DMC dispatches hit TV shows on time, every time

From leading documentaries to high drama, from comedy to culture, DMC creates, sells and distributes TV programs for live broadcast, streaming and download. Launched in 2016, the company has grown rapidly from a community channel to become a very popular general interest broadcaster, and is part of the Egyptian Media Group.

DMC shows are widely syndicated, with sitcoms, talk-shows, dramas and more, reaching audiences far beyond Egypt. To make this possible, finished episodes are transferred to multiple broadcasters by sending the media files over the public internet. If transfers fail, then DMC could lose valuable customers, and avid viewers would miss out on their favorite shows.

Depending on the program duration, files range up to 25 GB, and each one will be sent to several broadcasters. With more than ten daily shows syndicated to multiple partners, DMC depends on fast, efficient, and error-free data transfer, with very little time to manage re-sends. However, bandwidth limitations and technical restrictions of internet protocols mean that as DMC gains more syndication partners, the risk of missing deadlines is growing. In addition, DMC depends on connection security, to prevent cliff-hanger episodes being sent to incorrect recipients or intercepted by hackers.

“DMC has grown rapidly, and managing the increase in content, channels, and syndication is a major priority,” says Eslam El Hariry, Technical Director, DMC. “As our shows achieve success, being able to distribute content rapidly, reliably, and with complete security becomes essential. It is a huge challenge to manage this growth cost-effectively, and we looked for a platform and business partner to ensure the best possible strategic solutions.”

To manage content distribution to syndication partners, DMC relies on IBM Aspera file transfer and streaming solutions. Designed to manage the movement of data over global networks, Aspera eliminates throughput bottlenecks using the Fast Adaptive and Secure Protocol (FASP) transport technology, which optimizes available bandwidth to maximize speed and scale up with no theoretical limit.

The Aspera solution enables the transfer, distribution and synchronization of files and data sets, globally, and includes tools to automate and monitor workflows – ideal capabilities for DMC’s deadline-driven TV shows.

“We worked with IBM Partner Systems Design to review how to manage our increased workload,” says El Hariry. “IBM Aspera Enterprise offered DMC the best combination of technical performance and management capabilities, and the easy scalability to handle growth.”

Using IBM Aspera Enterprise, DMC can deliver files of any size at the maximum possible transfer rate. Data is secured through encryption, and control features ensure that only the intended recipients can receive or access the files. In addition, DMC is able to use technical features provided by Aspera Enterprise such as secure streaming and support for apps to offer new services.

Being unable to deliver programs would be close to a catastrophe for DMC. In many cases, if transfers fail there would be very little opportunity to recover the situation except by sending a courier, which would be prohibitively expensive and not always possible within the available time.

Ehab Hamza, Technical Manager at Systems Design, explains, “IBM Aspera Enterprise provides key capabilities that enable fast and secure connections, which is exactly what the FASP technology offers. Not only does this meet DMC’s immediate needs, Aspera Enterprise ensures a scalable path for future growth, too.”

“We have been working with Systems Design for more than a decade, and rely on their extensive knowledge of IBM solutions to guide us to the best choice. With advice from Systems Design, DMC chose IBM Aspera Enterprise based on its workflow management, transfer speeds, and the ability to connect to all our syndication partners’ cloud-based and on-premises systems.”