International eSports and gaming solutions
provider Gfinity has deployed Grass Valley’s cloud-based software-as-a-service GV
AMPP (Agile Media Processing Platform) to support
multi-day live eSports broadcasts.
UK-based Gfinity decided to use the technology to
handle production and delivery entirely in the cloud for one of its virtual
professional motorsports series, which is distributed for live broadcast on
both OTT and linear channels around the world.
The project was turned around, with GV AMPP in
place and on-air within weeks, thanks to the simple deployment enabled by this
SaaS platform.
“Initially, due to COVID-19 – but also looking ahead
to longer-term flexibility and scalability – we wanted to put a cloud-based
production and delivery workflow in place that could meet the high-end
production values that our gamers, fans and broadcast partners expect,” said
Michael Valentine, Head of eSports Technology at Gfinity.
“Being able to handle everything from live
switching to multiviewers in the cloud through AMPP extends our ability to
produce content remotely and delivers improved utilisation of resources
throughout a race weekend.
“Latency is a key issue that comes with the
fast-paced nature of professional motorsports, even a slight synching issue
impacts the end-user experience. But with AMPP, that’s all taken care of.”
For each racing event, remotely-controlled camera
feeds from multiple individual player locations across Europe are sent to AMPP
in the cloud through LiveU’s portable cellular units.
The feeds are immediately available in a web
browser for monitoring by the entire production team, racing support teams,
game observers and officials via AMPP Multiviewers. AMPP Master Control is
accessed using the same AMPP switching fabric, which also provides the feed
synchronisation that is critical to successfully switching the program.
Streams are delivered, with RTMP and SRT via AMPP
to video platforms such as Brightcove. In addition, the show is brought out of
the cloud using AMPP I/O at Gfinity’s London studio where it is handed off to
linear TV channels.
Mike Cronk, Vice President, Advanced Technology at
Grass Valley, said: “When Gfinity approached us looking for a solution to keep
their production on-line during the pandemic, we were very excited to
collaborate with them.
“Having seen other deployments of AMPP — that
enabled scalable and flexible cloud-based productions — the team at Gfinity
were assured Grass Valley would be the technology partner that could take their
workflow into the cloud.
“We're thrilled to work with this innovative eSports
pioneer.”