LONDON—As Europe’s largest media company, Sky Group delivers premium content at a scale few media companies can match. Operating across multiple markets has meant managing a patchwork of siloed systems, inconsistent tooling, different operational practices and varied compliance requirements, preventing us from fully leveraging economies of scale.

Our challenge required not only a technically innovative approach to future-proof Sky’s content supply chain, but also a long-term strategic solution that would unify operations across the Group.

In short, we needed a radical shift onto a single platform.

One Group, One Platform
To address this, we built Media­Mesh, a unified cloud platform that centralizes QC, enrichment, conversion, and distribution at scale. The MediaMesh architecture—an API-driven, modular framework—brings together a curated ecosystem of in-house built microservices and products from leading industry partners, each selected for their ability to solve specific pain points.

For this project, we partnered with several companies, including SDVI, whose Rally platform provided the base layer that integrates with new and legacy tooling to retrieve metadata and media from dispersed systems and storage, in order to orchestrate content through the group’s platform.

Telestream’s Qualify serves as the automated quality control (QC) function at ingest, validating assets against Sky’s technical standards before proceeding further. Through close collaboration with operations, years of QC data were audited to optimize a system that flags issues early and reduces false positives compared to legacy tools, significantly minimizing manual review effort and downstream issues.

AWS ran AI to identify on-screen subtitles and spoken language to automatically identify localization requirements to fast-track downstream dubbing and subtitling efforts. This language detection has also allowed Sky Italia viewers to filter content by precise audio language, unlocking new levels of discoverability and personalization.

Codemill’s Accurate.Video platform not only plays back content, but provides a collection of audio controls, the ability to enable/disable subs and dubs for review and can present different time-based markers along a timeline (e.g., segmentation points, QC errors, sections needing localization).

We also deployed TMT Insights’ Polaris, which provides operations with a single platform identity, abstracting them from the multiple backend services, to streamline their operational practices. The Polaris UI provides visibility into metadata, end-to-end monitoring, workflow anomalies, prioritizes task management for steps requiring human intervention, communication threading and launching specialized functions such as editing tasks, various exports and ad hoc workflows. These functions help operations meet critical SLAs with confidence, reduce touchpoints, and speed up time to air.

Whether it’s ingesting content from over 300 content partners, enriching it with metadata and access services, or distributing it to platforms like Sky Glass and NOW, MediaMesh ensures every step is automated, observable, and streamlined. And the elastic scalability allocates sufficient system resources to meet the changing business demands.

To deliver a platform as ambitious as MediaMesh, we had to rethink not just our technology stack, but our internal capabilities. This meant evolving from a traditional broadcast engineering mindset to a software-first organization. TV engineers retrained as software engineers, embracing cloud-native development and modern DevOps practices. This transformation has not only accelerated delivery but fostered a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Business Benefits
By centralizing workflows, we can develop and deploy features once, rather than duplicating effort across multiple systems, delivering consistent benefits across the entire group. This streamlines internal investment and speeds up our time-to-market when delivering new features. Today, MediaMesh processes more than 2.7 million assets annually, equating to more than 10 million minutes of content, and manages around $2 billion worth of media across our ecosystem.

As we continue to evolve MediaMesh, we’re exploring new ways to enrich content, streamline compliance, and personalize viewer experiences across markets. The platform’s modular design ensures we can adapt quickly, whether it’s integrating new services, responding to regulatory changes or supporting future product launches. MediaMesh has laid the foundation for a more agile, scalable and collaborative future at Sky, and we’re excited to build on this momentum to shape next-generation content processing.

More information is available at www.telestream.net.

BRUSSELS—SKY+ and DGO, the streaming and live TV platforms of DirecTV Latin America and SKY Brasil, have incorporated innovative AI tools of Mediagenix and Spideo, which will allow them to provide the personalized recommendations for content and live TV.

Mediagenix announced the alliance with Vrio Corp. (parent company of DirecTV Latin America and SKY Brasil) to use its media recommendation and curation solution, powered by Spideo, as the basis for offering a premium experience to SKY+ users in Brazil and DGO users in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.

The OTT platforms will leverage Mediagenix and Spideo's AI capabilities to enhance personalized and relevant selection. This solution allows users to enjoy, according to their preferences, the extensive catalog that includes thousands of titles, 170 live channels within SKY+, and 260 live channels within DGO.

“Our vision for content search and recommendation technologies extends beyond UI adjustments. Vrio's goal is to increasingly improve content discovery and provide more personalized and engaging user experiences. Content discovery is key on a streaming platform,” said Flavia Guerra, Executive Director of Digital Products at Vrio Corp.

“DGO and SKY+ offer a rich content landscape with a large number of live channels, including local news and exclusive high-profile sporting events like the FIFA Club World Cup,” Guerra added. “With a wide range of commercial models and offerings, personalization becomes essential to deliver the right content to the right user,” explained Guerra.

“Leveraging AI and deep data analytics, Mediagenix/Spideo will provide this personalized content discovery across all screens and platforms, greatly simplifying the customer journey and significantly improving the user experience,” explained Fabrice Maquignon, CEO of Mediagenix.

Mediagenix acquired Spideo in 2024 and Mediagenix/Spideo empowers DGO and SKY+ to tackle the complexities of OTT streaming while enhancing operational efficiency and delivering data-rich experiences at scale.

“DGO and SKY+ are strengthening subscriber engagement and Mediagenix-Spideo is the core technology that will drive this strategy, ensuring seamless scalability while enhancing the audience experience, positioning Vrio as the leading TV Operator in Latin America,” commented Thibault d’Orso, co-founder at Spideo, now leading business development at Mediagenix.

The companies described the key advantages of the solution workflow as follows:

• Enhanced Personalization and Engagement: Highly relevant content recommendations based on user preferences, viewing habits, and intent ensure that users find content they love faster, increasing watch time and engagement.
• Explainable AI for Content Discovery: Advanced semantic data enables intuitive explanations and algorithmic controllability, which increases users’ trust in the recommendation experience. Viewers will spend less time searching and more time enjoying content.
• Keeping Viewers Engaged: Personalized recommendations keep viewers engaged while providing opportunities for targeted upselling and ad placements, boosting both loyalty and profitability.
• With Mediagenix and Spideo technology at the core, the partnership solidifies Vrio's position as a premier media and entertainment group across South America.

More information is available at https://www.mediagenix.tv/

PHILADELPHIA and NEW YORK—Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery have struck long-term carriage agreements that will allow Comcast to package the ad-supported versions of Max and Discovery+ in its U.S. streaming bundles.

The deal allows Comcast to continue to offer WBD’s portfolio of linear cable networks including TNT, TBS, CNN, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, TLC and ID to Xfinity TV customers in the U.S. It also allows Comcast to deliver WBD’s portfolio of content to its Sky customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

As usual in these carriage and distribution deals, financial terms were not disclosed.

The agreements also provide for continued carriage of HBO. Comcast will also continue to offer WBD content as part of its U.S. Now TV streaming service.

“We extended our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to distribute its networks and expanded our ability to deliver its premium streaming content, including Max and Discovery+, in a way that provides more choice and flexibility to all of our customers as the video ecosystem continues to evolve,” Comcast President of Content Acqusition Greg Rigdon said. “Through these agreements, we will bring Warner Bros. Discovery’s extensive portfolio to our customers however they want to consume the content across our existing and future linear television and streaming bundles.”

“These broad and multiyear agreements underscore the value and appeal of our linear portfolio for audiences in the U.S.,” said Bruce Campbell, chief revenue and strategy officer, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Sky UK is an ideal partner for us in the U.K. and Ireland as we prepare for Max’s launch in early 2026. We are pleased that Xfinity and Sky UK subscribers will continue to enjoy our award-winning and popular content on our networks and across our streaming platforms.”

Sky UK and WBD have also struck a new long-term partnership that will bring the company’s TV shows and movies to Sky U.K. and NOW customers in the U.K. and Ireland. Building on the WBD content already available on Sky Cinema and the existing series on Sky Atlantic, the agreement will now include a new, nonexclusive ad-supported Max app when WBD launches the service in the U.K. and Ireland in early 2026.

The Max ad-supported service will be bundled for Sky UK and Ireland customers, providing highly anticipated new shows on the service and more WBD content complementing Sky’s leading position in seamless aggregation. In addition, NOW UK and Ireland Entertainment members will also receive bundled access to the ad-supported version of Max, integrated into Sky’s NOW experience alongside other top content.

“This new partnership provides an expanded portfolio of content for our customers who enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular storytelling. Sky customers will be able to enjoy the Max app, WBD movies and the TV shows currently on Sky channels, and a seamless integration of the Max service into our NOW streaming experience,” Sky Group CEO Dana Strong said. “The combination of content from our partners, alongside our slate of Sky Originals, and Sky’s leading aggregation of the UK and Ireland’s best content apps gives us an unrivaled entertainment proposition and an exceptional lineup of the world’s best shows.”

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Pay TV operator Sky relied on TVU Network’s TVU Remote Production System (RPS) for live multi-camera contribution of content to supplement coverage of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in July and the Beijing Winter Games in February, the company said today.

Based on the success it had using TVU RPS at both events, Sky plans to use the same transmission model for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, it said.

“Our TVU setup was rock solid for both events,” said Sky technical production manager Kerry Phelvin. “During the Beijing Games, our TVU system was up and running for 16 days, running 24/7. The TVU RPS system performed flawlessly, moving over 30 terabytes in that period. Not only will we use this again for the Summer Games in Paris, but we may get a second RPS.”

Sky covered both events using feeds for the host broadcaster via the multi-channel service (MCS), which were sent to New Zealand using traditional paths, including satellite, fiber and IP Ethernet private line links. 

To supplement coverage, Sky used the TVUP RPS frame-synchronized remote production system with a single six-channel RPS encoder on location and a six-channel RPS decoder in New Zealand. Sky transported the signals via a standard commodity internet connection as H.265/HEVC-encoded video, which proved to be economical and efficient, it said.

For the Beijing Games, Sky used TVU RPS to deliver six unilateral feeds and two studio return feeds between the event’s international broadcast center and Sky’s main studio and transmission center in Auckland. The unilateral feeds carried a mix of programming not featured on the main host broadcaster feed, such as longer format time-shifted replays, local beauty shots and regional in-studio stand ups. The return feeds were used primarily for monitoring the studio productions in Auckland. Sky use a similar setup for coverage of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Sky also relied on TVU for support during the games. “As always, TVU support was excellent. During the Beijing Winter Games, we discovered that we were missing an SDI-to-SDI cable for RPS. The TVU support team in Shanghai promptly found one and couriered it to our mountain hotel. No questions asked, no invoice in the mail – brilliant,” said Phelvin. 

More information is available on the company’s website.

NEW YORK & LONDON—NBCUniversal and Sky have announced plans to launch its world news service this summer.

Aimed at English-speaking audiences around the globe, NBC Sky World News will recruit new talent as well as 100 employees to produce programming.

The Comcast-owned companies intend to open 10 new international bureaus “in places we feel news is under-reported,” according to NBC News International President Deborah Turness.

“We see an opportunity to begin an approach that isn’t filtered through a U.S. perspective or a British perspective or any national perspective,” she said. “We can bring our journalism to the wide world, but also invest heavily in global journalism so we can add to the story and really create an approach and product that can deliver the global perspective we believe the world wants right now.”

Comcast believes it can reach 130 million households in non-U.S. markets, Turness added. The company expects to distribute NBC Sky World News via cable, satellite and digital video in Europe, alongside NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock in the U.S.

Turness also confirmed that Euronews, in which NBC News holds a 25% stake, will remain a separate entity “very much about Europe and for Europeans, whereas we are in a different part of the market.”

This story originally appeared on TVT's sister publication TVBEurope.

OTTAWA, Canada & LONDON—European media and entertainment company Sky has invested an undisclosed sum in You.i TV, a privately held company offering cross-platform app development tools, You.i.TV said today.

The investment comes a month after You.i TV announced record business growth for 2018 with more new business booked for the year than in all previous years combined and revenue from international sales accounting for 30% of its total.

Sky’s investment is part of You.i TV’s larger Series C funding and represents its willingness to back companies that enable viewers to watch when they want on the device of their own choosing, You.i TV said.

“The backing of Sky, alongside our existing strategic investors, highlights the fact that You.i TV is at the forefront of the trend solving the world of device fragmentation as consumers demand content everywhere,” said You.i TV CEO and co-founder Jason Flick.

David Beazley, director of software engineering at Sky online streaming service NOW TV, will join the board of You.i TV.

“Sky and You.i TV share a vision to connect customers to great content, via easy, frictionless user experiences,” said Beazley. “Through this investment, both Sky and You.i TV will be able to share learnings and gain insights into how world-class viewing experiences can be easily replicated across multiple devices.”

More information is available on the You.i TV website.

LONDON—The mega media mergers of Disney and Fox and Comcast and Sky have bolstered the two companies’ content holdings and positioned them to compete effectively with online video providers, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, according to a new analysis from media analyst firm Ampere Analysis.

Following the mergers, two of every $10 spent on content worldwide and four of every $10 in the United States will be accounted for by Comcast/Sky and Disney/Fox, according to the firm.

Together, the two merged companies will account for $43 billion spent on content this year—with Disney/Fox spending $22 billion on originated and acquired content and Comcast/Sky spending $21 billion.

While online video platforms, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, continue to be content juggernauts –with Netflix on track to spend $8 billion on content this year, the mergers of these traditional content sources have reshuffled the deck when it comes to market power.

“Prior to the recent mergers, Netflix was on course to catch –and overtake—the top Hollywood studios by content spend,” says Daniel Gadner, analyst at Ampere Analysis. “However, in light of the two new combined entities, Netflix would now need to triple spend to achieve this feat.”

The mergers strengthen to position of both Disney/Fox and Comcast/Sky in the global market and protects them against the rising power of online video, he adds. By executing the mergers, both have increased their libraries of original content, which they can exploit as part of their direct-to-consumer strategies.

Disney already has indicated it will go direct to consumer and pull the plug on licensing content to Netflix. The addition of Fox will make the offering even stronger, says Gadher.

For independent producers, the consolidation will mean less competition for rights, which “inevitably [will] impact the indie sector’s ability to negotiate favorable deals,” he adds.

21st Century Fox said it plans to sell its stake in Sky to Comcast.

Comcast made a $40 billion offer that outbid Fox for the remaining Sky shares. Fox was bidding for the Walt Disney Co., which earlier had agreed to buy assets from Fox, including Fox’s 37% of Sky.

Fox valued its stake at $15 billion.

Disney said consented to Fox’s decision to sell the stake to Comcast.

Fox will either it tender its shares under Comcast’s offer, or sell the shares directly to Comcast.

Outbidding Fox and Disney for Sky hurt Comcast on Wall Street, where investors were concerned Comcast has overpaid for the asset.

But Comcast said it believe Sky would give it a larger subscriber base, more international business and access to direct-to-consumer technology.

Fox issued statement about its decision to sell its stake in Sky.

“In light of the premium Comcast has agreed to pay for Sky, we and Disney have decided to sell 21CF’s existing 39% holding in Sky to Comcast. We congratulate Comcast on their pending acquisition.

“We are proud of the role our company has played in building Sky, and of the outstanding value we have delivered for shareholders of 21CF and Sky, and customers across Europe.

“When we launched Sky in 1989 it was four channels produced from a prefab structure in an industrial park on the fringes of west London. We bet -- and almost lost -- the farm on launching a business that many didn’t think was such a good idea. Today, Sky is Europe’s leading entertainment company and a world-class example of a customer-driven enterprise. This achievement would not have been possible without decades of entrepreneurial risk-taking and the commitment of thousands of colleagues, creators and dreamers. For nearly 30 years we have invested to create a dynamic and exciting business that has produced excellent returns for shareholders and has become one of the most admired companies in Europe.

“We have provided greater choice and better value for families across Europe, and we have created more than 31,000 jobs across the continent. Today, Sky brings customers better TV than ever before and better entertainment experiences than many ever thought possible.”

We are grateful to our exceptional colleagues at Sky for creating this unique and outstanding company and wish them continued success.”

Comcast has announced to the Stock Exchange that it has already acquired 29.1 per cent of Sky shares, and intends to purchase more.

21st Century Fox still holds a 39 per cent stake in Sky and has said it is considering its options.

Comcast requires the backing of more than 50 per cent of Sky's shareholders to gain approval for its near £30 billion offer. The deadline for Sky shareholders to accept the offer is 11th October.

With the Sky takeover, Comcast will become the biggest pay-TV provider in the world, with around 52 million customers after adding Sky's 23 million subscribers.

Comcast has won the auction for Sky, offering £17.28 per Sky ordinary share versus Fox’s £15.67.

The two companies took part in three rounds of an auction which was overseen by the UK Takeover Panel throughout Saturday.

Both offers will now be put to shareholders, who have until 11th October to vote on them.

Should Sky shareholders accept Comcast's bid, it would end almost three decades of control of Sky by the Murdoch family.

Speaking about the auction process, analyst Paolo Pescatore said a knockout bid was the only way to settle the battle which has raged through most of the summer.

“This is unsurprising given the value that Sky will bring to the company in the future," he added.

“There are significant growth opportunities in Europe. The combined entity will be a considerable force. Expect to see other American (including the losing party) and Asian providers to make similar moves for other European content and media assets.”

“Sky and its customers will now benefit from being part of the wider group; access to more services, products and features. And financial security to some extent to bid for key costly premium content rights; in particular sports which is arguably the company’s prized asset with the Premier League," said Pescatore.

And Sky appears eager to make the merger happen.

Sky has recommended its shareholders accept Comcast's offer of £17.28 per share "immediately".

In a letter to shareholders, the broadcaster said: "As the price of the Comcast Offer is materially superior, it is in the best interests of all Sky shareholders to accept the Comcast Offer."

"Accordingly, the Independent Committee unanimously recommends that Sky shareholders accept the Comcast Offer, and in order to ensure the successful closing of the Comcast Offer, and given the possibility of a delisting of Sky in the near future, urges shareholders to accept immediately.

"Sky's board and shareholders have to decide whether to accept the offer by October 11.

Comcast must secure 50 percent acceptance for the deal to go through.

Meanwhile, Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts has told the FT that he wants to maintain Sky's independence: "The consistent theme at Comcast has been letting leaders of our businesses make their own decisions, being decentralised and keeping an entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

"We’ve said this to Jeremy [Darroch, Sky's chief executive] and the rest of the Sky team…They will be able to act as an independent company but with the resources of a $150 billion company behind them.”

LOS ANGELES--Shareholders for the Walt Disney Co. and 21 Century Fox quickly approved their estimated $71.3 billion merger on Friday in a deal that could radically alter the media landscape.

The voting process, which took less than 15 minutes, ended a dramatic dealmaking process that involved rival bids from Comcast that jacked up the price nearly $19 billion since News Corp. owner Rupert Murdoch made his initial offer of $52 billion in December. In the merger, Disney will acquire Fox’s television and movie studio, cable television channels FX and National Geographic, a stake in streaming service Hulu, television operations in India and Fox’s 39 percent stake in London-based pay-TV company Sky. 

Under the amended agreement, Disney will pay $35 billion in cash and distribute about 343 million shares of new Disney stock to 21st Century Fox shareholders, who will end up owning approximately 20 percent of Disney. Fox shareholders can elect to receive $38 per share or cash in Disney. The overall mix of consideration paid to 21st Century Fox shareholders will be approximately 50 percent cash and 50 percent stock.

Although the merger has already receive DOJ approval late last month with the sale of some regional sports networks, the deal is not expected to be approved until next year, since it faces additional regulatory approval from foreign governments. Disney said it is raising approximately $34 billion to help finance the transaction.

The acquisition will occur immediately after the spin-off by 21st Century Fox of the Fox Broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2 and Big Ten Network into a newly listed company referred to as New Fox. If 21st Century Fox completes its acquisition of the 61 percent of Sky it doesn’t already own prior to closing of the Disney acquisition, Disney would assume full ownership of Sky, including the assumption of its outstanding debt, upon closing.

Among other plans, Disney will use the acquisition to take on rivals Netflix and Amazon with a Disney-branded streaming video on demand service that will feature Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars films along with a host of exclusive original content and library titles service in late 2019. Disney will also take a controlling stake in Hulu..

“We’re incredibly pleased that shareholders of both companies have granted approval for us to move forward, and are confident in our ability to create significant long-term value through this acquisition of Fox’s premier assets,” said Disney Chairma/CEO Bob Iger. “We remain grateful to Rupert Murdoch and to the rest of the 21st Century Fox board for entrusting us with the future of these extraordinary businesses, and look forward to welcoming 21st Century Fox’s stellar talent to Disney and ultimately integrating our businesses to provide consumers around the world with more appealing content and entertainment options.”

Comcast is talking to bankers about getting financing for an all-cash bid for the assets 21st Century Fox has agreed to sell for $52 billion to the Walt Disney Co., according to Reuters.

The new bid would up the ante in what is developing into a battle among Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Comcast earlier this month made a bid for European satellite company Sky. Fox owns a big stake in Sky and its proposal to buy the remainder has been held up by British regulators.

[Read: Comcast's Sky Bid Could Lead To A Global OTT Service]

According to the report, Comcast is asking bankers to increase the loans it has to buy Sky so it can purchase the Fox assets as well.

Fox rejected an offer from Comcast that was 17% higher than Disney’s bid because of antitrust issues.

Under President Donald Trump, the Justice Department sued to prevent AT&T from acquiring Time Warner. A ruling in the case is expected next month.

NEW YORK—Comcast's bid for Sky could be the foundation of a global Over-The-Top offering, according to an analysis from MoffettNathanson Research’s Craig Moffett.

Moffett suggests the pairing of proprietary and valuable content from Comcast’s NBCUniversal with Sky’s would serve as an important enabler.

“Sky brings with it a trove of exclusive content and rights that could be the basis of an OTT service with a genuine moat, capable of rivaling Netflix itself,” Moffett said.

He added: “The case for Sky demands that Sky be viewed not as a satellite TV distributor, but instead as a platform-agnostic content provider, one with unique and proprietary access to high-end including the English Premier League, Universal, Disney films and HBO."

[Demand and Supply Revamping OTT Outlook]

That, in theory, would “give Comcast the heft and the programming muscle to create a pan-European, or even global, direct-to-consumer OTT service,” Moffett said, noting that there’s some justification in the thought that a mixing of NBCUniversal’s and Sky’s unique content could create “something truly differentiated.”

At the same time, he points out that OTT is still not very profitable on a dollar margin basis and that satellite TV, despite its struggles, is far more profitable over the lifetime of a subscriber.

But Moffett also reasons that the structural differences between the U.S. and U.K. markets could make Sky’s OTT offerings more profitable down the road, offering an assumption that Comcast believes it could create a larger, more scalable service that can transition Sky’s satellite service to OTT.

“A smooth and gradual hand-off from one to the other, where OTT growth is so rapid as to more than offset declines/cannibalisation in the satellite service, would appear to be a rather optimistic scenario,” Moffett explained.

But the access and distribution of valuable and proprietary content holds the key.

“One can assume that Comcast believes that the combination of Sky’s and NBCU’s proprietary content will be enough of a deterrent to ensure that the margins available to an OTT provider don’t simply get competed away.”

This story originally appeared on TVT's sister publication TVB Europe.