ECO Mode for Bitmovin Player
June 21, 2023
Video streaming infrastructure provider Bitmovin has unveiled ECO Mode, its new sustainable-led feature for the Bitmovin Player. ECO Mode delivers a selectable ecologically beneficial mode in the Bitmovin Player that optimises video quality in order to reduce the amount of transmitted bits, thereby reducing the resulting CO2 emissions.
Bitmovin notes that video processing and streaming generate 306 million tons of CO2, which is 20 per cent of digital technology’s total GHG emissions and nearly 1 per cent of worldwide GHG emissions. Bitmovin’s ECO Mode helps media companies of every size reduce their carbon footprint that’s generated by video streaming by simply restricting the streamed resolution up to a given max, e.g., 720p, which will still display well on mobile displays without a corresponding loss in quality. Streaming in 720p instead of Ultra HD saves about 10 times the data volume streamed.
“Sustainability has become the top priority for media companies of every size and reducing video streaming bandwidth is a practical and effective energy management strategy,” said Stefan Lederer, CEO and Co-Founder of Bitmovin. “Video streaming has grown exponentially in recent years, and while it has positively impacted everything from entertainment to education, we must strive to make it more climate-friendly. Launching ECO Mode in the Bitmovin Player will help our customers reduce carbon emissions without negatively impacting the viewing experience.”
ECO mode also brings further advantages to customers by empowering them to reduce carbon emissions and costs at the same time due to the reduced data traffic. ECO mode also gives control to the end-user and allowing them to take a more active role in reducing CO2 emissions associated with video streaming.
Eco Mode is a feature that has been informed and built based on the multi-million euro research-driven partnership between Bitmovin and the University of Klagenfurt for Project GAIA. The collaboration between Bitmovin and the University of Klagenfurt is a groundbreaking project that is already delivering significant technical results that have the potential to be employed by the wider media and entertainment technology industry and make it more sustainable.
“The Project GAIA team has already made impressive progress towards its objective of making video streaming more sustainable. I am incredibly proud of what they have achieved so far and that they are helping us bring more climate-friendly innovations to market,” concluded Lederer.