Challenge:
- Ingest large volumes of content from hundreds of TV series and full-length feature films
- Manage fluctuating content sizes - ranging from hundreds of megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes per day
Solution:
- Signiant Content Distribution Management software manages, accelerates, automates and secures file transfers
Results:
- Fast, automated uploads of content
- Prioritization of bandwidth usage based on network capacity
- Automatic RSS notifications when new content is available
- Reduced burden on human resources due to automation
Hulu is an online video service offering a selection of hit shows, video clips, and movies from more than 50 content providers, and it is being hailed as one of the best online video experiences available today. In order to deliver such a large volume of content to viewers in a timely fashion, the company realized that it would need to employ a technology that could manage, secure, automate, and accelerate the movement of digital files, and it chose to implement Signiant's Content Distribution Management software.
Using Signiant, Hulu is able to facilitate fast, automated uploads of content from its vast network of content providers, including Signiant's long-time partner NBC. In total, Hulu ingests full-length episodes from more than 250 TV series, 100 full-length feature films and short clips from 150 additional TV series.
The amount of content that Hulu aggregates using Signiant ranges in size from hundreds of megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes per day. However, Signiant's solution allows Hulu to prioritize bandwidth utilization based upon available network and the urgency of content delivery.
Hulu began using Signiant prior to its beta launch to move premium digital content from NBC into its library. Compared to alternative methods of ingesting video files from other partners, it became clear that Signiant offered a superior option. As a result, Hulu extended the use of Signiant's software to other content partners populating the online video service.
With Signiant, Hulu can intelligently allocate bandwidth resources among its partners to quickly and securely build its library of premium content. In addition, human intervention is reduced by offering guaranteed delivery and automatic notification to interested parties, enabling the growing video service to focus on its primary objective - helping people find and enjoy the world's premium video content when, where, and how they want it.
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