MediaKind launches MediaKind Engage direct-to-consumer platform

MediaKind has introduced MediaKind Engage, an end-to-end direct-to-consumer (DTC) solution for video contribution, production, streaming and audience engagement. It is designed to enable sports entities, broadcasters and content owners to make a seamless transition to operating workflows in the cloud while also expanding the reach, scale and reliability of their video streaming content to a global fan base.

MediaKind Engage is said to provide a broadcast-grade framework that meets DTC market challenges around the quality of experience, ROI and commercialisation, enabling content owners of all sizes to maximise the value of their OTT offerings. This cloud-native technology service speeds up time-to-market and lowers setup costs for efficient DTC service delivery. MediaKind Engage also offers a pricing model aligned to the revenues that content owners can achieve across subscription, transactional and ad-supported services, creating greater relevance to sponsorship and branded content.

Allen Broome, chief technology officer, MediaKind, said: “Whether you are a mid-sized content owner requiring turnkey end-to-end technology capabilities, or a larger sized content owner looking for partnerships or aggregated content offerings, OTT technologies are essential to establishing meaningful, direct relationships with fans. With the launch of MediaKind Engage, we provide a rich, end-to-end direct-to-consumer solution that offers broadcast-grade video quality, high scalability and stability – the core tenets of any future live and VOD streaming service, particularly in the sports space. MediaKind Engage enables all content owners to bring these services to market at low setup costs, enabling them to invest and maximise the value of their assets, with the potential to deliver sustainable long-term revenue.”

MediaKind Engage is structured around Platform and Software-as-a-Service (aaS) models. It enables new OTT innovations to be launched with greater control, as the services are already deployed and rigorously tested with all cloud providers. The solution brings together MediaKind’s end-to-end portfolio and expertise in operating advanced video and cloud workflows and is complemented with fully integrated partner solutions to meet the demands for high-volume, high-quality video and data services. MediaKind Engage comprises three MediaKind services:

• Engage Production (Content acquisition and distribution): Engage Production facilitates cloud-based production and auto-curation workflows to maximise content value while automatically managing every element from live to VOD and all associated metadata.
• Engage Publishing (Channel origination and streaming): This enables as many high-quality steaming distribution points as required while reliably reaching fans at scale wherever they are. Engage Publishing also addresses the need to regionalise and personalise the video experience.
• Engage Experience (Fan engagement and client applications): Engage Experience deepens engagement with the content community through fan engagement tools while increasing value for rights-owners, sponsors and broadcasters through personalised and ad-supported video.

Broome concluded: “MediaKind has a clear understanding of the content owner marketplace today, the various forces driving direct-to-consumer service decisions and the necessary solutions that will enable content owners to prosper. Through our technology leadership, operational excellence and cloud-native technology model, we provide proven competencies in OTT technologies that enable all content owners and channel originators to develop impactful direct-to-consumer offerings to their audiences. MediaKind Engage opens up new avenues for content owners to experiment with fan engagement techniques and methods of monetisation while enabling consumers to curate and personalise their content experience.”