Sean Baker, managing director at ERA Ltd, explains why media production companies must find faster, more efficient hardware and software systems to support flexible working and mass data volumes
By Contributor
Published: October 30, 2023 Updated: November 2, 2023
Sean Baker, managing director at ERA Ltd, explains why media production companies must find faster, more efficient hardware and software systems to support flexible working and mass data volumes
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
As the quality of media content improves and the technology required to create it grows more sophisticated, production, post production, VFX and other creative houses face unprecedented IT and data storage challenges.
The media and entertainment (M&E) industry handles some of the largest and most complex content files out there, meaning companies in this sector must have more secure, flexible IT architecture than ever before to ensure capacity for demanding projects.
Additionally, as the industry shifts to a work-from-anywhere model in the wake of the pandemic, remote technicians need access to the same efficient hardware and software systems that can manage bandwidth-hungry technology with significant power, cooling and connectivity requirements.
So, how can media production companies ensure they have high-speed internet connectivity and high-performance infrastructures to process, store and analyse large volumes of data? How do they scale? And is there a way of doing so that allows these companies to meet project demands and ensure no resources are underutilised?
For many businesses, the answer to these questions lies in one flexible cloud solution: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Tackling M&E computing challenges with IaaS These days, media and post production companies often struggle to keep up with high-resolution content requirements using legacy on-premises systems, with some files reaching hundreds of gigabytes - or even terabytes - for a single job.
In a standard environment, these large pieces of content can lead to lengthy upload and download times, system failures and slow productivity - limitations no modern business can afford.
To keep up with increasingly sophisticated CGI, rendering, workstation and other computing requirements without breaking the bank, M&E companies must find faster, more powerful solutions that allow them to ramp up for major projects without delays.
That is where IaaS comes in.
An IaaS model allows businesses to seamlessly migrate physical infrastructure to a hosted environment managed by an expert provider.
This solution is growing increasingly popular, with Gartner revealing the worldwide infrastructure services market grew by 29.7% to reach a total of $120.3 billion (£98.3 billion) in 2022, up from $92.8 billion (£75.8 billion) the previous year thanks to growing cloud adoption and demand for low-cost IT infrastructure.
The main selling point of IaaS is that it delivers essential resources such as servers, storage and networking on a pay-as-you-go basis, meaning companies need not make a capital investment to access dedicated hardware.
In the M&E sector, this can prove particularly valuable for handling complex renders and files as they consume more data, requiring extra power and storage.
IaaS customers can rent servers, storage and workstations instead of purchasing additional architecture upfront - and then turn them off when the job is complete. As a result, media companies can take on more work at shorter notice without making long-term financial commitments to maintain surplus hardware.
Taking IT performance to the next level In the post-pandemic landscape, many M&E businesses have embraced the IaaS model to provide media professionals with everything they need, no matter where they are.
For example, as the demand for skilled VFX artists grows and VFX technologies evolve, we are witnessing the globalisation of this industry's workforce, with VFX houses spreading worldwide and embracing remote work to cater to international projects.
By harnessing IaaS solutions, VFX companies can enable distributed employees to work on centralised servers and get rapid access to state-of-the-art hardware and operating systems on demand with no upfront expenses - minimising unnecessary spending for the ultimate cost-effectiveness.
Not only is this good for innovation and productivity, but it can also help improve security whether teams work onsite or at home.
With robust defensive protocols and incident response implemented to control remote access and secure data centres, companies can be assured that their resources are safe from downtime.
As a result, M&E houses can continue delivering quality content and meeting SLAs whilst saving money on powering, cooling, maintaining and storing the necessary software and hardware for their projects - reducing the need for additional office space, the costs associated with maintaining equipment for remote workers and the energy emissions generated by on-premises servers.
Plus, IaaS solutions offer much-needed scalability to suit the needs of growing businesses. M&E teams often need to scale IT infrastructure up or down to meet the requirements of different projects, and hosted IaaS solutions allow studios to quickly and easily spin up additional resources wherever needed - or cut them back to save on costs.
With these flexible capabilities, content houses of all sizes and sectors can keep delivering seamless user experiences and optimising workloads, freeing creatives to concentrate on what matters: producing high-quality work that continues to push boundaries.
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Sean Baker, managing director at ERA Ltd, explains why media production companies must find faster, more efficient hardware and software systems to support flexible working and mass data volumes
