Debunking 2025 predictions: CDNs, codecs, AI, anti-piracy
As 2024 concludes, industry experts are forecasting developments in content delivery networks (CDNs), video codecs, artificial intelligence (AI), and anti-piracy measures for 2025. Marc Baillavoine, CTO of Synamedia’s Video Network unit, anticipates that traditional media companies will adopt short-form video formats akin to those on social media platforms. He also foresees efforts to establish standards for delivering such content, citing initiatives like Media over QUIC (MoQ) and contributions from the Streaming Video Technology Alliance (SVTA). However, the implementation of MoQ is projected to be 3 to 5 years away, making its impact in 2025 uncertain.
In the realm of CDNs, Baillavoine predicts a shift towards hybrid environments that combine global reach, automated infrastructure switching based on Quality of Experience (QoE), reserved capacity, enhanced security, and seamless user interfaces. This perspective aligns with recent industry trends, such as Netflix’s record-breaking boxing event delivered via its Open Connect CDN, highlighting the growing importance of hybrid CDN models.
Regarding video compression, Baillavoine suggests that 2025 will be pivotal in the competition between AV1 and Versatile Video Coding (VVC) as the next-generation codec standard. He emphasizes the role of machine learning and AI in enhancing coding efficiencies and notes the influence of open-source projects like SVT-AV1 and dav1d in bolstering AV1’s momentum over VVC. This indicates a potential industry shift towards open-source solutions for faster global technology adoption.
