How NETFLIX onboards new content: Video Processing at scale 🎥

Summary

This video script delves into Netflix's innovative content onboarding process, addressing both legal and engineering challenges. It explains the necessity of video encoding in various formats and resolutions to cater to different internet speeds, the concept of codecs, and the importance of efficient data storage. The script also highlights Netflix's smart approach to video chunking for better user experience and their use of Amazon S3 for data storage. Furthermore, it discusses the revolutionary Open Connect technology that significantly improves streaming speed and user experience by reducing load on both Netflix and ISPs, ultimately showcasing Netflix's prowess in system design and scalability.

Takeaways

• 😀 Netflix faces both legal and engineering challenges when onboarding new content.
• 📚 They need to store videos in multiple formats like MP4 and AVI to accommodate different internet speeds.
• 🔄 Codecs are used for compressing video, with lossy compression reducing file size at the cost of some data loss.
• 📱 Netflix adjusts video resolution based on the device being used, such as lower for mobiles and higher for TVs.
• 🔢 The number of video versions processed is determined by the product of formats (F) and resolutions (R).
• 💡 Netflix engineers break videos into chunks to process them more efficiently across multiple processors.
• 🎬 Video chunks are processed not by time but by scenes to avoid disrupting the viewing experience.
• 📊 Netflix's recommendation algorithm adapts to whether a movie is 'sparse' or 'dense', optimizing data delivery accordingly.
• 🗃️ Amazon S3 is used by Netflix for storing video content due to its cost-effectiveness for static data storage.
• 🌐 Netflix's Open Connect boxes placed with ISPs cache content locally to reduce latency and improve user experience.
• 🔄 These boxes are updated during off-peak hours to ensure they have the latest content for viewers.

Q & A

What are the main challenges NETFLIX faces when uploading new content?

The main challenges include legal challenges, engineering challenges, and the need to store content in different formats and resolutions to accommodate varying internet speeds and devices.

Why does NETFLIX use different video formats and resolutions?

Different video formats and resolutions are used to provide the best possible viewing experience for users with different internet speeds and devices. High-quality formats are available for fast internet connections, while lower quality formats are used for slower connections.

What is a codec and why is it important in video processing?

A codec is a method for compressing video files to reduce their size. This is important to ensure videos can be stored and streamed efficiently without taking up excessive storage space or bandwidth.

How does NETFLIX handle the processing of large video files?

NETFLIX breaks large video files into smaller chunks and processes these chunks individually in different formats and resolutions. This approach helps in managing the workload efficiently and reduces the risk of processing failures.

What innovative method does NETFLIX use to improve user experience while watching videos?

NETFLIX improves user experience by breaking videos into 4-second long chunks called shots, and then collates these shots into scenes. This method allows for seamless playback and better handling of user interactions with the video.

What is the difference between a sparse movie and a dense movie in NETFLIX's recommendation algorithm?

A sparse movie is one where users frequently jump to different points, while a dense movie is watched continuously. For sparse movies, NETFLIX only sends the requested data, whereas for dense movies, it proactively fetches and preloads future scenes to ensure seamless playback.

Where does NETFLIX store its video content and why?

NETFLIX stores its video content on Amazon S3, which is a cost-effective storage solution for static data. This allows NETFLIX to store large amounts of data without frequent updates, making it cheaper than using a traditional database.

How does NETFLIX improve the delivery of its content to users around the world?

NETFLIX improves content delivery by using local caches, known as Open Connect boxes, which store popular content close to users. This reduces the load on central servers and improves the speed and reliability of video streaming.

What role do Internet Service Providers (ISPs) play in NETFLIX's content delivery strategy?

ISPs host Open Connect boxes provided by NETFLIX, which store frequently accessed content locally. This reduces the distance data needs to travel, saving bandwidth and improving user experience by providing faster access to videos.

How does NETFLIX update its content on Open Connect boxes?

NETFLIX updates content on Open Connect boxes by sending the latest movie chunks from its central servers during low-traffic times, such as 4 am. This ensures that the boxes are populated with the newest content, providing users with up-to-date options.