AWS Elemental MediaTailor is a powerful video hosting and delivery service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It allows users to create personalized video streams for viewers and deliver them with low-latency and high-quality viewing experience. MediaTailor supports various video ad formats such as VAST, VMAP, and server-side stitched ads.

MediaTailor also enables users to easily configure and manage video streams, including the ability to insert targeted ads, create custom playlists, and set up blackouts. It can be used for both live and on-demand video content and is integrated with other AWS services such as Amazon S3, Amazon CloudFront, and Amazon CloudWatch for a seamless video hosting and delivery experience.

With MediaTailor, users can gain insights into viewer behavior and ad performance with detailed analytics and reporting capabilities. This service is particularly useful for media companies, advertisers, and content providers who want to provide customized and engaging video experiences to their viewers while also monetizing their content through targeted advertising.

Overview:

AWS Elemental MediaTailor is a content personalization and monetization service that allows video providers to deliver targeted advertisements to their viewers. It offers a server-side ad insertion solution, which means that ads are dynamically inserted into video streams as they are delivered to viewers. This allows advertisers to reach specific audiences and for video providers to monetize their content more effectively.

How does it work?

MediaTailor works by inserting advertisements into video streams in real-time. When a viewer requests a video, MediaTailor checks to see if there are any ads that match the viewer’s profile. If there are, it creates a personalized stream that includes the ads. These personalized streams are then delivered to the viewer’s device, where they can be viewed seamlessly with the rest of the video content.

Key features:

Some of the key features of AWS Elemental MediaTailor include:

  • Server-side ad insertion: Ads are inserted into video streams on the server side, which ensures a consistent viewing experience across all devices.
  • Personalized ad delivery: MediaTailor uses viewer data to deliver ads that are relevant to each viewer.
  • Real-time ad decisioning: MediaTailor makes ad placement decisions in real-time, which allows for more accurate targeting and better ad performance.
  • Ad inventory management: MediaTailor provides tools for managing ad inventory, which makes it easier to sell and manage ad placements.
  • Integration with other AWS services: MediaTailor integrates with other AWS services, such as Amazon CloudFront and Amazon S3, to create a complete video delivery solution.

Getting Started:

Setting up AWS Elemental MediaTailor

  1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the AWS Elemental MediaTailor console.
  2. Choose the Region where you want to set up AWS Elemental MediaTailor.
  3. Choose Settings from the navigation pane.
  4. Under AWS Elemental MediaTailor service access, choose Edit.
  5. Choose either AWS Elemental MediaTailor service role or IAM roles for AWS Elemental MediaTailor.
  6. Choose the role you want to use, or choose Create new role to create a new role.

Creating a channel

  1. In the AWS Elemental MediaTailor console, choose Channels from the navigation pane.
  2. Choose Create channel.
  3. On the Create channel page, enter a name for your channel.
  4. Choose the Video settings for your channel.
  5. Choose the Ad markers for your channel.
  6. Choose the Playback settings for your channel.
  7. Choose Create channel.

Creating a playback URL

  1. In the AWS Elemental MediaTailor console, choose Channels from the navigation pane.
  2. Choose the channel that you want to create a playback URL for.
  3. Choose the Playback tab.
  4. Choose Create new playback URL.
  5. Choose the Playback settings for your URL.
  6. Choose Create URL.
  7. Copy the URL and use it to play your content.

Integrations:
– AWS Elemental MediaPackage: This service enables video providers to easily and reliably deliver video content with high-quality and low latency. It integrates with AWS services such as Amazon S3, Amazon CloudFront, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Amazon CloudWatch for a complete video delivery solution. AWS Elemental MediaPackage also supports live-to-VOD workflows, time-shifted TV, and server-side ad insertion.

  • AWS Elemental MediaConvert: This is a cloud-based file-based video conversion service that supports a wide range of video codecs and formats. It can be integrated with other AWS services such as Amazon S3, AWS Lambda, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Amazon CloudWatch for a seamless video workflow. AWS Elemental MediaConvert also offers features such as HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Dolby Atmos audio support.
  • AWS Elemental MediaLive: This is a broadcast-grade live video processing service that enables video providers to create high-quality live streams for delivery to broadcast televisions, connected devices, and social media platforms. It integrates with other AWS services such as Amazon S3, Amazon CloudFront, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Amazon CloudWatch for a complete live video workflow. AWS Elemental MediaLive also offers features such as real-time encoding, ad insertion, and digital rights management (DRM) support.

Use Cases

Personalized Ad Insertion

Personalized Ad Insertion is a use case where different ads are inserted into the content based on the user’s profile, behavior, or location. AWS offers solutions such as AWS Elemental MediaTailor and AWS Personalize to personalize the ads and deliver them to the users. MediaTailor delivers the ad to the user in real-time and seamlessly stitches them into the content, creating a personalized experience for the users.

Live Event Streaming

AWS offers different solutions to stream live events such as AWS Elemental MediaLive, AWS Elemental MediaPackage, and AWS Elemental MediaStore. These solutions can be used to deliver high-quality video streams to global audiences without any interruption. AWS Elemental MediaLive allows users to encode the live video stream in real-time and deliver it to different destinations such as social media platforms, websites, and mobile devices. AWS Elemental MediaPackage encrypts the video stream and delivers it securely to different devices.

Linear Channel Streaming

Linear Channel Streaming is a use case where a continuous stream of video content is delivered to users at a specific time. AWS offers solutions such as AWS Elemental MediaTailor and AWS Elemental MediaConnect to deliver linear channel streaming. AWS Elemental MediaTailor can personalize the content and ads for different users, while AWS Elemental MediaConnect can securely transport the video stream to different destinations such as cable operators, satellite providers, and content delivery networks.

Pricing

AWS offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means you only pay for the services you use and nothing more. There are no upfront costs, and you can easily scale up or down as your needs change. This allows businesses to save money by only paying for the resources they need, when they need them.

In addition to the pay-as-you-go model, AWS also offers a free tier for new customers. This free tier provides access to a variety of AWS services for 12 months, including compute, storage, database, and messaging services. The free tier is designed to help customers get started with AWS and experiment with different services without any cost.

It is important to note that some services may have usage limits or restrictions during the free tier period. Once the free tier period ends or usage exceeds the free tier limits, standard pay-as-you-go rates apply.

For detailed pricing information on AWS services, customers can visit the AWS pricing page. This page provides pricing details for all AWS services, including compute, storage, database, networking, and security services. Customers can also estimate their monthly bill using the AWS pricing calculator, which takes into account usage, region, and other factors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AWS Elemental MediaTailor provides various benefits to the users. Its scalability, reliability, and flexibility make it a great choice for content providers to deliver personalized and targeted content to their viewers. Additionally, the ability to integrate with AWS services like Amazon CloudFront, Amazon S3, and Amazon CloudWatch, makes it easier to manage and monitor the entire workflow.

As for future developments and updates, AWS Elemental MediaTailor is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its users. AWS periodically releases updates and new features to enhance the user experience and improve the overall performance of the service. These updates include new integrations, improved functionality, and increased support for different video formats.

Overall, AWS Elemental MediaTailor is an excellent tool for content providers to enhance their viewers’ experience by providing personalized and targeted content. With its flexible and scalable architecture, it can easily adapt to the changing needs of the business, and with continuous updates and improvements, it ensures that users are always getting the best possible experience.