Case Study: beIN SPORTS Relies on the Signiant Platform for Production File Movement

Launched in 2012, beIN SPORTS is a network that offers viewers in North America world-class sports content and entertainment across multiple platforms including TV channels beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español, live streaming on beIN SPORTS CONNECT and free English-language channel, beIN SPORTS XTRA. beIN SPORTS North America, is part of the global beIN MEDIA GROUP and it is based in Miami, FL. Supporting nine channels and six streaming platforms requires that their broadcast operations team delivers constant high-resolution content. Every day, terabytes of pre-recorded content, sporting events, news packages, interviews, highlight clips, and promo materials are moving in and out of beIN SPORTS. There is a time-sensitive delivery challenge which involves a meticulous coordination with internal departments, freelancers, ad agencies, and overseas production companies.  

The Solution  

Reliability and speed are premium requirements for beIN SPORTS to deliver their world-class content to thousands of fans. Signiant Media Shuttle provides the network with a platform to accelerate content transfers for broadcast operations and remote production teams to meet tight deadlines regardless of where the content originates.   

The Value 

With Media Shuttle, beIN SPORTS high-volume 24/7 content flow significantly reduces time spent delivering files. With this product, they can process and air programs and commercial spots within the hour. Signiant Media Shuttle has become so ingrained in the beIN content workflow that their team recognizes removing it would impact its business.  

Making Shows Air 

The live streaming product beIN SPORTS was using didn’t meet their high-quality standards. Signal glitches and loss of content could compromise the shows being delivered or airable, and they were struggling to send the remote production another way. With less than two hours to air, the crew members were very concerned.

But not James Ontivero, beIN SPORTS Broadcast Operations Manager in North America.  

“I wasn’t worried. My team was worried; programming, master control, everybody was panicking,” recalled Ontivero, who has been working in the industry for over 25 years. “I was confident that we would be able to do it. I knew that we had a solution.” 

The solution was Signiant Media Shuttle. 

Background 

beIN SPORTS offers viewers world-class sports content and entertainment across multiple platforms including TV channels beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español, live streaming on beIN SPORTS CONNECT and free channels, beIN SPORTS XTRA and beIN SPORTS XTRA en Español. A cornerstone of beIN SPORTS is its unrivaled live soccer coverage, which includes live matches from Ligue 1, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Recopa Sudamericana, Turkish Süper Lig, Africa Cup of Nations, CAF Confederation Cup, CAF Champions League and International Friendlies as well as news and in-depth analysis of all the top leagues from around the world. In addition to soccer, beIN SPORTS serves as a haven for fans of padel, wrestling, mixed martial arts (MMA), skiing and handball, among others.  

Staying on the Beat 

When beIN SPORTS launched in 2012, they used to receive pre-taped content via bulky hard drives from overseas. Some would arrive damaged, delaying the airing of shows. It was a long process to air shows. Deploying Media Shuttle transformed the process. 

“Once we had Media Shuttle, it facilitated a much easier workflow. The ease and fast downloading and turnaround make it a powerful tool. Media Shuttle is a big help for us,” said Ontivero. 

beIN also relies on Media Shuttle to support their live production operations. Rigid, live distribution windows often were missed for their daily shows, causing them to replace programming at the last minute. Media Shuttle allowed the network to bypass feed windows and transmission quality issues to keep a more orderly schedule. 

“beIN had a window to feed a show in 2019. The team missed their window, and we were at risk of not being able to put it on air. We were going to have to preempt it. I quickly gave them access to a Media Shuttle portal, and they uploaded the show. It was a quick process. We could download it and make it to air, and we didn’t miss a beat,” said Ontivero. 

Remote Operations Made Possible with Signiant 

In addition to collaborating with other beIN offices worldwide, in North America, the network utilizes remote production teams, talent and editors in countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico. They also ingest ads from within the U.S. and elsewhere — under tight deadlines.  

From an internal perspective, Ontivero has supported the organization by helping it also implement Media Shuttle in the marketing, sales, and traffic functions. 

“The software used was not working effectively and efficiently. I recommended them to utilize Media Shuttle, and they were able to upload all their content in a fast and secure way,” added Ontivero. 

 The Signiant Value 

From commercial spots to pre-recorded programs to marketing assets, Media Shuttle consistently performs for beIN SPORTS in North America — from remote news packages to close-to-air sports programming, to advertising packages and all content movement in between.  

“Considering the number of hours we process for air, if we didn’t have this tool as part of our operations, it could impact our workflow,” explained Ontivero. “If we don’t innovate our processes with tools such as Media Shuttle, the content probably won’t air. Media Shuttle is a fast and quick process. For this reason, I trust in Media Shuttle which provides a reliable, cost-effective tool for our business.”