Unified Streaming combines VOD and live sources to create OTT-only linear channel solution, calls it Unified Virtual Channel

Unified Streaming, a forerunner in creating smart video streaming technologies, announces Unified Virtual Channel, a brand new solution for launching OTT-only live linear virtual channels.

Streaming virtual channels is a popular choice for content owners, service providers, telcos and cable operators, streaming services, event organizers, and broadcasters. All can enhance their OTT services with the solution by attracting new audiences, targeting ads, and expanding into new markets across the globe.

Banking time, Unified Virtual Channel users can prioritize their core pursuit: optimizing personalized experiences for viewers and monetizing content. Without the fuss or expense of developing tech, companies can accelerate time-to-market, increase revenues, and lower operating costs.

They can stream greener, too. Free of the high-risk, high-cost traditional model of broadcasting tied to uploading, ingesting, decoding, and re-encoding content, companies can air optimized premium UHD, 4K video, and Dolby Vision media files quickly and efficiently, without real-time processing of resource-heavy codecs.

Users of the Unified Virtual Channel solution can exploit a rich list of use cases by creating new FAST channels, regional news or weather channels, and sports channels that build pre-game buzz by showing team-related VOD highlights, then switch to the match’s live stream.

They can also create music or exclusive event channels, education channels, movie première channels, and pop-up channels about breaking news stories, such as the sudden wedding of C‑list celebrities. The options for combining live, episodic, and bingeable shows into personalized channels are limitless.

Connecting to preferred AI tools, creators can even launch ​“My TV” channels that show viewers content featuring their favorite artist, actor, or athlete, like the footwear fashion of Rihanna, films of Zendaya, or Wimbledon wins of the Williams sisters. Whatever channels users create, they’ll capitalize on the most flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional, encoder-based broadcast workflows.

“We’re excited to showcase this new solution at IBC. We look forward to talking to new and current customers and partners about unlocking their content’s untapped potential,” said Linzi McRae, Product Manager at Unified Streaming.

Built upon the foundation of Unified Streaming’s trusted, award-winning Unified Remix and Unified Origin products, Unified Virtual Channel supports stitching of live and VOD source media and offers seamless transitioning between playlists.

Unified Streaming’s solution starts with sending a playlist to the API (application programming interface), greatly simplifying the integration of this new solution into existing streaming workflows. Creators can speed up the launch of new channels, from weeks to minutes. BCS Bureau