Bitmovins Markus Hafellner talks to TVBEurope about the companys update to its VoD Encoding solution, and how it will create better visual quality for viewers
By Jenny Priestley
Published: March 16, 2023
Bitmovin's Markus Hafellner talks to TVBEurope about the company's update to its VoD Encoding solution, and how it will create better visual quality for viewers
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
Earlier this month, Bitmovin announced the introduction of Smart Chunking into its VoD Encoder, which it describes as an evolution of the split and stitch algorithm.
The original algorithm was created in response to problems with how long it takes to encode a file on a single machine. Split and stitch allows the encoding job to be split into multiple parallel encodings or segments, accelerating the entire process.
However, split and stitch can also lead to potential quality drops when using fixed GOPs and segments, degrading the overall visual quality for viewers, Bitmovin's senior product manager, Markus Hafellner tells TVBEurope.
Smart Chunking optimises chunk lengths and bitrate distribution, which positively impacts the visual quality throughout the whole asset and achieves this faster than before.
The introduction of Smart Chunking means that video streaming companies will be able to deliver their streams in the best possible quality, adds Hafellner.
The split and stitch algorithm was a significant advancement in video encoding because it made it possible to horizontally scale the compute intense workload, he continues. However, we saw an opportunity to build on it and further improve the visual quality of video content, and we have the data to back this up.
Currently, video quality is measured with VMAF, an objective quality metric created by Netflix, and it's one of the most widely used metrics in the video streaming industry to benchmark video quality. We used VMAF when benchmarking the image quality of a highly complex video asset processed with the standard split and stitch approach compared to Smart Chunking, explains Hafellner.
The results showed the lowest quality 1 per cent frames increased by 6 VMAF points (6 VMAF is exactly the noticeable difference for the human eye). There was also an impressive 22 VMAF points increase in the lowest quality 0.1 per cent frames, and the worst frame saw an increase of an astonishing 60 VMAF points.
For audiences, this means that the visual quality of their favourite content will look even better than before. Hafellner adds that Bitmovin's data shows a noticeable increase in visual quality that's perceptible to the human eye when Smart Chunking is used compared to the legacy split and stitch algorithm.
The technology has been developed for VoD services, but Bitmovin hasn't ruled out applying to live content. However, the shown quality gains would affect latency which then becomes a limiting factor for the optimisations, he adds.
Smart Chunking is paving the way for us to develop Per-Shot Encoding and make it available to our customers. Per-Shot Encoding aligns segment boundaries and thus I-frames with shot boundaries, which reduces the bitrate while maintaining the same visual quality.
Europe Stories
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
12/05/2025
As newsrooms around the world begin to experiment with artificial intelligence, many are asking the same question: how do we move beyond isolated pilots and emb...
12/05/2025
12 May 2025
VEON Joins GSMA Advance's People Excellence Partner Program as ...
12/05/2025
Fox Corporation Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results NEW YORK, NY, May 12, 2025 - Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; FOX or the Company ) t...
12/05/2025
FOX Unveils Name of New Streaming Service FOX One Featuring all of FOX's Premium News, Sports and Entertainment Programming in One Dynamic Platform New ...
12/05/2025
FOX Orders Propulsive, Edge-Of-Your-Seat Thriller Memory of a Killer For 2025-20...
12/05/2025
FOX Announces Schedule for 2025-26 Season #1 NETWORK IN A18-49 DELIVERS SLATE FILLED WITH FUN, IRREVERENT CONTENT AND BOLD, SIGNATURE FOX CHARACTERS ALL-NEW ...
12/05/2025
What is success? How is it achieved? And what does it really cost? These are the...
09/05/2025
At the Frontline Club in London, a venue long associated with media freedom and ...
09/05/2025
As excitement builds for the annual Eurovision Song Contest, Spotify data offers...
09/05/2025
In our latest blog, Laura Rognoni dives into the shifting currents of change in the digital entertainment landscape, revealing the trends that will keep viewers...
09/05/2025
Friday 9 May 2025
Download images HERE
Episodes are available on Sky Media Vil...
09/05/2025
New beta programme for Avid Pro Tools users provides versioned backup/archive
M...
09/05/2025
Further to the comments from RT Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst on Wednesday 7th May included below in which he asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel&#...
09/05/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
In the season finale of The Late Late Show, ...
09/05/2025
My Eurovision Party 2025 - join in on the fun with RT Kids!
Eurovision launche...
08/05/2025
As expected, continued weak demand from key sales markets and declining economic...
08/05/2025
A new three-part series is coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One
(Image: The Christie Archive Trust)
The BBC has announced Agatha Christie's Endless Night, a...
08/05/2025
Expect even more chaos this July with Harriet Webb leading the returning cast, p...
08/05/2025
08 May 2025
VEON Shareholders Re-elect Board at 2025 AGM, Founder Augie Fabela ...
08/05/2025
Comedy and entertainment channel U&Dave bring back their #1 ranked programme of ...
08/05/2025
Expect even more chaos this July with Harriet Webb leading the returning cast, p...
08/05/2025
TenneT relies on Arvato Systems for market communication
Energy industry: Impressive market communication know-how and system integration expertise
G tersloh...
08/05/2025
When Taiki Hamamoto, 22, came across a Hanafuda deck at his local game shop, he was intrigued. He had grown up playing the traditional Japanese card game with f...
08/05/2025
The Liveline is now open , said Joe Duffy earlier today, as he previewed this af...
08/05/2025
RT , in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights has reveale...
07/05/2025
Discovering music should feel effortless and fun. That's why Spotify continu...
07/05/2025
FOX Doubles Down on the Laughs Renewing Comedies Animal Control, Starring Joel M...
07/05/2025
07 May 2025
VEON's QazCode Signs MoU with Seekr to Develop AI-Powered Solut...
07/05/2025
UKTV has ordered a feature length documentary celebrating the life of Britain...
07/05/2025
Wednesday 7 May 2025
Shaun the Sheep fans are in for a baaaarilliant treat in 2...
07/05/2025
Rohde & Schwarz to highlight innovative broadcast technologies at CABSAT 2025 Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its latest energy-efficient transmitters and 5G Br...
07/05/2025
The Importance of Workflow Efficiencies in Post-Production Wednesday, 14 May
14:40
FilmLight sits down with Sam Lempp, head of business development for Nara, ...
07/05/2025
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of RT journalist, Fergal O'Brien, as its new Business Correspondent.
In his new role, Fergal will be repor...
06/05/2025
In Colombia, music isn't just background noise-it's center stage. It'...
06/05/2025
En Colombia, la m sica no suena de fondo: es el centro del escenario. Es el cora...
06/05/2025
At Spotify, we always seek ways to connect users with their next favorite podcas...
06/05/2025
Since Spotify's 2019 launch in India, the growth of the country's local ...
06/05/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
06/05/2025
Comscore Reports First Quarter 2025 ResultsRESTON, Va., May 6, 2025 Comscore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a trusted partner for planning, transacting and evaluating ...
06/05/2025
Live from Studio 1 at 7pm, Tuesday May 6
Iconic trad-fusion group K LA will be ...
06/05/2025
Rohde & Schwarz hosts RF Testing Innovations Forum 2025, helping design engineer...
06/05/2025
LONDON, UK, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the company s annual THINK event, IBM (NYSE: IBM) is unveiling new hybrid technologies that break down the long...
06/05/2025
Apple today introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone in Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland, enabling millio...
06/05/2025
Ahead of Pride Month, Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band, watch face, and iPhone and iPad wallpaper to celebrate the strength and b...
06/05/2025
First episode airs this Friday at 8pm on RT One and RT Player with Doireann N Ghlac in presenting
Guests include Barry Murphy, Brooke Scullion, Bryan Dobso...
05/05/2025
As Europe gears up for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, Spotify is celebrating the spirit of unity and musical legacy with a new series of Spotify Singles. Fiv...
05/05/2025
As part of the restructuring of its loss-making Carbon Fibers business unit, SGL Carbon has decided to close its production site in Lavradio (Portugal). Lavradi...
05/05/2025
Comscore Launches Certified Deal IDs in Magnite's SSP, Bringing Trusted Cont...
Bitmovins Markus Hafellner talks to TVBEurope about the companys update to its VoD Encoding solution, and how it will create better visual quality for viewers
