Streaming Technology News: Encoding, CDN, OTT, AI Video and Ad Tech

MainConcept has released Codec SDK 17.0, which extends its Easy Video API (EVA) to support end-to-end transcoding pipelines on NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs for Linux Arm and NETINT Quadra VPUs for Linux x86. This update aims to unify hardware-accelerated workflows under a single API to reduce integration complexity for broadcast and OTT infrastructure.

In the 2026 State of Video Encoding Survey report, you'll discover where encoding professionals are placing their bets and where they're holding. You'll learn how the GPU monoculture is cracking, why cost and quality are no longer a tradeoff, which codec has a planned implementation growth rate of 231%, why TCO is a blind spot for 30% of the market, and more.

NEP Group is managing end-to-end production services for the NFL International Series, utilizing consistent IP-based flypack configurations to maintain operational efficiency across global venues. The workflow involves complex frame rate conversions and multi-regional handoffs to support both US-based broadcasters and local international rights holders.

Netskrt is joining the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Global CDN Connect program to provide streaming providers with dedicated connectivity and reduced egress charges. The collaboration aims to improve delivery reliability for high-concurrency events by integrating Netskrt’s ISP-embedded network with OCI’s cloud infrastructure.

Akamai Accelerated Compute instances, powered by NETINT Quadra Video Processing Units (VPUs), provide specialized, high-density cloud transcoding for AV1, HEVC, and H.264 up to 8Kp60. These instances offer 15–30x better encoding performance than traditional CPUs, with pricing starting at $0.42/hr for 32 live HD channels.

Dutch telecommunications provider Odido has selected Synamedia Go to migrate its existing TV service to a modular, cloud-based SaaS platform. The transition aims to modernize the operator's infrastructure and enable the integration of AI-powered features such as personalized recommendations and automated short-form content feeds.

AgileTV and Ålands Telekommunikation Ab (Ålcom) have launched Play+, a cloud-based TV-as-a-Service platform, across the Nordic region. The platform is currently being deployed by several national fiber network operators in Finland to provide a unified live and on-demand streaming experience.

BlendVision AI watches your content so your team doesn't have to. It auto-tags scenes by topic and motion, creates highlight clips, generates shorts for every social ratio, transcribes in multiple languages, and even dubs audio, all in real time. The result: your content team shifts from manual post-production to creative strategy. Semantic search makes your entire media library instantly queryable, and AI-powered recommendations keep audiences engaged longer. Production costs go down. Content output goes up.

Gravity Media deployed a self-contained flypack production system and RF camera infrastructure to broadcast the 25th anniversary of Red Bull Rampage in a remote Utah location. The production utilized EVS XtraMotion AI to generate real-time slow-motion feeds from standard and FPV drone cameras in an environment lacking permanent broadcast infrastructure.

ByteDance has consolidated its Xiaoyunque short-drama tool into the Jimeng AI platform to streamline production workflows and reduce resource duplication. The company is simultaneously shifting its focus toward the Seedance model-as-a-service business via Volcano Engine, which currently outperforms its consumer-facing creation applications in revenue.

Live production is hitting an AI bottleneck: too many pixels, too many proxies, too much delay. Learn how VC-6 and smart multicast networks help live streaming platforms and broadcasters feed models only what they need, cutting bandwidth, latency, and cost while turning every frame into real-time intelligence.

Technology integration partner Alpha has launched a new Media Modernization practice and a dedicated testing facility called The Lab at its Eden Prairie headquarters. The initiative allows media organizations to validate hybrid, cloud, and on-premises infrastructure workflows through hands-on testing and proofs of concept.

With the NETINT Quadra Mini Server, you can bypass expensive cloud transcoding services and deliver directly from the stadium to the origin. This compact powerhouse sips power while encoding 20 live HD AV1, HEVC, and H.264 streams, or 5 live 4K streams. Drawing just 138 watts, the Quadra Mini Server is perfect for live sports streaming services looking to reduce latency and cut OPEX.

S&P Global Market Intelligence projects a 6% revenue decline for the U.S. television industry in 2027 as political and event-driven advertising tailwinds subside. The forecast emphasizes that broadcasters must shift their strategy toward optimizing programming investments for advertising, distribution, and retention as consumer behavior fragments.

DIRECTV and DAZN have signed a multi-year distribution agreement to provide local NBA telecasts for five teams to DIRECTV subscribers and commercial venues. The deal allows DIRECTV customers to access team-specific content on the DAZN platform using their existing credentials.

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Universal Ads, the self-service platform from Comcast Advertising, has launched a new Campaign Management category within its Business Partners Program. This update allows advertisers to integrate TV buying directly into third-party marketing platforms via API and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations.

In Bitmovin's 10th annual Video Developer Report, you'll discover why 98% of teams now report at least one AI/ML use case in production, and why 46% of developers use AI coding tools daily while only 4% don't use them at all. You'll learn what's replaced "cost" as the top complaint about AI tools, and more.

Ofcom has warned that the transition from terrestrial to streaming television risks creating access barriers for Northern Ireland viewers due to territorial rights restrictions and imprecise IP-based geolocation. The regulator suggests updating the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding to establish a framework for broadcasters and rights holders to address these cross-border digital access challenges.

Tier‑1 OTT services that once paid $100K in H.264 content royalties may now pay up to $4.5M per year, while advanced codecs are covered by multiple licensing programs and active patent enforcement campaigns. For leaders seeking an accurate and repeatable decision-making process, the guide outlines a modeling framework for codec selection that treats adoption as an intentional capital investment.