A comprehensive new analysis from Entertainment Technologists (EntTech) examines cloud infrastructure costs for broadcast operations, providing media industry technology, operations and finance executives with data-driven insights for optimising their cloud migration strategies. The whitepaper and accompanying cloud cost calculator offer detailed financial modelling to compare and contrast multiple cloud platforms and is based on an actual US broadcast facility.
Key Research Findings
EntTech rearchitected the reference facility, which operates 15 cable news and sports networks, for the cloud migrating most of their existing applications and workflows but taking advantage of modern innovations. The associated cloud calculator models costs including storage, compute resources, data transfer, and licensing fees. The calculator enables various scenarios to be costed and compared and is available as a free download.
Storage and Compute Analysis:
- GPU-accelerated workstations showed significant performance variations across providers, with some configurations delivering 2x render performance compared to standard instances.
- Server compute costs varied substantially between platforms, highlighting the importance of right-sizing infrastructure.
- Storage optimisation strategies, including fast data caching, automated resource management and GPU sharing, emerged as key cost control mechanisms.
Data Transfer Considerations:
- Egress fee structures differ dramatically between cloud providers, with some eliminating these charges entirely while others can incur substantial ongoing costs.
- Archive access patterns significantly impact total cost of ownership, particularly for facilities with large historical content libraries.
Cost Optimisation Strategies:
The whitepaper details several innovative approaches to managing cloud expenses:
- GPU resource sharing to maximise utilisation.
- Automated shutdown protocols for unused infrastructure.
- Strategic data caching from object storage.
- Optimised egress management to minimise transfer costs.
Industry Impact
“This research provides media operations, technology, and finance leaders with actionable insights into optimising cloud spend while maintaining performance and reliability,” said Mark Turner of Entertainment Technologists. “The goal is to help broadcasters understand the full spectrum of cloud infrastructure options available to them and most critically what to look for when developing financial models.”
The analysis includes comprehensive modelling tools that allow broadcast facilities to input their specific requirements and generate customised cost projections across different cloud scenarios. This approach enables more informed decision-making when evaluating cloud migration strategies.
Both the cloud calculator and comprehensive whitepaper analysis are available for complimentary download here.
Visit https://www.entertainmenttechnologists.com
