GMA Network has successfully used Quortex Link to lower costs and reduce the complexity of the video distribution partnerships it operates with worldwide content providers and affiliates.
Philippines broadcaster GMA Network has recently been able to lower the costs and reduce the complexity of the video distribution partnerships it operates with content providers and affiliates, including tier 1 telecommunications companies in Asia Pacific and affiliates across the US. Using the SaaS-based Quortex Link platform from Synamedia, which runs on AWS, GMA has not only been able to save on distribution costs and simplify operations but also improve its subscriber experience through increased reliability and improved latency.
GMA Pinoy TV is GMA's main international channel, bringing Filipino entertainment and news to Global Filipinos in over 100 countries. It reaches its audience through partnerships with pay-TV operators across cable, direct-to-home (DTH), IPTV and OTT platforms.
Transitioning from Satellite
GMA first partnered with Synamedia in 2023 to transition its GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV and GMA News TV channel services from satellite to the cloud, starting with affiliates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). By the end of 2024, it went live with Quortex Link to distribute multiple channels across the Asia-Pacific region. The rollout is now expanding to the US and Canada in North America as GMA continues to extend its reach to global Filipino audiences – called Pinoys – around the world.
Quortex is Synamedia’s SaaS platform for delivering live streams using a centralised user interface and API, for point to point, point to multipoint or streaming based delivery. Quortex Link is an application on the platform targeting video delivery from one point to another, using the SRT protocol. By using Quortex Link, GMA says it has been able to lower overall costs by nearly 25% by replacing complex, always-on satellite infrastructure with a simplified platform.
This flexible approach means GMA can add or remove affiliates and third-party content in a a single step. Since GMA only pays for the channels it distributes, their team can speed up affiliate onboarding at the same time and avoid building up legacy technical debt.
Relationship
GMA chose to partner with Synamedia based on the relationship the two companies have built over 15 years. During that time, GMA come to understand the reliability of Synamedia's solutions first-hand. The decision was also driven by Quortex Link's effective system and self-service model, which gives GMA full control and real-time monitoring of its video content around the world via the cloud, delivering risk mitigation and operational confidence.
Cherry FlorCruz, Assistant Vice President for GMA International Operations and IP Migration Project Manager stated, "Our global transition from satellite to IP has been straightforward and efficient and, most important, a better viewing experience for the Filipino audience worldwide. Synamedia has made it possible to significantly reduced costs and improve operational efficiencies."
Self-Service Multi-Tenant SaaS
Elke Hungenaert, VP of Product Management, Video Network, Synamedia, commented, "GMA gives other broadcasters a blueprint for how to switch off satellite and smoothly move to IP for video distribution. With Quortex Link delivering new levels of business agility and scalability, GMA can now grow revenues through partnerships with pay-TV operators and affiliates to reach its loyal audience of Pinoys with a first-class viewing experience."
Quortex Link is a pay-as-you-use, self-service multi-tenant SaaS platform for secure, reliable video distribution. With this approach, it removes the need for complex, expensive static infrastructure and simplifies the distribution of 24/7 channels and occasional-use content for events, news, sports and pop-up channels.
It reduces the time and investment required to establish video distribution links and cuts energy consumption by eliminating always-on infrastructure. By taking a fresh look at traditional business models, what previously took months and significant CAPEX can now be achieved rapidly with less risk on an open platform. www.synamedia.com
