#USA #Las Vegas #Quickplay #Gray Media #Google Cloud AI

Transforming Local Media Delivery

In a major leap forward for local media, Quickplay has rolled out a new streaming platform for Gray Media, harnessing the power of Google Cloud AI. This groundbreaking deployment aims to redefine how audiences access news and entertainment across 113 television markets in the U.S.

The Rollout of a Unified Platform

Following an earlier announcement in August, this deployment represents a significant evolution in Gray Media's digital strategy. The new platform integrates over 1,300 digital touchpoints, including 163 websites, 326 mobile apps, and 815 smart TV applications, all under one cloud-native architecture. By utilizing Quickplay’s orchestration infrastructure alongside Google Cloud’s AI capabilities, the initiative aims to deliver hyper-local news and entertainment to an impressive 37% of U.S. TV households.

Core Features of the Platform

The deployment covers 269 live channels managed centrally alongside 123 FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) channels actively available on platforms such as Amazon Prime, FireTV, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, and Vizio. Gray Media’s President and Co-CEO, Pat LaPlatney, highlighted the platform’s potential to enhance the local news experience significantly. He noted, "Our collaboration with Quickplay and Google Cloud enables us to empower our local newsrooms while delivering a next-generation experience to our viewers."

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

The newfound digital integration also brings operational benefits, significantly simplifying the management of Gray’s extensive digital ecosystem. Quickplay’s orchestration layer provides a seamless framework that encompasses live channel management, content scheduling, ad insertion, and distribution—all streamlined into one automated workflow. This consolidation is not only enhancing operational agility but is also leading to remarkable cost reductions.

Data-Driven Insights

The migration to this AI-enhanced platform has already shown tangible business benefits. Early data reports indicate:

• - Lower Costs: Consolidating previously separate systems onto a single cloud platform has reduced infrastructure expenses.
• - Higher Engagement: Tailored content recommendations are proving effective in retaining viewer interest for longer periods.
• - Faster News Delivery: Newsrooms can now broadcast breaking news twice as quickly as before.
• - Greater Ad Value: Improved targeting has boosted the value and efficiency of advertising slots.

Bridging the Divide: Traditional Broadcast Meets Digital Streaming

Quickplay has crafted its system to bridge the gap between traditional media broadcasting and the growing demand for digital-first streaming. Its architecture promotes rapid expansion and deployment of content across all platforms. This allows Gray to effectively grow its audience while ensuring high-quality video delivery across 269 live channels.

Operational Intelligence

With insights driven by Google Cloud's BigQuery, Gray Media can analyze viewership trends in real-time across its extensive network of digital touchpoints. This capability enables media leaders to make informed business decisions instantly, capitalizing on real-time data to respond to viewer preferences and trends.

The Future of Local Media

Looking ahead, Quickplay aims to enhance Gray Media's platform further by introducing advanced capabilities such as a redesigned application interface, hybrid hyper-personalization of content, AI-embedded short creation, and dynamic bitrate adaptation.

In summary, this deployment by Quickplay not only sets a new standard in local media delivery but positions Gray Media as a leader in the transition towards AI-driven streaming innovation. As Albert Lai from Google Cloud aptly stated, this isn't merely a migration; it's a comprehensive reimagining of local media models, leveraging AI and data to build a dynamic future for broadcasting entities.

About Quickplay

Founded by innovators with deep expertise in media technology, Quickplay serves as a pivotal engine for content management and monetization within the entertainment sector. Its commitment to applying intelligence significantly enhances viewer engagement and operational efficiency, advancing broadcasting into the digital age.