Case Study - Revolutionizating Radio Broadcasting with Cloud-Based Studio Solution

Reimagining Radio Production for a Remote World

For over a century, the broadcast industry has relied heavily on specialized hardware—mixing desks, phone hybrids, and A/V routing systems—to deliver radio and TV content to audiences. Today, this landscape is rapidly evolving as software-based solutions gain prominence, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced production teams to work remotely.

On-Hertz, a virtual audio software developer specializing in broadcast and media tools, identified a significant market opportunity amid this transition. Despite their success in creating production tools used by major European broadcasters like VRT, RTBF, Radio France, and RFI, their solutions still required on-premises installation.

The company envisioned a completely cloud-based radio production suite that would:

• Consolidate previously separate functions (playout, mixing, remote contribution) into a unified platform
• Enable professional broadcasts from any location with an internet connection
• Eliminate technical barriers for remote presenters and production staff
• Meet extremely demanding broadcast quality and latency requirements

As CTO Renaud Schoonbroodt explains: "We knew our customers wanted an online studio that combined everything they needed in one tool, but with the accessibility and flexibility of the cloud. Before, broadcasters had functions such as playout, mixing, remote contribution, and much more, all on separate services and hardware provided by different vendors. The challenge for the broadcaster was then how to make them work together. We realized we could solve that problem."

Our Approach: Expert Cloud Architecture for Broadcast-Quality Performance

To realize their ambitious vision, On-Hertz needed more than just cloud hosting—they required a strategic partner with deep expertise in creating low-latency, globally scalable infrastructures capable of meeting the exacting standards of professional broadcasting.

On-Hertz approached Necko Technologies, an AWS Advanced Partner and AWS Well-Architected Partner, to help transform their concept into reality. Our engagement began with a comprehensive assessment of On-Hertz's business requirements, technical challenges, and cost considerations. After detailed analysis, we recommended AWS as the ideal cloud foundation and produced a proof-of-concept to demonstrate the platform's capabilities.

Our solution design and implementation process included:

1. Architecture Planning: Designing a scalable, Docker-based infrastructure leveraging multiple AWS services for optimal performance

2. Cloud Migration Strategy: Developing a pathway to transition On-Hertz's existing PC-based software to a cloud-native solution

3. Latency Optimization: Engineering a system capable of delivering sub-500ms latency—critical for professional broadcasting

4. Global Delivery: Implementing regional deployment capabilities to ensure optimal performance worldwide

5. Cost Management: Creating an efficient architecture that balanced performance requirements with sustainable operational costs

The result of our collaboration was Nubo, an all-in-one, cloud-based radio production studio available as a subscription service. As Jérôme Dauge, Co-founder of Necko Technologies, explains: "The great advantage of using AWS in the way we've deployed it is that On-Hertz can focus on its products without having to worry about the day-to-day management of the AWS infrastructure."

Solution Architecture: Broadcast-Grade Performance in the Cloud

The Nubo platform we helped create represents a fundamental shift in radio production technology, allowing users to sign in with just a web browser and microphone and be on-air within minutes from anywhere. The technical architecture delivers several key advantages:

Enterprise Scalability

The Docker-based infrastructure we designed serves organizations of all sizes, from small local stations to major national broadcasters, with consistent performance.

Reliable, Secure Connections

Our solution freed operators from unsecured, limited remote desktop connections, providing enterprise-grade security with flexible scaling capabilities.

Global Availability with Regional Optimization

We implemented a multi-region architecture that allows broadcasters to deploy studios in any AWS geographical region, with users automatically connecting to the closest resources for optimal performance.

Broadcast-Quality Performance

By leveraging Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) for processing power, AWS AppSync for real-time data synchronization, and Amazon CloudFront for content delivery, we achieved industry-leading latency performance critical for live broadcasting.

As Schoonbroodt confirms: "Latency of 500 ms or higher just isn't good enough for a broadcaster, so we had high standards to meet for both quality and latency. With AWS and Necko, we have both. We've been able to launch a whole new SaaS product with the same or better latency than on-premises solutions."

From Concept to Market Leader in Six Months

Our partnership with On-Hertz delivered remarkable results that transformed not just their technology, but their business trajectory:

Accelerated Time-to-Market

With Necko's guidance, On-Hertz brought their innovative product from concept to market in just six months—an extraordinary timeline for such a technically complex solution.

New Market Category Creation

The Nubo platform has established On-Hertz as a pioneer in cloud-based broadcast solutions, creating an entirely new product category in the industry.

International Expansion

The globally scalable architecture we implemented has enabled On-Hertz to easily enter new markets, with their first US customer already on board.

Enhanced Product Capabilities

Production staff using Nubo no longer struggle with technical configuration or network settings—a virtual studio can be operational with just a few clicks, dramatically reducing setup time and technical expertise requirements.

Continuous Evolution

Necko Technologies continues to partner with On-Hertz to update and enhance Nubo's functionality, ensuring the platform remains at the forefront of broadcasting innovation.

"We are developers, but back then we were not cloud experts," explains Schoonbroodt. "Necko showed us that AWS was the best choice for what we needed. Other broadcast companies are using AWS, so we knew it was a good fit for us." He adds, "Necko has been extremely supportive all the way through and we are planning to continue working with them in the long run."

A Foundation for Innovation

The cloud infrastructure we've established serves as a launchpad for On-Hertz's continued innovation:

Product Pipeline Expansion

With our support, On-Hertz is developing additional cloud-based products to further revolutionize the broadcasting industry.

Advanced Integration Capabilities

The flexible architecture allows for seamless integration with emerging technologies and services, keeping Nubo at the cutting edge.

Global Growth Potential

Our multi-region deployment model provides unlimited geographical expansion opportunities with consistent performance.

Schoonbroodt summarizes the ongoing partnership: "The possibilities of AWS are endless. I'd recommend it to anyone. I'd also recommend using a great partner like Necko to help guide you through the process."

AWS Services Used