The newly formed EBU Cloud Strategy group held its inaugural kickoff meeting in mid-August in Geneva. Established by the EBU Technical Committee, the group is designed to help EBU Members collectively tackle challenges and opportunities in cloud adoption. Bringing together expertise and shared experiences, the group aims to support European public service media (PSM) organizations in driving innovation and establishing sovereign infrastructures while addressing the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Speaking at the kickoff meeting, Malte Blumberg (ARD), Chair of the EBU Cloud Strategy Group, emphasized the need for collaborations: "The national contexts in which PSM operate are diverse while the fundamental values – and many of the technical requirements – are remarkably similar. By working together, we can join forces in Europe, speed up deployment, and collectively strengthen our voice and influence. For instance, this could help us advocate for a more harmonized ecosystem for media services within cloud infrastructures."
Freedom of choice at the core
The conversation around digital sovereignty and dependency on cloud providers has grown increasingly relevant in recent years. The EBU Cloud Strategy Group's coordinator, Frans de Jong (EBU), acknowledges the importance of these topics, but highlighted the need to approach them pragmatically: "While sovereignty and dependency are critical issues to address, we must avoid unnecessary politicization or polarization. Our goal is to ensure EBU Members are empowered to choose the cloud services that work best for their needs, whether delivered locally or from across the ocean. Competition and freedom of choice are in the interest of the entire media ecosystem. By sharing our needs and experiences with different cloud services, we aim to enhance the options available for European public service media. The way is to diversify, rather than divide."
Empowering members to make well-informed decisions is a cornerstone of the group’s work. The group promotes interoperability, competition, and mutual learning.
An Ambitious Cloud Strategy
With a clear and bold roadmap ahead, the EBU Cloud Strategy Group has set an ambitious schedule to deliver its first results:
- Education and demystification: simplifying cloud concepts and addressing common misconceptions to educate PSM colleagues across Europe.
- Mapping the landscape: undertaking a review of the European cloud ecosystem to assess its strengths and gaps for Public Service Media organizations.
- Sharing best practices: Members will exchange insights on current cloud implementations and identify collective lessons to improve efficiency.
- Initial strategy document: The group is aiming to deliver its first cloud strategy document by the end of 2025, setting a foundation for long-term progress.
- Site visits: Organizing visits to leading cloud operations and facilities to provide hands-on learning and foster stronger relationships with providers.
Through these initiatives, the EBU Cloud Strategy Group aims to accelerate deployment, reduce costs, and foster sustainability within the PSM cloud landscape.
How to Join
The success of the EBU Cloud Strategy Group hinges on active contributions from its members. The group currently holds weekly calls and welcomes dedicated EBU Member participants who can share their expertise and insights.
If you would like to join and contribute to shaping the cloud future for European Public Service Media, please contact the group coordinator.