Enhancing RaiPlay’s Streaming Performance with MainStreaming 

Enhancing RaiPlay’s Streaming Performance with MainStreaming 

Enhancing RaiPlay’s Streaming Performance with MainStreaming 

Enhancing RaiPlay’s Streaming Performance with MainStreaming 

Overview

Overview

Overview

About RaiPlay

About RaiPlay

About RaiPlay

Rai (Radiotelevisione Italiana) is Italy's national public service broadcasting company which started TV transmission in January 1954. Initially focused on building and operating its own technology infrastructure, Rai has transitioned into a publisher model, emphasizing content creation. Rai has a digital platform, RaiPlay, that operates OTT services including the 14 linear channels of Rai, plus another 6 live channels for occasional use sports and live content, and produces an impressive 450,000 video assets annually.  
Rai reaches 100% of the population using DTT, satellite and IP services.  Rai employs 12,500 people and generated €2.8 billion in revenue in 2023, evenly split between license fees and advertising.  Rai’s role as a public service broadcaster is its highest priority.   
In today’s hyper-connected world, Rai faces the challenge of meeting audience demand for content on digital platforms like RaiPlay. However, like many public service broadcasters, Rai must navigate the delicate balance of investing in digital innovation without jeopardizing the significant revenue generated by its traditional TV channels.  
Rai (Radiotelevisione Italiana) is Italy's national public service broadcasting company which started TV transmission in January 1954. Initially focused on building and operating its own technology infrastructure, Rai has transitioned into a publisher model, emphasizing content creation. Rai has a digital platform, RaiPlay, that operates OTT services including the 14 linear channels of Rai, plus another 6 live channels for occasional use sports and live content, and produces an impressive 450,000 video assets annually.  
Rai reaches 100% of the population using DTT, satellite and IP services.  Rai employs 12,500 people and generated €2.8 billion in revenue in 2023, evenly split between license fees and advertising.  Rai’s role as a public service broadcaster is its highest priority.   
In today’s hyper-connected world, Rai faces the challenge of meeting audience demand for content on digital platforms like RaiPlay. However, like many public service broadcasters, Rai must navigate the delicate balance of investing in digital innovation without jeopardizing the significant revenue generated by its traditional TV channels.  
Rai (Radiotelevisione Italiana) is Italy's national public service broadcasting company which started TV transmission in January 1954. Initially focused on building and operating its own technology infrastructure, Rai has transitioned into a publisher model, emphasizing content creation. Rai has a digital platform, RaiPlay, that operates OTT services including the 14 linear channels of Rai, plus another 6 live channels for occasional use sports and live content, and produces an impressive 450,000 video assets annually.  
Rai reaches 100% of the population using DTT, satellite and IP services.  Rai employs 12,500 people and generated €2.8 billion in revenue in 2023, evenly split between license fees and advertising.  Rai’s role as a public service broadcaster is its highest priority.   
In today’s hyper-connected world, Rai faces the challenge of meeting audience demand for content on digital platforms like RaiPlay. However, like many public service broadcasters, Rai must navigate the delicate balance of investing in digital innovation without jeopardizing the significant revenue generated by its traditional TV channels.  

Challenges

Challenges

Key facts

As RaiPlay continues to grow, it faces a variety of technical and operational challenges:

1

Scaling for Peak Traffic

RaiPlay serves a national audience, experiencing significant spikes during major events like the annual Sanremo music festival and the Olympics, that can reach up to twenty times the average audience sizes on the channel. Handling such peaks without compromising performance is critical. 

2

Origin Set-Up and Protection

Popular VOD content, such as programmes like Mare Fuori, can ramp up demand rapidly, putting pressure on the origin servers. The vast size of RaiPlay’s VOD library heightens the risk of origin overload, requiring advanced caching strategies and Origin Shield services. 

3

Regional and National Distribution

RaiPlay’s audience is distributed nationally, mirroring population patterns, but content like Mare Fuori or some football matches can attract more concentrated regional audiences, necessitating flexible and efficient content distribution. 

4

Device
Compatibility

RaiPlay must be accessible on a wide range of devices, including Smart TVs, FireTV, GoogleTV, AppleTV, SkyQ, and SkyGlass. Keeping pace with new device platforms while supporting older models presents an ongoing challenge. 

5

Audience Analytics and Multi-CDN Orchestration

To improve user experience and optimize content delivery, RaiPlay requires effective audience analytics and automated multi-CDN selection processes. 

Solution

Solution

Work with MainStreaming

Work with MainStreaming

MainStreaming, selected by Rai in a public tender, has been a pivotal partner in enhancing RaiPlay’s streaming capabilities, offering cutting-edge solutions to address their most complex challenges:

Optimized Performance

Optimized Performance

MainStreaming’s Edge Video Delivery Network ensures seamless streaming performance for both VOD and live content. 

Smart Origin Strategies

Smart Origin Strategies

Through multi-region deployment of MainStreaming’s Smart Origin solution, MainStreaming ensures efficient content delivery and robust protection against unexpected traffic surges. 

AI-Driven Efficiency

AI-Driven Efficiency

With MainStreaming’s advanced AI Orchestration technology, viewers’ connections to RaiPlay are dynamically optimized based on viewer locations, delivering a smoother and more reliable streaming experience. 

Proactive Managed Services

Proactive Managed Services

MainStreaming provides tailored, video-centric managed services that adapt to RaiPlay’s needs, enabling efficient scaling during traffic peaks and seamless management of an extensive VOD library. 

Results

Results

Results

MainStreaming’s partnership with RaiPlay has delivered significant results. 

MainStreaming’s partnership with RaiPlay has delivered significant results. 

MainStreaming’s partnership with RaiPlay has delivered significant results. 

MainStreaming’s partnership with RaiPlay has indeed delivered significant results.  

In addition to enhanced scalability and reliability for RaiPlay’s extensive VOD library, MainStreaming manages the majority of RaiPlay’s content delivery for live streaming of selected channels and events. This has enabled seamless handling of traffic peaks that are 20 times larger than the average viewership while achieving an impressive 99% cache hit ratio, ensuring high performance and effective origin protection.  

Furthermore, with the implementation of multi-region Smart Origin setups, MainStreaming has further improved cache hit ratios – nearing an exceptional 99.999% – and effectively shields RaiPlay’s origins from unexpected overloads. 

MainStreaming’s partnership with RaiPlay has indeed delivered significant results.  

In addition to enhanced scalability and reliability for RaiPlay’s extensive VOD library, MainStreaming manages the majority of RaiPlay’s content delivery for live streaming of selected channels and events. This has enabled seamless handling of traffic peaks that are 20 times larger than the average viewership while achieving an impressive 99% cache hit ratio, ensuring high performance and effective origin protection.  

Furthermore, with the implementation of multi-region Smart Origin setups, MainStreaming has further improved cache hit ratios – nearing an exceptional 99.999% – and effectively shields RaiPlay’s origins from unexpected overloads. 

MainStreaming’s partnership with RaiPlay has indeed delivered significant results.  

In addition to enhanced scalability and reliability for RaiPlay’s extensive VOD library, MainStreaming manages the majority of RaiPlay’s content delivery for live streaming of selected channels and events. This has enabled seamless handling of traffic peaks that are 20 times larger than the average viewership while achieving an impressive 99% cache hit ratio, ensuring high performance and effective origin protection.  

Furthermore, with the implementation of multi-region Smart Origin setups, MainStreaming has further improved cache hit ratios – nearing an exceptional 99.999% – and effectively shields RaiPlay’s origins from unexpected overloads. 

Conclusion

Conclusion

Conclusion

Streaming at scale for exceptional audience experience

Streaming at scale for exceptional audience experience

Streaming at scale for exceptional audience experience

MainStreaming helped RaiPlay to scale its operations, to deliver exceptional audience experiences, and to maintain high-performance streaming during peak events.  

Looking ahead, Rai and MainStreaming are exploring new opportunities to further enhance scalability, performance, and content security. A key initiative is to leverage MainStreaming’s Private Deep Edge Network, a highly distributed private infrastructure based on edge computing, designed to optimize streaming quality, particularly during high-demand events. 

In addition, as streaming becomes an increasingly vital revenue stream for Rai, MainStreaming is implementing advanced anti-piracy measures to safeguard RaiPlay’s content and minimize revenue loss. The partnership is also focused on implementing real-time audience analytics to refine delivery strategies and further optimize streaming performance. 

By addressing RaiPlay’s most complex challenges, MainStreaming has enabled the platform to solidify its position as a leader in digital broadcasting, meeting the growing expectations of its audience while staying ahead of industry challenges. Together, Rai and MainStreaming are setting a new standard for public service streaming in the digital era. 

MainStreaming helped RaiPlay to scale its operations, to deliver exceptional audience experiences, and to maintain high-performance streaming during peak events.  

Looking ahead, Rai and MainStreaming are exploring new opportunities to further enhance scalability, performance, and content security. A key initiative is to leverage MainStreaming’s Private Deep Edge Network, a highly distributed private infrastructure based on edge computing, designed to optimize streaming quality, particularly during high-demand events. 

In addition, as streaming becomes an increasingly vital revenue stream for Rai, MainStreaming is implementing advanced anti-piracy measures to safeguard RaiPlay’s content and minimize revenue loss. The partnership is also focused on implementing real-time audience analytics to refine delivery strategies and further optimize streaming performance. 

By addressing RaiPlay’s most complex challenges, MainStreaming has enabled the platform to solidify its position as a leader in digital broadcasting, meeting the growing expectations of its audience while staying ahead of industry challenges. Together, Rai and MainStreaming are setting a new standard for public service streaming in the digital era. 

MainStreaming helped RaiPlay to scale its operations, to deliver exceptional audience experiences, and to maintain high-performance streaming during peak events.  

Looking ahead, Rai and MainStreaming are exploring new opportunities to further enhance scalability, performance, and content security. A key initiative is to leverage MainStreaming’s Private Deep Edge Network, a highly distributed private infrastructure based on edge computing, designed to optimize streaming quality, particularly during high-demand events. 

In addition, as streaming becomes an increasingly vital revenue stream for Rai, MainStreaming is implementing advanced anti-piracy measures to safeguard RaiPlay’s content and minimize revenue loss. The partnership is also focused on implementing real-time audience analytics to refine delivery strategies and further optimize streaming performance. 

By addressing RaiPlay’s most complex challenges, MainStreaming has enabled the platform to solidify its position as a leader in digital broadcasting, meeting the growing expectations of its audience while staying ahead of industry challenges. Together, Rai and MainStreaming are setting a new standard for public service streaming in the digital era. 

Testimonials

What our customers say

Testimonials

What our customers say

Testimonials

What our customers say

Testimonials

What our customers say

Talk to our streaming experts

Unlocking Success with MainStreaming

Discover how MainStreaming help businesses achieve seamless and scalable streaming experiences.

Talk to our streaming experts

Unlocking Success with MainStreaming

Discover how MainStreaming help businesses achieve seamless and scalable streaming experiences.

Talk to our streaming experts

Unlocking Success with MainStreaming

Discover how MainStreaming help businesses achieve seamless and scalable streaming experiences.

Talk to our streaming experts

Unlocking Success with MainStreaming

Discover how MainStreaming help businesses achieve seamless and scalable streaming experiences.