At the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2024 in Amsterdam, IMAX is showcasing its new StreamSmart On-Air software. The tool is designed to significantly lower the cost of live streaming distribution by achieving bandwidth savings of 15%-25%, potentially saving millions of euros for content providers.
Vikram Arumilli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Streaming and Consumer Technology at IMAX, highlighted the software's unique approach. “IMAX’s method for reducing live streaming costs is distinctive due to our VisionScience technology,” he said. The software uses patented ViewerScore (XVS) in real-time to optimize quality while minimizing bitrate.
Real-Time Optimization and Quality Monitoring
StreamSmart On-Air employs IMAX ViewerScore (XVS), a perceptual quality metric based on human vision, ensuring that any reductions in bitrate are imperceptible to viewers. The software is API-based and integrates seamlessly with existing encoding and packaging workflows. It utilizes AI to dynamically choose the best segments from adaptive bitrate (ABR)/HLS/standard streams and optimize bitrates in real-time.
At the IBC exhibition, visitors can witness a live demonstration of StreamSmart On-Air optimizing an AWS stream on-site. The software will also be shown alongside StreamAware On-Air, a real-time monitoring tool that provides complete visibility into video quality throughout the delivery chain using XVS.
Case Study: NBA Finals
The effectiveness of StreamSmart On-Air has been demonstrated in a recent application where it optimized live streams of the NBA Finals. High-quality broadcasts were delivered over low-bandwidth public internet to IMAX theaters in Hong Kong and Taiwan, showcasing the software’s capability to maintain quality while reducing costs.