Harnessing IP technology foundations for energy efficiencies
At LTN, we feel privileged to support customers who are committed to bringing live news and sports to as many people as possible, in as many languages and formats as possible. Since our solutions are anchored in our state-of-the-art IP network, which is built with intelligent routing and versioning capabilities and optimized for live content, LTN technology empowers our customers — content owners and distributors, traditional broadcasters and digital platforms — to seamlessly create multiple thoughtful, professional, broadcast-quality channels with a much smaller footprint than what is required in traditional satellite or fiber distribution models.
In other words, our solutions have a lower impact on our customers’ budgets (while also opening up new revenue streams for them) and a lower impact on the planet than the infrastructure-heavy solutions that media companies have traditionally relied on. For example, unlike traditional satellite systems, which require energy-intensive uplink facilities running continuously to cover wide areas, the LTN Network allows for more targeted and scalable deployment. Our customers are able to spin up the resources needed for specific destinations, reducing energy usage and avoiding over-resourcing or running systems in an idle state when not required. Our versioning capabilities also reduce their reliance on expensive and energy-intensive production equipment and studio space and time because, with the LTN Network, customers can produce once and version many times, simultaneously, for different distribution paths.
Efficiency is in our DNA. The same technology that safeguards the quality and speed of our customers’ video, by ensuring that their content takes the least congested path from source to destination, and which allows us to price our solutions competitively, limits power consumption. Poorly designed IP systems can stress resources and significantly increase energy consumption, reduce quality, and add unnecessary delay when scaling in volume. LTN technology, by contrast, is engineered to handle large-scale operations with high reliability and availability SLAs and ultra-low latency worldwide without incurring unnecessary power usage.
Although our network was built with efficiency in mind, we are constantly working to make it even more efficient. Our software development team works tirelessly to build and run clean, streamlined code that minimizes both energy usage and computational overhead. Our obsession with well-designed, low-impact code has contributed to a 10x reduction in per-encode power consumption for video encoding over the past decade, and our technology investments over the last decade have led to a 5x improvement in the key metric of video transport bandwidth per watt of power used by servers. Recent investments that we have made in future-ready video routing technology have delivered a replacement system which provides 8x the capacity while using one half of the power of the previous system, and we have pushed to adopt more sustainable practices throughout our supply chain, working with a number of datacenter providers that draw power from fully renewable energy sources. The mix of energy sources that our downstream providers rely on is good for the planet and adds an additional layer of redundancy to our network.
Fostering a culture of innovation
In order to constantly improve our solutions, we are intentional about promoting a culture of innovation here at LTN. We have found that building a team with diverse backgrounds and perspectives is key to this mission. As our team has grown over the 17 years since the company was founded, we have consistently sought out people who are team oriented, open-minded, and bring fresh ideas to the table. Lively debate and adaptive thinking are encouraged. The tone from the top is incredibly inclusive and empowering. We champion trust, diversity, and positive change here at LTN, and we recognize that the skills needed to succeed here can come from many different places — from fast-paced production environments, to military and governmental roles.
Our Director of HR coaches managers on empathetic leadership, and our leadership team actively seeks feedback from team members throughout the organization. We understand that our employees have lives outside of the office and offer flexible working arrangements and flexible PTO. We prioritize employee well-being through additional initiatives as well. For example, we offer a range of wellness programs, which include virtual exercise classes, free bike rentals, and access to on-site amenities such as gyms and wellness rooms in some offices. Every office carries readily available first aid supplies, healthy snacks, beverages, and a myriad of other wellness supplies ensuring needs are met while in the office. Our US healthcare provider also offers an Employee Assistance Program with round-the-clock mental health support hotlines, counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching.
In short, we treat each other with respect and humanity, which is key to fostering an inclusive environment. An inclusive environment is in turn essential for promoting innovation. We would miss out on so many good ideas that improve our solutions if members of our team didn’t feel comfortable putting them forward.
Our focus on openness and inclusivity also manifests itself in a workforce that is increasingly diverse not only in terms of the skills that LTN employees bring to the table but also in terms of ethnic, racial, and gender diversity. Companies across the media and technology industries still have plenty of steps to take in attracting and nurturing the next generation of top talent, including those from diverse and underrepresented groups. While we are not yet where we want to be, our representation of women on our executive management team has increased by 300% in the past five years.
Living our values
Our core values of quality, transparency, expertise, trust, and ownership serve as our north star. They are reinforced in our all-hands meetings, and they guide the day-to-day operations of our business, our strategy, and our brand.
Our human resources team manages a robust employee training program, where new hires are enrolled in training programs upon hire, including IT training and an introduction to LTN that is tailored to the new hire’s position and introduces new employees to our core values. All employees also participate in interactive training sessions on our anti-corruption, security, and anti-harassment policies at onboarding and on an annual basis during their employment with LTN. Championing ethical governance isn’t just an internal consideration for us, however. We seek out partnerships with vendors that share our commitment to ethical business practices.
We also strive to positively impact the communities around us. From serving meals to people in need in Cologne to participating in charity events like The Battle Within’s wiffleball tournament in Kansas City, LTN encourages its employees to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
We are proud of LTN’s significant growth since the company was founded in 2007, and we also pride ourselves in retaining our startup-like culture, promoting collaboration and open communication. We act with integrity, are transparent with each other and our customers about challenges that arise, and take initiative, working with team members across functional areas when needed, to find a solution.
It is our adherence to our core values that has led our customers to associate us with trust, reliability, and accountability — they know we’re there when it matters, and they know that they can depend on us when the stakes are high.
Charting a stronger future with an IP technology roadmap
Business, technology, and cultural transformation in media are ever-present. As media companies navigate the complexities of their own environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, we’re committed to reflecting positive change and providing future-ready, reliable IP technology foundations that can underpin energy savings today and in the long run.
Whether it’s supporting centralized remote production to minimize carbon emissions, enabling diverse teams to thrive in inclusive, global environments, or championing social welfare initiatives that make a difference to those in need, LTN will continue evaluating and evolving our own ESG initiatives to align with more sustainable, inclusive, and ethical practices.
If you’re ready to integrate IP technology into your media future, book a meeting with us today.