Key Points:
- Plex is using Bitmovin’s VOD Encoder on Oracle Cloud to power its transactional and premium on-demand video services.
- The solution has reduced Plex’s CDN costs by 23 percent and storage costs by 55 percent while improving visual quality at lower bitrates.
- Bitmovin’s Per-Title Encoding and integration with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure enable Plex to scale its premium content library efficiently and securely.
Streaming media platform Plex has chosen to use Bitmovin’s technology to power its video on-demand (VOD) offerings, including its premium video rental store, the companies revealed on Friday.
In a statement, Bitmovin said Plex will utilize its technology to help control costs while maintaining high-quality streams as it expands its ad-supported streaming content library and video rental store.
Plex required an encoding solution capable of handling premium titles with strong visual fidelity, reduced delivery expenses, and advanced security measures such as forensic watermarking. After evaluating options, the company implemented Bitmovin’s VOD Encoder, citing its ability to integrate with Oracle’s cloud services and its “Per-Title Encoding” feature, which generates adaptive bitrate ladders tailored to each piece of content.
“Bitmovin’s VOD Encoder is a key component in our video streaming workflow, ensuring that we can securely encode content at the highest visual quality while keeping operational costs under control,” Scott Olechowski, the Chief Product Officer at Plex, said in a statement. “Running on OCI, Bitmovin’s VOD Encoder’s Per-Title Encoding allows us to create highly efficient adaptive bitrate ladders that improve visual quality for viewers even at lower bitrates while significantly reducing CDN and storage costs. Bitmovin has been a strong technology partner throughout the process, and we are very pleased with the results.”
Plex has already realized a 23 percent reduction in content delivery network costs and a 55 percent reduction in storage expenses since deploying Bitmovin’s solution on Oracle’s cloud platform, executives said on Friday.
Bitmovin and Oracle’s flexible encoder deployment model and connected cloud integration allowed Plex’s engineering team to roll out the service quickly, freeing resources for other projects.
Stefan Lederer, the co-Founder and CEO of Bitmovin, said the partnership further illustrates the company’s focus on delivering both quality and efficiency for streamers.
“Our VOD Encoder is built to deliver the highest quality video with the operational efficiency and security that today’s leading streaming platforms require,” Lederer said. “In addition, with the performance and scalability of OCI, we are able to give Plex the flexibility to meet the demands of its global audience.”
Plex counts more than 25 million users of its app, which allows streamers to watch content from their own media libraries and thousands of titles available to rent for a small fee or stream for free with ads.
Plex also offers more than 1,000 free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels of content ranging from live sports and news content to premium TV shows and movies.
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