The he European Broadcasting Union (EBU) leveraged the Akamai global streaming network for the delivery of live and archived footage of the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Leading EBU broadcasters used Akamai to stream video content of the Games on their respective Web sites to audiences within the EBU’s EURvision area.
During the first five days of the Games, Akamai handled a total of over five million live and on-demand streams, which amounted to over 78 terabytes of delivered moving image data. At peak, over 40,000 concurrent streams were being viewed live during those opening days by Internet users within the territory of EURvision.
“Akamai’s geo-location technologies and global delivery platform were among the components of our strategy to create a new consumption paradigm by which Internet coverage can complement comprehensive television broadcasting,” said Marc Joerg, Controller of Sport, EBU. “Developments with broadband and mobile technologies are driving more innovative and customized ways in which an event such as the Olympics can be enjoyed by fans.”
To adhere to syndication guidelines set forth by the IOC for the online streaming of the Olympic Games, the EBU worked with Akamai to ensure content was directed to authorized subscribers in each country or region. Akamai’s geo-location technologies helped enable EBU broadcasters to avoid violation of these acquired rights.
European broadcasters that offered live or deferred streaming of the Games from their respective Web sites included ARD, ZDF in Germany, France Television France, SVT in Sweden, NOS Netherlands, YLE Finland, ETV Estonia, RUV Iceland, SRG in Switzerland and EURsport to name a few.
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