Month: August 2024

A Comprehensive OTT Video Streaming Solution for Nova Broadcasting Group

by Sasho

Client at a glance

61%Share of the BG audience
6Live TV channels
28+ yearsEstablished in 1994

Shaping the Future of Video Streaming

By delivering a comprehensive OTT solution, Wiser Technology empowered Nova Broadcasting Group to redefine its streaming platform. With full control over its ecosystem and enhanced scalability, NBG continues to lead the market while offering an unparalleled viewing experience.

“We are truly delighted by the high level of competence and responsiveness of Wiser Technology’s team.“

Dirk Gerkens, CEO, Nova Broadcasting Group

Challenge

Nova Broadcasting Group (NBG), a leader in Eastern Europe’s media landscape and part of United Group, sought greater independence and flexibility from its existing streaming platform. While leveraging a prominent global provider, NBG aimed to better control its user experience, accelerate time-to-market, and foster tailored audience engagement. The challenge was to build a custom Over-The-Top (OTT) platform that could scale with its growing user base and meet evolving market dynamics.

Our Approach

To empower NBG with ownership over their streaming ecosystem, we partnered with the group to deliver a tailored solution that combined robust infrastructure with a user-focused experience.

Key actions included:

  1. Custom OTT Architecture: Designed a scalable system built to NBG’s specifications, integrating proprietary and third-party streaming services.
  2. Comprehensive Product Development: Delivered native applications for web, iOS, Android, AndroidTV, and Chromecast, ensuring a seamless experience across all devices.
  3. Distinct Streaming Services:
    • Nova Play: Offering live and Ad-Supported Video on Demand (AVOD) models.
    • Play Diema Xtra: Supporting live streaming, Pay-Per-View (PPV), and Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD).

Impact Delivered

  • User Growth: Migrated users and content seamlessly, achieving zero churn and expanding the user base to 600,000 active users.
  • Enhanced Viewing Time: Increased watch time by 17%, boosting ad revenue per user.
  • Improved Content Reach: Expanded from four to six live TV channels, meeting audience demands.
  • Full Ownership: Delivered Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for all front-end applications, enabling NBG to define and lead its feature roadmap.

Innovative Features and Design

The platform offers a superior user experience with:

  • Dynamic User Features: Personalized profiles, push notifications, watch-later functionality, and continuous play across devices.
  • Advanced Monetization Models: Supports ad-serving, PPV, and subscription-based approaches for premium content.
  • Seamless Viewing Options: Integrated DVR functionality for live and recorded streams, allowing users to pause, rewind, and fast-forward effortlessly.

Robust Backend and Scalability

  • Content Management: Adaptive bitrate streaming ensures optimized delivery across all networks and devices.
  • Security and Monetization: End-to-end encryption, DRM, and secure monetization tools guarantee safe and reliable revenue generation.
  • Analytics Integration: Multilayer analytics drive intelligent marketing strategies and actionable user insights.
  • Infrastructure Stability: Leveraged multi-CDN deployment, auto-scaling, and redundancy to handle high traffic volumes while maintaining industry-leading video quality.

Overcoming Technical Challenges

One significant hurdle involved MPEG-DASH limitations, including static DVR configurations and live-edge adjustments. Our proprietary live stream proxy solution resolved these issues, enabling real-time stream modifications and delivering a seamless user experience.

Agile Execution

The project followed Agile/Kanban methodology, structured into iterative phases, each delivering major features and improvements. Our cross-functional team included Product Managers, a Software Architect, DevOps Engineers, and QA specialists, ensuring alignment with NBG’s strategic goals.

Wiser’s Revenues Nearly Tripled in H1 2024

by Sasho

In brief

  • 192% year-over-year increase in consolidated revenues
  • On a pro-forma consolidated basis the revenues surged to €13.8M for the first half of 2024

Sofia, Bulgaria, August 29, 2024 – Bianor Holding AD (BSE: BNR), operating under the Wiser Technology brand, announces a 192% year-over-year increase in consolidated revenues for the first half of 2024. Revenues reached €4.3M, up from €1.5M during the same period of 2023.

On a pro-forma consolidated basis, which includes the revenues from the companies acquired earlier this year, Wiser’s revenues surged to €13.8M for the first half of 2024. This is an over nine times increase compared to the same period of 2023. The newly acquired companies are consolidated in Wiser’s profit and loss reports starting with the third quarter of the year, and their effect will be reflected starting with the next quarterly reports.

“We anticipate continued rapid year-over-year revenue growth in the second half of the year and positive financial results for the full year.“

Kosta Jordanov, CEO at Wiser.

Wiser reported a negative financial result before interest, taxes, and depreciation of €0.2M and a net loss of €0.3M for the first half of 2024.

“We anticipate continued rapid year-over-year revenue growth in the second half of the year and positive financial results for the full year, despite the significant focus and investments this year to support our aggressive expansion,” said Kosta Jordanov, CEO of Wiser. “In the first half of the year, we had over €0.2M in one-off M&A-related costs. Most of those are now behind us, and we refocus our investments towards the integration of all the companies in the group under a single organizational structure and brand and in the international expansion of our sales channels,” added Jordanov.

Wiser is planning a capital increase of up to €12.6M through the Bulgarian Stock Exchange in the second half of the year. The company invites all members of the investment community to an open meeting on September 11th, 2024, at 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sofia Hotel. During this meeting, Wiser’s management will provide further comments on the company’s financial performance and more information about the company’s growth plans, as well as the objectives and parameters of the upcoming capital increase.

Transparent Donations for Disaster Areas

by Agnes

Client at a glance

10+International NGOs and social enterprises
100,000+Blockchain transactions
20+Countries

Revolutionizing Aid Funding with Blockchain Transparency

Aidonic’s platform is transforming the way aid is delivered, enabling NGOs and social enterprises to rebuild trust and maximize their impact. By combining innovative blockchain technology with user-centered design, Wiser helped Aidonic create a platform that connects donors directly to beneficiaries, ensuring every contribution counts.

Challenge

Traditional aid funding often suffers from poor governance, lack of transparency, and limited accountability, eroding trust among donors and beneficiaries. Aidonic, an early-stage startup, sought to revolutionize this process by creating a blockchain-based platform that would:

  • Prohibit NGOs from accessing fiat money directly.
  • Ensure complete transparency and traceability of donations.
  • Facilitate collaboration between financial organizations to maximize resource efficiency and accountability.

Additionally, as a startup seeking to attract investors, Aidonic faced strict time constraints to develop a compelling product concept and design.

Our Approach

To help Aidonic achieve its vision, we provided consulting and development services focused on designing a user-centric blockchain platform to ensure transparency and trust in aid funding.

Key actions included:

  1. Concept Development: Collaborated with Aidonic to refine the product vision and define the design concept for a peer-to-peer donation ecosystem.
  2. UX Design:
    • Developed high-fidelity wireframes for a web-based platform.
    • Defined the roles of platform actors, including donors, NGOs, beneficiaries, and retailers.
    • Designed workflows for fund donation, transfer, and management processes, including contingencies for both successful and unsuccessful campaigns.
    • Created an interactive prototype to visualize user journeys and communication paths.
  3. UI Design:
    • Designed all visual components, including a comprehensive UI visual guideline.
    • Delivered desktop screens showcasing the platform’s functionality and user interface.

Solution Delivered

The Aidonic Platform is a blockchain-based communication channel that facilitates real-time tracking of funds, ensuring donors can monitor cash flow until aid reaches beneficiaries. Key features include:

  • Token-Based Ecosystem: Securely connects global donations directly to those in need via micro-transactions.
  • Transparency and Traceability: Tracks all transactions in real-time, enhancing trust and accountability.
  • Zero-Fee Micro-Transactions: Maximizes the value of donations by minimizing overhead costs.

Impact Achieved

  • Complete Transparency: Delivered a platform that ensures traceability of funds, building trust among donors, NGOs, and beneficiaries.
  • Operational Efficiency: Streamlined donation processes with zero-fee micro-transactions, reducing overhead and improving resource utilization.
  • Enhanced Accountability: Enabled direct interaction between donors and beneficiaries, fostering a more responsive and impactful aid process.

Expertise and Scope

  • Deliverables: UX/UI design, high-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototype, visual guideline, desktop screens.
  • Technology Stack: Sketch, InVision, Adobe Xd