Furthering its move towards IP-based contribution and a hybrid distribution model, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has agreed a five year contract for LiveU to deliver live 24/7 content via its Eurovision News Exchange.
Aiming to connect all Eurovision News Exchange members across 60 public service newsrooms around the world, the LiveU Matrix IP distribution platform forms the centre of the project. Integrating 125 LiveU Transceivers located at member premises with Dual Active (active/active) redundancy, the solution ensures two parallel streams (cloud and transceiver), providing uninterrupted service and enhancing Matrix’s ability to complement backup satellite distribution, said LiveU. The deployment enables contribution and distribution of content among members in addition to ad hoc sharing with other sources.
Utilising the services of global cloud providers in the various regions, the multi-vendor contingency plan supports a resilient and multi-layered architecture, added the company. Proactive monitoring is provided, as is the option to scale channels to meet demand.
Piotr Kaszynski, programme manager for the renewal of the Eurovision News Exchange live network, EBU, said, “Following a very tight and highly competitive selection process, we are delighted to partner with LiveU to replace the Eurovision News Exchange live contribution and distribution system. By the end of 2025, the new solution will bring greater flexibility and faster setup times, enabling our Members continuous, reliable access to Eurovision News Exchange live signals. With LiveU Matrix seamlessly connecting on-prem and field units already used across the News Exchange, this will strengthen collaboration and deliver even more value to our Members and partners.”
A phased rollout of LiveU Ingest is currently in the pilot phase, with 15 members deploying the solution for cloud recording and shared content workflows across primary and backup channels.
Emilio San Pedro, head of Eurovision News Exchange, EBU, said, “The project marks a decisive step for the broadcasting industry, as major public service media embrace cloud-based IP workflows for faster, more sustainable and cost-efficient live news delivery. LiveU’s Matrix platform enables us to connect Europe’s leading broadcasters better than ever and ensure seamless, future-proof live news delivery for audiences everywhere.”
Roy Hasson, VP global SaaS and solution Sales, LiveU, added, “We’re proud to partner with EBU on this historic leap forward. LiveU’s EcoSystem solutions have long been trusted by many EBU members and we’re delighted to now be chosen by the EBU itself. This milestone reflects our proven capabilities in delivering mission-critical reliability and performance with secure transmission. It showcases our ability to provide scalable and interoperable solutions and underscores the value-for-money offered by our Matrix solution in a highly competitive landscape. We are pleased to see the expansion of Matrix amongst our top tier accounts to become the tool clients rely on as their primary distribution platform.”
Deployment began earlier this year and is anticipated to be complete by January, when the EBU will phase out its satellite contribution workflow.
