Insys Video Technologies builds a flexible VOD solution on AWS for TR Warszawa

Authored by Seweryn Biegański, Presales Engineer. The content and opinions in this post are those of the third-party author and AWS is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this post.

When restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic put in-person theatrical performances on hold, Polish performing arts theater TR Warszawa was determined to find an alternative solution. As its patrons spent more time at home, the theater wanted to give them a way to watch previous productions on demand in addition to livestreams of new plays.

To accomplish this goal, TR Warszawa built a solution on Amazon Web Services (AWS) with the help of video integration company Insys Video Technologies (Insys VT). An AWS Advanced Consulting Partner, Insys VT helped the theater design and implement a video-on-demand (VOD) and livestreaming solution.

Building a VOD portal in the cloud

“We use the full AWS infrastructure,” says Seweryn Biegański, presales engineer at Insys VT. The TR Warszawa VOD portal is based on on-premises hosting, but everything from storage to file conversion and streaming runs on AWS. This cloud-based pipeline on AWS enables cultural institutions and startups with relatively limited budgets to pay only for the services they need, drastically reducing overhead.

TR Warszawa’s VOD pipeline starts with the theater’s library of video files. The Insys VT solution uploads the theater’s MP4 files to Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), a secure object storage service. There, the company uses AWS Lambda, a serverless compute service, to trigger AWS Elemental MediaConvert which automatically converts every new file into the proper file format.”

The automated pipeline prepares video files for HTTP livestreaming and dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP streaming protocols. Then it stores the transcoded video files on Amazon S3, securing them through digital rights management and location-based blocking.

Streaming on-demand and live performances

To livestream performances, Insys VT sends a Real-Time Messaging Protocol stream to the cloud, where AWS Elemental MediaLive, a broadcast-grade live video processing service, encodes it. Next, AWS Elemental MediaPackage, a service that prepares and protects internet video, converts the files into media that streaming devices, such as mobile phones and smart TVs, can read.

The final part of the pipeline is Amazon CloudFront, a fast content delivery network. Using Amazon CloudFront enables TR Warszawa to distribute the converted media to devices around the world.

“Amazon CloudFront provides reliability and high availability that enable TR Warszawa to stream to thousands of users without any interruptions,” says Biegański.

Enabling more flexibility for users through scalable infrastructure

For TR Warszawa, it was important that the streaming service be able to handle payments from users outside Poland. Now the theater’s patrons can purchase on-demand performances and tickets to livestreams through the VOD portal, and they can buy and watch videos on their preferred devices anytime they want. After this success, TR Warszawa and Insys VT plan to enhance the theater’s online offering with a mobile app on AWS.

The new VOD solution has achieved all TR Warszawa’s goals and helped the theater quickly secure an online source of revenue. Using AWS, the streaming service is flexible enough to expand with the theater’s needs while remaining cost effective.

About Insys Video Technologies

Video integration company Insys Video Technologies provides OTT solutions, hardware, and software; is an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner and AWS Public Sector Partner; and is part of the AWS Solution Provider Program. Learn More about Insys Video Technologies.

About TR Warszawa

Modern performing arts theater TR Warszawa aims to integrate residents and visitors into the cultural life of Poland’s capital city. Part of Warsaw’s cultural center, it features Polish and international talent.