AKAM) make to its cloud solutions portfolio?

Earlier in 2024, Akamai added media-optimized, NVIDIA-based GPUs to its portfolio of cloud solutions, extending its push to provide more cost-effective and efficient scalable, resilient architectures for media and entertainment companies.