iWorld
Benchmark Broadcast partners with Adobe to upgrade video & audio services
Mumbai: In the last few years, the media and entertainment industry has taken a giant leap, thanks to the digital transformation that it has witnessed. The industry leaders now increasingly recognise technology’s strategic significance and do not see it merely as a tool for operational efficiency.
On the other end of the spectrum, consumers are keen to explore new experiences, including audio and video content. Their consumption avenues are not limited to TV, but also cover OTT platforms, web, social media, and native apps. For media and broadcasting companies, the evolution is a lifetime opportunity, and it requires them to use agile and effective ways to create a niche for themselves.
Setting ‘Benchmark’ since 2006
Established in 2006 in Singapore, Benchmark Broadcast Systems is a consultant and technology partner for media and broadcast companies in Asia. The company has over 50 in-house engineers and more than 500 years of cumulative experience in the broadcast industry to empower broadcast and media clients. The team works for end-to-end systems integration, project roadmaps, site support and maintenance, and personnel training.
From assessing requirements to designing systems, procurement, installation, and maintenance, Benchmark provides all services to its clients, which includes several broadcasters in the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia – CNBC, Mediacorp, Aljazeera, Nepal TV, and MyTV among many others.
For the uninitiated, production companies work with multiple vendors who provide a complex array of equipment and software — from the network, storage, and compute infrastructure to editing software, ingest systems, and media asset management. Often, these companies struggle to put all of these complex pieces together and follow a streamlined workflow. As a systems integrator, Benchmark works with each client to identify and implement a customized solution to address their specific problem.
The pandemic has not only catalysed the demand for digital content but also changed the production environments significantly. At this juncture, Benchmark set out to look for new-age solutions which help its clients respond to the changed environment and maintain their competitive edge.
Adobe joins the saga
Being a leader in creating digital experiences, Adobe’s solutions create environments that help media companies achieve their goals.
In September 2020, the company introduced the Adobe Certified Service Partners for Video and Audio program. The program helps systems integrators gain the high-level knowledge and confidence needed to deliver their services in three strategic areas: support, workflow and system design, and in software integration. Systems integrators that meet proficiency requirements in all three areas become Adobe Certified Service Partners for Video and Audio. The program supports partners in several ways. Through training, engineers become proficient in each service areas, giving systems integrators a clear path to gaining skills that will enable them to compete in the industry and better serve their clients. They can also leverage the certification as a unique selling point to offer professional services to their clients.
Benchmark Broadcast’s relationship with Adobe is not a recent one. The company has been successfully creating workflows for its clients by using Adobe Premiere Pro. Therefore, the leadership at Benchmark was excited to have their engineers be a part of the Adobe Certified Service Partner for Video and Audio program.
The program modules offer structured lessons about best practices on building the right workflows throughout the production journey. This enables Benchmark’s engineers to be more efficient in managing timelines yet develop a deeper understanding of systems integration, as they aim to improve the Adobe ecosystem for clients.
Amid the demand for complex remote production environments, production houses need trusted partners to help them with effective integration and the desired production workflow.
By joining the Adobe Certified Service Partners for Video and Audio program, Benchmark attempts to enhance the customer’s trust. For a relatively small team at Benchmark, the certification becomes a testimony of its experience with the Adobe ecosystem and the ability to get the work done.
By becoming an Adobe Certified Service Partner for Video and Audio, Benchmark Broadcast Systems is pushing the envelope in helping media and broadcast companies adapt to new consumer demands.
iWorld
T20 World Cup ’26: India–England semi-final sets global streaming record of 619 million views on JioHotstar
India–England semi-final records 65.2 million peak streams
MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set a new milestone in global sports streaming, as the India–England semi-final drew record digital audiences on JioHotstar.
The match on 5 March registered 65.2 million peak concurrent viewers, the highest ever recorded for a live event on any streaming platform worldwide. The semi-final also generated 619 million views, making it the most streamed T20 international match in history.
The landmark audience numbers were driven largely by viewers in India, setting a record achieved within a single market, rather than through aggregated viewership across multiple countries.
The high-scoring encounter between India national cricket team and England cricket team produced 499 runs across both innings, fuelling widespread fan engagement across platforms.
According to the International Cricket Council, the digital record surpassed the previous global benchmark of 65 million concurrent viewers, set in November 2024 by another international streaming platform.
Across television and digital platforms combined, the semi-final reached more than 320 million viewers, while total watch time exceeded 23 billion minutes, making it the most watched T20 international match ever.
“This World Cup demonstrates the immense passion of cricket fans and the progress made in bringing the game closer to audiences worldwide,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah.
“This moment reflects the scale of cricket fandom in India and the technological capability required to serve hundreds of millions of viewers simultaneously.”
JioStar vice-chairman Uday Shankar, said the audience surge underscored the future of large-scale digital entertainment.
“One in every three Indians tuned in to watch the second semi-final. Delivering such an experience at scale requires the very best of technology,” he said.
The 619 million views during the match also eclipsed the 533 million views recorded during the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
With the final yet to be played, the 2026 tournament has already set multiple benchmarks in audience reach and digital engagement.
India will face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on 8 March at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
