Telstra expands global broadcast capabilities and operations with MediaCloud acquisition

London, United Kingdom, 15 June 2021 – Telstra Broadcast Services Pty Limited (TBS) will broadcast some of the world’s biggest events to more parts of the globe and play a key role in delivering 24/7 programming to millions of people with the acquisition of the business and assets of MediaCloud Pty Ltd. (MediaCloud).

The acquisition of MediaCloud will provide TBS with a suite of significant software-defined and cloud-based capabilities, media cloud delivery experts and a London Master Control Room, that is equipped with the capability to support major global companies and events.

The addition of MediaCloud capabilities to TBS’s Professional Media portfolio will enable it to offer:

• Managed Streaming - a complete as-a-service offering that enables broadcasters to specify, launch and monitor over-the-top services with minimal resources while maintaining broadcast-grade SLAs.
  
• Internet Delivery – the ability to deliver high-quality video content and live broadcast streams including HD, SD and Ultra HD (4k) to any registered destination point, across the public internet. It is expected that this internet delivery capability will form a new entry-level tier of services, the Telstra Internet Delivery Network, available to broadcasters and media companies wishing to use TBS’s global networks but not requiring the premium service level agreements offered by its current solutions.
  
• Media Management and Content Orchestration – a fully managed, or platform-as-a-service offering, providing media asset management, content orchestration of complex media workflows and localisation. This will also include the ability to import, manage and preview video, audio and subtitle assets, along with various transmission schedules.
  
• Playout – a fully managed 24/7 service for the creation of broadcast-grade linear and complex television channels. 

As part of the acquisition, Australian free-to-air TV channel SBS has renewed its playout contract for MediaCloud services for seven years. This means everything from SBS News to the latest primetime show will be assembled and played out via TBS. 

Darren Farnham, SBS Acting Chief Technology Officer said, "We’re pleased to have extended our agreement for MediaCloud services with the backing of Telstra, and to continue delivering SBS’s unique content to audiences on their device of choice." 

Head of Telstra Broadcast Services Andreas Eriksson said that the addition of the MediaCloud platform will provide broadcasters with incredible flexibility to manage their content offerings through virtual environments.

“The global media industry is expanding to cloud-enabled and software-defined capabilities. Adding these leading new capabilities alongside TBS’s existing global fibre and satellite networks sets us up to meet the evolving needs of the broadcast market as well as expand our value proposition to our global client base by providing a world-class broadcast operations in London.

“The new capabilities will help broadcasters deploy new services and channels to respond to special events, programming opportunities and new markets in these changing times,” Mr Eriksson said.

The MediaCloud acquisition is the latest offering from TBS, following recent expansion into new regions, as well as new advancements and partnerships to its Telstra Global Media Network.

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Media contact

Steve Carey, General Manager Media

E: media@team.telstra.com
Reference number: 049/2021

About Telstra Broadcast Service

Telstra is a leading telecommunications and technology company with a proudly Australian heritage and a longstanding, growing international business.

Telstra Broadcast Services brings to our customers a dedicated team of media industry professionals, high-performance media networks, online video and cloud platforms, as well as world-class satellite services. With capabilities in 24/7 bookings, operations and engineering support, we can take live sports content securely from stadiums to screens.

Our purpose-built video contribution and distribution networks supports permanent and occasional-use services for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint across traditional broadcast, IP video standards and cloud connectivity. Comprising not just Telstra’s owned infrastructure, but also 2,500 on-network (OnNet) endpoints around the world under the Telstra Global Media Network Partner Alliance. These endpoints include 1,000+ customer sites and 1,500+ venues and stadiums from Asia to Europe, and many locations in between.

Our vision is to be the primary provider of media services in Australia and a global leader in media services, live events and live sports contribution. This growth plan leverages Telstra’s core network capabilities and will be achieved through strategic pillars, including an expansion into the Australian broadcast operations market and both the North American and European media networks markets.