| 30 April 2021
Just as broadcast tech firms were queuing up to announce their support for the AWS Media & Entertainment cloud-based broadcasting platform, AWS has been given its strongest endorsement after The Walt Disney Company revealed that it is using its infrastructure to support the global expansion of the Disney+ direct-to-consumer service.
Since launch in the US in November 2019, Disney+ has rolled out rapidly in 59 territories across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Latin America and most recently Singapore. At the end of its first quarter ended 2 January 2021, Disney’s direct-to-consumer business had generated more than 146 million total paid subscriptions with revenues for the quarter increasing 73% annually to $3.5 billion.in March 2021 the Walt Disney Company confirmed that Disney+ had gone past the 100 million subscriber mark.
| 29 April 2021
In a bid to help media and entertainment firms reinvent how they create content, optimise media supply chains, and compete for audience attention across streaming, broadcast, and direct-to-consumer platform, Amazon has introduced AWS Media & Entertainment.
The initiative features new and existing services and solutions from AWS and AWS Partners, built specifically for content creators, rights holders, producers, broadcasters, and distributors. It is said to align the most purpose-built capabilities of any cloud against five solution areas to help customers – such as Netflix, FORMULA 1, Discovery and Disney who AWS says use the cloud to pioneer new ways to entertain launch new streaming services, expanding content catalogues and introduce new viewing experiences.