Chris McCarthy, vice president, media solutions at TMT Insights, on why a cloud first approach is driving development in the media and entertainment industry
By Contributor
Published: August 9, 2024 Updated: August 12, 2024
Chris McCarthy, vice president, media solutions at TMT Insights, on why a cloud first approach is driving development in the media and entertainment industry
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Chris McCarthy, vice president, media solutions at TMT Insights, on why a cloud first approach is driving development in the media and entertainment industry
https://www.tvbeurope.com/features/opinion-why-the-right-approach-is-essential-to-successful-cloud-migration title=Share via Email class=share-email>
For an industry accustomed to measuring success in terms of product firmware updates and software versions, the pace of cloud migration across media and entertainment has been an interesting case study in iterative implementation.
Chris McCarthy, TMT Insights vice president, media solutions Our industry has moved past earlier concerns about the cloud, such as security, data speed, and content access. Companies that not long ago would have said, Cloud? Never! are realising the cloud is the future if they want to remain competitive. They have done the maths and found that cloud technologies are now viable supply chain platforms.
The industry conversation surrounding the cloud has clearly shifted from if to when. The days of wondering whether it makes sense to move to the cloud at all are behind us. The right migration path has to make sense for the whole organisation, as well as its partners and customers. There's no one-size-fits-all plan for everyone.
Some companies are wrestling with which aspects of their business should go to the cloud first, others are phasing their cloud migration while still harbouring concerns about moving on from their familiar processes and operational workflows. Even those that are still all SDI/baseband at least have the cloud on their radar. Regardless of where the industry is on its cloud journey, one constant is that the cloud is forcing people to think differently and examine their workflows more closely than they ever have.
According to a 2023 report on cloud adoption by Forrester, of all the M&E companies surveyed:
73% are running at least one application in the cloud.
57% use the cloud for storage
52% use the cloud for content piracy protection
92% say cloud adoption has been successful
The state of cloud migration What new concerns or issues could possibly hold back the next wave of Cloud 3.0, 4.0 or beyond?
In the early phases of M&E's cloud migration, most companies focused on determining what content in their library archives would move to the cloud, even as a backup at first while still maintaining their on-premise infrastructure. With many having completed that initial phase, the next step is building out supply chains in the cloud to make full use of the content that's already been or will be, moved to the cloud. Now the big questions centre on how to ingest directly to the cloud, conduct processing in the cloud instead of on-premise, and then archive everything for easy access and use.
Even distribution is moving more to the cloud. Many companies that used to be concerned about egress costs and delivery logistics negating the cloud's value are now seeing that more distribution endpoints and platforms are also in the cloud. They don't have to deliver anything externally or pay egress fees. They can copy a piece of media with associated metadata from one bucket to another in the cloud.
Most downstream elements of the media supply chain, like archive or distribution, have already moved to the cloud. Now M&E professionals are more focused on looking further upstream in the supply chain towards cloud-based production and post-production - two areas traditionally viewed as on-premise only.
Virtual production still requires some level of hardware and people on-site, but the bigger benefit is that teams can be located anywhere around the world and still collaborate seamlessly on a remote production. Content goes directly to the cloud and then, once it's there, the idea is that it stays there along with the rest of the downstream process.
A successful cloud migration also integrates the necessary change management procedures and any potential ripple effects across an organisation. Unlike a newly launched shop that likely started as cloud-native, more established organisations may have to manage operations and technology professionals who have worked for decades with easy access to hardware and are uncomfortable adapting to virtual environments. In these situations, it's critical to maintain an open dialogue between management and teams to clearly communicate the benefits of change and to offer any training or support employees need.
The most significant challenge many companies still face is not having a solid cloud migration plan to make sure they receive all the benefits while avoiding any pitfalls. Organisations that have decided to move to the cloud must approach migration holistically, not only in terms of the physical movement of media assets but also the usable metadata that goes along with that. Moving to the cloud is a big step. Companies can't expect to flip a switch and have everything work exactly as it did before.
Just as we've moved on from asking whether we migrate to the cloud at all, in the not-too-distant future, the only discussion will be around what elements do I still have on-premise and how do I get them into the cloud - basically the inverse of what we have today.
That's a bright forecast for an industry with a cloudy future.
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
With John Daro, DI Colourist at Warner Bros. Water Tower Color Tuesday 23 June, 10am-1pm or 3-6pm
Restar Corporation
Tokyo
Register here
John Daro is the ...
12/06/2026
Meet The Grumpy Onion Ireland's newest online sensation, all he wants is to ...
12/06/2026
RT stays Up All Night with brand new daily 2026 FIFA World Cup Vodcast
Adding to the fun around 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, RT has launched a brand new d...
11/06/2026
As podcast formats evolve in the streaming era, podcasting needs updated, transp...
11/06/2026
As Spotify's global RADAR program enters its sixth year in Italy, a new class of artists is stepping into the spotlight. Today, we're announcing the six...
11/06/2026
Pride Month is a time for celebration, reflection, and amplifying the diverse stories and perspectives from the LGBTQIA+ community that enrich our world. To hel...
11/06/2026
First in new line of muted string libraries
VSL have just announced the launch of two new string libraries that represent the first two instalments in a new...
11/06/2026
New colour option for 61-key Launchkey MK4
At Superbooth 2025, Novation introduced the Launchkey Mini 37 White and Launchkey 49 White, bringing an additiona...
11/06/2026
Larger, but still compact!
Arturia's popular compact MIDI controller keyboard is now available in a, well, slightly less compact version! The new MiniLa...
11/06/2026
Eurosatory 2026: Rohde & Schwarz shapes the new-generation battlefield Rohde & Schwarz unveils next generation SIGINT/EW and CUAS solutions on uncrewed system...
11/06/2026
Rohde & Schwarz unveils NEMACS - Directional, ultra secure connectivity for the ...
11/06/2026
Thursday 11 June 2026
Daisy May Cooper rallies the nation ahead of ICC Women's T20 World CupTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy options and...
11/06/2026
Summer solstice shows from C il House and Late Date from 9pm on Saturday 20 Jun...
10/06/2026
Get Hands-On with Interfaces & Mic Preamp Brands
If youre after a new interface or preamp, then GearExpo UK is the place to be! Well have a whole host of au...
10/06/2026
November 13-14 2026, The Midway, San Francisco
Following their recent rebranding, MONO Music Conference (formerly Music Expo) have officially announced thei...
10/06/2026
Debut instrument free for limited time
deFORM is the debut release from newly founded developer ebbandflow, and it's being offered as a free download fo...
10/06/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and TRUMPF advance laser-based drone defense with THORIS LCS Rohde & Schwarz is showcasing THORIS at ILA 2026: A sovereign, end to end counter...
10/06/2026
MAHLE and Rohde & Schwarz develop application for sensor testing of modern drive...
10/06/2026
10 Jun 2026
VEON's Banglalink Brings Every World Cup 2026 Match to Football...
10/06/2026
Wednesday 10 June 2026
How to watch every ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match live on Sky Sports
Where is the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 availabl...
10/06/2026
Wednesday 10 June 2026
P RLA brings first-ever Beautifully Clean Oral Care'...
10/06/2026
Wednesday 10 June 2026
Sky reveals pulse-pounding first teaser trailer for upco...
10/06/2026
Wuppertal June 10, 2026
Riedel Artist at the Heart of the 14th World Live Neurovascular ConferenceAt the 14th World Live Neurovascular Conference (WLNC) in Li...
09/06/2026
Last month, Spotify hosted PURE FLOWERS LIVE, a special event celebrating the re...
09/06/2026
Last month, RADAR U.K. artist Skye Newman took the stage in East London for a sp...
09/06/2026
Company to cease operating on 30 June 2026
Australian loudspeaker and amplifier manufacturer Wayne Jones Audio have announced that after much consideration,...
09/06/2026
Increases low-end weight and character
The latest plug-in release from Sheffield-based fedDSP aims to offer an all-in-one solution for users in search of mo...
09/06/2026
Introduces AI Studio Assistant, Moises Studio integration & more
Fender Studio have just announced the launch of a significant update that brings an array o...
09/06/2026
The BBC has found its Hercule Poirot.
After Deadline revealed last month that t...
09/06/2026
Filming to take place in Holmfirth
9th June 2026, London: U&GOLD is heading bac...
09/06/2026
X-Rite Pantone Launches Offset360 to Modernize Color Control Across Existing Pre...
09/06/2026
09 Jun 2026
VEON Appoints Serkan Ozturk as Chief of Staff & Strategy Officer Dubai and New York, June 9, 2026 - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON), a global digital oper...
09/06/2026
Tuesday 9 June 2026
Katie Price: Nothing to Hide, a candid and unfiltered accou...
09/06/2026
Enni Continues to Rely on Arvato Systems - And Will Be Using AEP.EnerS4 Billing Solution
Arvato Systems to implement transformation project for SAP S/4HANA Ut...
09/06/2026
These special programmes will highlight RT 's connection with the Irish diaspora
This year, RT is marking 100 years of public broadcasting in Ireland with...
08/06/2026
At Spotify, our commitment to the LGBTQIA community is year-round. Through GLOW, our global music program, we celebrate and amplify the contributions of queer ...
08/06/2026
Get Hands-on With Keyboard & Synth Brands
GearExpo UK wouldn't be complete without some synth action, and we've got some of the industry's most ...
08/06/2026
50 popular in-ear monitoring system profiles added
The latest update for IK Multimedia's headphone-correction system has just arrived, and introduces ca...
08/06/2026
Manny Marroquin signature cans upgraded with SLAM Technology
The flagship model in Audeze's Manny Marroquin Signature Series has just been treated to an...
08/06/2026
Air domain supremacy redefined - New counter UAS, space solutions and directiona...
08/06/2026
he BBC and BritBox have announced that Edward Bluemel (We Might Regret This, My ...
Chris McCarthy, vice president, media solutions at TMT Insights, on why a cloud first approach is driving development in the media and entertainment industry
