USE CASE: G&L'S PLAYOUT MANAGER IN ACTION AT LEADING BROADCASTERS
Live Event Management – How to run your streams with efficiency and flexibility
A modular streaming platform that makes it easy to deliver live content across various OTT platforms – whether it’s sports, music, or political coverage. Run your events efficiently and securely, and benefit from its flexible modular design, intuitive interface, and broadcast-grade quality.
With the Playout Manager, we can clearly organize and manage 14 event streams, each of which can be edited flexibly. In day-to-day use, our operators appreciate that all audio signals can be monitored and playlists can be preconfigured, saved, and loaded with minimal effort. The intuitive interface makes it easy to get started.
Streaming Division, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
Smart live streaming that goes beyond off-the-shelf
Live broadcasts can be demanding – and when you're juggling multiple event channels, the complexity adds up quickly. Westdeutscher Rundfunk, one of Germany’s major public broadcasters, knows this well. With 14 internal event channels, they stream high-profile sports events and special broadcasts such as live concerts to various OTT platforms.
The requirements? High. The solution? Flexible, scalable, and easy to operate.
That’s where the G&L Playout Manager comes in at WDR
Reliable OTT distribution Live streams can be delivered in parallel across multiple platforms with ease
Live editing Content can be adjusted during ongoing events
Graphics integration Seamless addition of lower-thirds, overlays, and other visual elements
Custom playlists Content can be scheduled and adapted as needed
Secure user management Roles and permissions can be assigned with precision, ensuring each user has exactly the access they need
Future-ready infrastructure Built to integrate with existing systems and grow alongside evolving requirements
Signal control via SDI router Provision of SRT signals that are processed into live streams and distributed across various OTT platforms
Seamless AV integration AV feeds and HTML5 overlays are combined without technical interruptions
Modular – from minimal to massive
The G&L Playout Manager was designed to meet a wide range of broadcasting challenges. Instead of relying on a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution, it’s built on a modular toolkit that equips broadcasters with exactly what they need – whether on-prem, in the cloud, or hosted by G&L.
At the heart of the system is the G&L Compositor, built on a powerful media processing SDK. It merges AV signals with HTML5 graphics and transcodes them into high-quality, playout-ready streams. Thanks to Kubernetes orchestration and Single Sign-On (SSO), the Playout Manager integrates smoothly into existing IT environments.
We’re continuously expanding the Playout Manager. A new Distribution Encoder component will soon be introduced to further optimize encoding and transcoding processes. With this, WDR remains at the forefront of innovation – technologically equipped for the future as one of Germany’s leading public broadcasters.
Public BroadcastingOnline NewsMusic & EntertainmentEducation
Key benefits
Wider reach with less effort
Flexible live control
Seamless integration of on-screen visuals
Permission-based user guidance
Modular by design
Built to grow with you
G&L components
- Graphics Manager - Channel Manager - Access Manager - Distributor - Compositor - Upcoming: Distribution Encoder
Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is Germany’s largest regional public broadcaster and a key member of the ARD network. In addition to making a substantial contribution to the national channel Das Erste, WDR produces a wide range of programming for WDR Fernsehen, KiKa, and tagesschau24, as well as for several of its own radio stations. Its digital platform, WDR.de, offers a diverse mix of multimedia content, serving a broad and engaged audience across Germany.
G&L enables the seamless delivery of audio and video content – live and on-demand, on-prem, in the cloud, or hybrid. As a system integrator and managed service provider, the company offers tailored streaming solutions that have been trusted by Europe’s largest broadcasters, high-profile events, and government entities for over two decades. The experienced team ensures smooth operations with reliable 24/7 support. G&L prioritizes efficiency and sustainability in digital media processing.
Modular streaming management for professionals
Designed for complex live event workflows, the G&L Playout Manager integrates seamlessly into existing systems – flexible, secure, and built to scale.
