Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched a new AWS for Media & Entertainment initiative to simplify cloud workflows. Overcast’s Future of Work Video Platform is built on AWS and we are delighted to be a partner in this initiative!

AWS for Media & Entertainment

So, what is AWS for M&E? AWS for Media & Entertainment is an initiative featuring new and existing services and solutions from AWS and AWS Partners, built specifically for content creators, rights holders, producers, broadcasters, and distributors. AWS adds the newly announced Amazon Nimble Studio — a service that enables customers to set up creative studios in hours instead of weeks — to a portfolio of more purpose-built media and entertainment industry services than any other cloud, including  AWS Elemental MediaPackage, AWS Elemental MediaConnect, AWS Elemental MediaLive, AWS Elemental MediaConvert, and Amazon Interactive Video Service (IVS). AWS for Media & Entertainment also simplifies the process of building, deploying, and reinventing mission-critical industry workloads by aligning AWS and AWS Partner capabilities against five solution areas: Content Production; Media Supply Chain & Archive; Broadcast; Direct-to-Consumer & Streaming; and Data Science & Analytics. Overcast is an AWS partner in the Media Supply Chain & Archive solution.

“The big benefit of our new Overcast system based on AWS is efficiency and consistency.  This feels like the start of a long relationship rather than just having bought a piece of software.” 

— Neil Adcock, CPL UK.

Overcast MAX

In previous blog posts, we’ve introduced you to Overcast MAX — a cloud-based platform for media asset management (MAM) without the traditional costs associated with combining MAM, PAM (product asset management) and DAM (digital asset management).  The flexible microservices approach and API connection to AWS services (like Amazon Rekognition, AWS Elemental MediaConvert and AWS Elemental MediaLive) lets you configure solutions to build workflows that truly match your needs.  For example, if you produce live sport events you need to share content before and after the match with multiple different stakeholders, including analysts, players, referees, marketers, sponsors and more. Here’s how you benefit:

• a collaboration portal with granular access control;
• a UI that is intuitive and enhanced with on-screen messaging so even the least technical stakeholders can manage their needs; and
• automated tasks like time-based transcription and image recognition allow users to reduce search time by up to 98%.

Overcast MAX is first and foremost a collaboration platform that builds access to powerful video processing tools into effective and efficient workflows.  With a mission to make it as easy to manage video files as it is to manage word documents, MAX enables teams throughout your organization to work within the video supply chain.  The core storage and collaboration features of MAX are enhanced by 9 proprietary modules that include everything from automated subtitle generation (powered by Amazon Transcribe) to maximizing a scalable streaming service (using Amazon CloudFront).

Overcast MAX can be deployed out-of-the box for smaller teams, or configured with a choice of 9 modules for larger volume workflows. Clients benefit from:

• Fast response times and fast deployment — whether you BYO Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) storage bucket, are syncing an on-premises repository, or choose to store your content within Overcast’s virtual private cloud, you can be up and running with production workflows within a matter of minutes.
• Cost budgeting — using a proprietary Simulator, Overcast can emulate your work environment over a short period of time to better forecast usage costs and how to optimize your processes.
• Time efficiencies — clients report savings up to 90% of time spent on mundane tasks like transcoding due to our automation.  

We have many satisfied clients in various countries, including CPL UK — a global marketing and communications firm based in London.

“It’s at least 10 times faster to find things. We have 27 users on four different continents from three different companies — and one very happy Alex.” 

— Alexandra Bailey, CPL UK.

“CPL UK is an example of the increasing number of enterprise customers outside of the media and entertainment vertical that are successfully using digital media workflows on AWS to increase brand awareness. Overcast’s browser-based platform makes it easy for enterprise customers to launch in minutes without the complexity of managing hardware infrastructure.”

— Eric Iverson, Chief Technologist for M&E, AWS.

To find out more or set up a demo, please email info@overcasthq.com or click here.