Each year, Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original live and on-demand programming using AWS Media & Entertainment Services.
Discovery and Amazon Web Services have expanded their strategic partnership to support Discovery’s ongoing cloud transformation.
AWS will provide the vast majority of Discovery’s infrastructure needs to deliver its discovery+ direct-to-consumer on-demand streaming video service, its digital services, and more than 450 global linear TV channels. With AWS, Discovery will also aim to provide personalisation of the discovery+ service, helping viewers to find content that appeals to their interests.
Discovery uses a number of AWS Media & Entertainment Services to deliver more than 8,000 hours of original live and on-demand programming each year. AWS Elemental MediaConnect, AWS Elemental MediaLive, and AWS Elemental MediaPackage manage Discovery’s video transport, preparation, processing, and delivery behind the scenes, helping to ensure a better audience experience regardless of viewing device type or connectivity. It is the largest media and entertainment user of Amazon Personalise, the company’s machine learning service that enables developers to create real-time, personalised user experiences faster and at scale. Using Amazon Personalise, Discovery offers recommendations for curated content matching the specific interest of viewers.
Commenting on the deal, Avi Saxena, Chief Technology Officer, Direct-to-Consumer at Discovery, Inc., said: “AWS provides the unparalleled portfolio of services, global infrastructure, and proven performance we need to reliably deliver our premium content at scale to Discovery viewers all over the world. Running on AWS, we have the agility and elasticity we need to deliver quality viewing experiences for peak events like the Olympics, as well as scalable machine learning capabilities to deliver meaningful personalisation to viewers so they can get the most value out of their subscriptions.”
Discovery’s portfolio of television channels, including Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, OWN, TLC, and Travel Channel.
As part of this strategic relationship, the two companies are building an immersive fan-engagement experience for the new Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Track Champions League to introduce track cycling to new audiences and expand the sport’s global fan base. Discovery Sports Events and AWS will serve live data, analysis, and stats such as bike speed, race position, pedal cadence, and more to fans in the velodrome (where races take place) through live television and streaming, and in a new UCI Track Champions League app.
Kathrin Renz, Vice President of Business Development and Industries at Amazon Web Services, Inc., added: “Discovery is home to some of the world’s most iconic media brands, and AWS makes it easier than ever for its viewers to access, identify, and engage with the content they love. As Discovery brings its deep and growing library of content to audiences around the world, they can count on AWS to elastically scale without ever sacrificing the reliability or high quality that its customers expect.”
