Innovation Stations! Magine Pro Hack Days Focus on OTT AI Technologies
Magine Pro recently challenged its brilliant team of people to come together in cross-functional teams and create something new for our platform in a series of Hack Days on the theme of OTT AI. In this blog, Hayley Barnes reflects on the amazing creativity and teamwork shown, and how it underlines our commitment to innovation.
Artificial Intelligence is, without doubt, the buzzword of the decade for a whole host of industries, including Media and Entertainment. But many companies are still struggling to see how AI can actually advance their goals, rather than being just a gimmick.
That’s why we gave our teams a specific AI-based challenge for this year’s Magine Pro Hack Days. We knew our fantastic team of specialists would come up with some amazing suggestions of how AI could enhance our OTT platform and, crucially, improve the viewing experience and encourage engagement from end consumers, because that’s what our customers, the video service providers, really care about. And we were right!
The Magine Pro team enjoying the Hack Days presentations
OTT Innovation in action
In total, nine fantastic proof of concepts came to life, each showcasing the creativity and technical prowess of our teams. The diversity of projects was really inspiring and demonstrated the flexibility of the Magine Pro OTT platform.
We had two joint winners: The first implemented AI from Amazon Transcribe to automatically add subtitles to VOD content. They shared the honors with the cleverly named “TrivAI” which used OpenAI’s APIs to generate a trivia quiz based on VOD content to encourage viewer engagement.
Promoting an accessible and consistent OTT user experience with subtitles
The team behind the subtitling project found a speedy way to trigger not only the transcription of speech from the VOD files, but also the conversion to SRT file types that could then be uploaded to the relevant Magine Pro workflow for automatic display in the end-user’s video player. This would be a huge benefit for OTT services that currently disappoint viewers with only patchy subtitling coverage.
For the lowdown on this project, I spoke to Streaming Software Engineer, Catuxa Seoane Botana who was taking part in her first Magine Pro Hack Days after joining us almost a year ago. “The biggest challenge was taking the words and timestamps output by the AI and turning them into sentences with correct punctuation,” Catuxa told me. “The breakthrough moment when we successfully created an SRT file from an MP4 video was very exciting.”
One key criteria for the team was that they wanted to create something seamless that built on the existing functions of our OTT platform. “Our focus was on creating a streamlined, automatic solution,” explained Catuxa, “That was one of the drivers behind our choice of Amazon Transcribe as our AI solution for the project. But we’re already thinking about further possibilities, including using Amazon Translate to automatically generate subtitles in multiple languages – because the more choice offered to viewers, the better!”
Some of the code written for the subtitling solution
Increasing OTT engagement is not a trivial matter
So what about TrivAI? This project was centered on the concept that gamification can keep users interacting with a service longer, as well as presenting a fun way to introduce users to new content that they may like to watch, both key goals for any OTT service. You’ll see from the screenshots below that the proof of concept interface included links to the trailer and also the options to add/remove the VOD content the quiz is based on to your watchlist. TrivAI team consisted of: Rami Baarah (Web Lead Engineer), David Wong (Senior Software Engineer), Saima Iftikhar (QA) & Joel Kenne-Forsberg (Product Owner)
The spokesmen for the TrivAI team was Web Lead Engineer, Rami Baarah. “The way the Magine Pro TV app is built allows us to rapidly add features and test them on actual devices,” Rami told me. “When you pair that with our flexible backend, we could really focus as a team on making the trivia game as much fun as possible, rather than fighting with the code. Once we were having fun playing the game, we knew we’d cracked it!”
But is the trivia idea just another AI gimmick? Rami doesn’t think so: “It would allow end users to explore content in a fresh way,” he believes. “It will either help them to find new things to watch, or revisiting old favourites in a fun new way. And for the OTT platforms, it’s an engaging way to retain customer attention and provide them with entertainment – which is, in the end, what their business is!”
The Trivia Game proof of concept within the Magine Pro Big Screen TV app
Hack Days are fun, with a serious purpose
Our Hack Days not only demonstrate Magine Pro’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology but also underline our collective ability to translate ideas into tangible solutions. On a deeper level, they serve to empower our team, providing them with the opportunity to explore their passions, experiment with cutting-edge technologies, and showcase their capabilities in a supportive environment.
As Rami puts it: “It’s great to work with my regular team but also with other colleagues from across the company. It’s the spirit and energy you see in others that makes you feel confident in delivering in your day job as well as the Hack Days.”
We’re so proud of this culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning that makes Magine Pro such a great place to work.
Stay tuned for some of these great projects featuring in coming releases of our OTT platform.
If you’d like to see Magine Pro in action, why not book a demo with our team?
Takeaways from CES 2024 for video service providers
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2024) always grabs global headlines with eye-catching new gadgets and ever-expanding TV screen sizes. This year was no different, with acres of coverage for LG and Samsung’s new transparent TV screens, the latest virtual reality concepts, and robots that will make you anything from a cocktail to a stir-fry.
But, like the bright lights and razzmatazz of the host city, Las Vegas, the show-floor glitz of CES 2024 is largely a temporary distraction for the video entertainment industry. Behind the scenes, there are serious conversations about the future of streaming. So what were video service providers really talking about at CES 2024?
Magine Pro’s Sales Director, Neil Fender, at CES 2024.
Interest in AI is becoming more targeted
Just as we saw at IBC and NAB in 2023, Artificial Intelligence (AI) continued to be a major buzzword. Our CEO, Matthew Wilkinson, touched on this important topic in his recent blog on Large Language Models and Generative AI. But the partners and customers (both current and future) that I spoke to in Las Vegas are increasingly focused on the practicalities of deploying this constantly evolving technology. They’ve gone beyond wondering how AI might revolutionise the industry in the future, to looking at very specific use cases that will advance their short-term goals, not just their longer-term planning.
With consumers around the world becoming increasingly cost-conscious, churn is a massive area of focus for every streaming service, no matter what combination of business models they’re using. The video services I spoke to are looking for a strong and immediate return on investment for any foray into AI. In particular, they want it to keep consumers engaged so they’re less likely to look elsewhere for content. The benefits of offering personalized content recommendations are the most often-cited strategy for growing engagement, so it was a pleasure to be able to talk about the AI-powered recommendation capabilities in Magine Pro’s end-to-end OTT streaming platform .
I was also happy to talk through some of the tactics that have paid dividends for our existing customers when tackling churn. For example, the “dunning” functionality in our advanced billing engine enables them to systematically communicate with consumers whose payment methods have expired or failed. This proactive strategy prevents passive involuntary churn, minimising customer loss and ensuring a positive user experience. Another proactive approach is to automate “win-back” strategies. This means offering targeted discounts to certain users who have recently churned, or shown signs of being a flight-risk, to help keep them on-board.
We’ll have more about these tactics in our upcoming e-guide on advanced OTT monetization strategies. Register now to be among the first to get the guide, which will also explain some of the reasons we champion hybrid monetization models.
No moving out of the FAST-lane
I don’t think anyone was surprised to find that FAST – another of the biggest streaming trends of 2023 – was still a hot topic at CES. The low barriers to entry mean that FAST channels continue to be the most popular route into the streaming market for content owners, particularly in the US market.
The FAST trend I heard most about at CES, however, was those who’ve dipped a toe into streaming with FAST channels via aggregation platforms like Roku, Amazon, LG, and Samsung and now want their own suite of streaming apps to build a direct relationship with consumers. We had some excellent conversations at CES with technology partners and customers about how we can help them make that ambition a reality with the Magine Pro OTT platform because it’s quick and easy to launch, but also customizable so it can grow with their business.
Want to know more?
If you weren’t able to make it to CES 2024, you can book a meeting with our team to talk about how AI recommendations could improve your engagement, or how Magine Pro can elevate your content distribution and monetization strategies.
OTT Industry Trends that Shaped Video Streaming in 2023
It’s proven to be a transformative year in OTT marked by rapid changes and dynamic shifts. From the widespread adoption of FAST channels to the increasing prominence of hybrid monetisation models and the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI), the industry is witnessing a paradigm shift that will undoubtedly demand adaptation from both service providers and content creators in 2024 and onwards.
Here are our 5 noteworthy OTT industry trends and key takeaways from 2023, that are worth watching next year:
The FAST Lane to Success
The adoption of Free Ad-Supported Television (FAST) channels has continued to rise in 2023, in response to escalating churn rates. Service providers are leveraging these channels to avoid compromising revenue and retain subscribers who have become more discerning about where they invest their entertainment budgets. The significance of this trend suggests a shift in how streaming services engage with their audience, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future.
Hybrid Monetisation Models for Sustainability
In response to the intensifying competition and the need to win back subscribers, hybrid monetisation is also becoming increasingly popular. Service providers are strategically integrating ad-supported sections into their platforms to enhance accessibility while ensuring sustainability. Even industry giant Netflix is actively exploring this avenue, underscoring the importance of striking a balance between user experience and financial viability.
TV Taking Back the Spotlight
In a surprising turn of events, the television could be on track to reclaim its throne as the primary screen for content consumption. Notably, nearly half of YouTube’s viewership now occurs on TV screens according to internal figures. This shift has profound implications for streaming providers, emphasizing the critical need for smart TV app development to secure long-term growth.
Global Expansion with Localized Cultural Content
As streaming services expand their global footprint, the demand for localised content is experiencing a surge. Viewers are increasingly seeking content that resonates with their culture, language, and preferences. This demand for diversity and inclusion is driving more and more streaming platforms to tailor their content libraries to cater to the unique tastes of different markets.
AI Transforming the OTT Experience
Undoubtedly, one of the most significant OTT industry trends of the past year is the integration of artificial intelligence into streaming. AI is not just enhancing content recommendations for users but is also expected to play a pivotal role in dynamic content creation. This enables the delivery of personalised and engaging content, keeping viewers hooked and satisfied.
In 2024, the OTT video streaming industry is poised to firmly establish and fortify these trends, promising a substantial enhancement in overall industry performance. As we navigate this evolving landscape, it becomes increasingly clear that adaptability and innovation are the cornerstones for success in this dynamic and fiercely competitive market. Streaming services must be agile in meeting evolving user expectations.
For Magine Pro, this necessitates a commitment to ongoing innovation and a steadfast focus on our OTT platform and products. By doing so, we aim to deliver optimal solutions for our customers, empowering them to seamlessly deliver their content to audiences worldwide. And ensure our clients stay ahead in an environment where meeting and exceeding user expectations is paramount.
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Keen to learn more about the top OTT industry trends and how Magine Pro are navigating the changes? Get in touch with our team.
Discover more about our flexible OTT platform and how we enable our customers to monetise their live events, linear and VOD content. Visit our blog for additional insights and download our free white papers and ebooks.