Introduction
In the ever-evolving realm of digital streaming, delivering pay-per-view (PPV) content that matches the caliber of traditional broadcast has remained a formidable challenge. Wiser Technology, a leading software service company, stands at the forefront of this challenge, striving to provide millions of global fans with a seamless, high-quality live-streaming experience. This case study aims to succinctly convey the technical prowess and successful strategies employed by Wiser Technology, in partnership with JW Player, to deliver exceptional PPV live-streaming services.
Together, we will dive into how Wiser Technology, in collaboration with JW Player (JWP), successfully achieves broadcast-grade quality in PPV streaming at scale.
The Challenge
The PPV streaming landscape is complex, mainly when providing a broadcast-grade consumer experience at scale without delay. The goal is to course content and replicate the real-life experience of watching a live broadcast.
The Solution
Our quest for optimal technology led us to JW Platform, a robust partner supporting all our infrastructure needs. JW Platform is pivotal in delivering a top-tier web experience, integrating seamlessly with payment systems, entitlements, and more.
JW Player’s Role
JW Player plays an instrumental role in this ecosystem, offering:
- World’s Fastest HTML5 Player: Ensuring broad reach, enhanced engagement, and effective monetization.
- Customizable Experience: Tailoring the video player to create fully branded experiences.
- Broadcast Quality Stability: Ensuring consistent, high-quality HLS DASH-compliant video playback.
- Complete API Control: Offering comprehensive control over every aspect of the video experience.
Secure Video Streaming
In the digital age, content security is not just a feature – it’s a necessity, especially for pay-per-view events where exclusivity and revenue protection are paramount. Wiser Technology takes this aspect seriously, employing state-of-the-art Digital Rights Management (DRM) to safeguard video streams.
Wiser Technology’s streaming solution supports a variety of DRM schemas, ensuring compatibility and security across different devices and platforms. These include:
FairPlay
Used primarily in Apple environments, FairPlay is a DRM technology developed by Apple Inc. It’s widely used for streaming content on iOS devices, Apple TV, and Safari on macOS.
PlayReady
Developed by Microsoft, PlayReady is a versatile DRM solution that supports a wide range of business models, including rental, subscription, and electronic sell-through, and is widely used on Windows devices and some smart TVs.
Widevine
Google’s Widevine technology provides multiplatform DRM and supports a range of standards. It’s vital for streaming on Android devices and Chrome browsers and is also used on many smart TVs.
The Result
Our collaboration has led to the seamless streaming of some of the most significant live PPV boxing events, handling peak loads with minimal latency (<5sec), and offloading 95% of traffic to CDNs. Our infrastructure has successfully managed 1,200+ live PPV events annually, with 16K+ requests per second at peak times.
Conclusion
Our journey with JW Player illustrates that achieving broadcast-grade quality in PPV streaming at scale is a goal and a reality. With robust platforms, effective caching, redundancy, auto-scaling, and strategic CDN use, we ensure a smooth and flawless digital adventure for every viewer. At Wiser Technology, we are dedicated to supporting every phase of the content distribution life cycle, collaborating closely with JWP to build and customize OTT services that meet the unique needs of our customers.