TVB.COM simplifies Video On-Demand with NetApp

TVB.COM speeds delivery of on-demand digital video to hundreds of thousands of devices in Hong Kong

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — “TVB.COM’s leading position in the video on-demand market is contingent on our ability to deliver a wide variety of instantly accessible content,” said Rex Ching, Head of Technical Engineering for TVB.COM. “NetApp FAS storage has given us the ability to simplify and modernize our infrastructure, differentiating ourselves from competitors.”

TVB, a broadcasting and digital media giant in Hong Kong, provides around-the-clock entertainment and news services to more than 7 million people, including television and mobile viewers, and operates international licensing and distribution businesses. TVB.COM delivers the content of over 40 broadcast channels to approximately 2M set-top boxes and mobile devices. Additionally, to differentiate itself from competitors, TVB.COM also makes its 400 terabyte content library acquired from international sources available online 24/7. To do this, they must store their assets indefinitely and make them immediately accessible. As a result, their content library grows by 5 to 10 percent per month, doubling every nine months.

In a recent move to further strengthen its position within Hong Kong’s online video market, TVB introduced myTV SUPER, a leading OTT platform in Hong Kong, which is delivered via a TVB-branded set-top box and mobile application. Offering unrivalled picture quality and seamless catch-up, vast selections of video-on-demand (VOD) offerings from TVB’s library and third-party content providers are now available to customers.

As the success of TVB.COM’s VOD service depends on providing viewers with immediate access to ever increasing amounts of content across multiple channels and devices, the company chose NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) FAS storage for its origin server. In addition, TVB.COM implemented NetApp® ONTAP®, which enables it to easily upgrade software and even add scale-out storage nodes as needed, without impacting their always-on television service. And, by leveraging NetApp SnapMirror® software, TVB.COM can seamlessly replicate data between its two storage sites. As a result, they now have the storage performance, scalability, and resiliency to make their vast and constantly growing library of content available on-demand to a diverse and rapidly increasing customer base. In addition, they are now confident in their ability to offer uninterrupted service and is well-positioned for future growth.

With its new solution, TVB.COM can:

• Deliver video content on-demand to millions of TV and mobile subscribers
• Archive and retrieve content quickly and efficiently
• Scale quickly to fit exponential data growth
• Restore data quickly in the event of disaster