CCTV – CDN Streaming Solution

Overview

China Central Television (CCTV) is the largest television network in China, operating a comprehensive online video platform through its portal CCTV.com. With a mission to deliver content continuously to a massive audience both domestically and internationally, CCTV.com manages one of the largest-scale digital video databases in the country. Its platform operates 24/7 and supports extensive video-on-demand and livestreaming services across diverse programs and events. The platform supports a high number of concurrent users, with peaks reaching over 11.06 million simultaneous online viewers during major broadcasts. These large-scale demands highlight the necessity for an infrastructure that can reliably deliver ultra-stable and high-quality content at scale, across all network conditions and viewer locations.

Customer Needs and Challenges

• High Volume of Traffic: During national celebrations, popular broadcasts, and globally watched events, traffic volume can surge to extreme levels. These peaks demand a scalable, distributed architecture that can handle such load fluctuations in real-time without disruption.
• Compromised User Experience: Without sufficient infrastructure support, users could face long loading times, playback delays, or resolution downgrades—particularly under constrained network environments or during viewer spikes.
• Decline of View: Repeated issues with latency or buffering may discourage users from continuing to engage with the platform, impacting overall viewership and brand perception.

EdgeNext's Tailored Solution

• End-to-End Content Acceleration

  EdgeNext implemented a comprehensive content acceleration and streaming solution, combining both Live Streaming and VOD Acceleration services. These solutions are powered by EdgeNext's globally distributed CDN infrastructure and tailored for high concurrency and real-time responsiveness.

• Support for Flagship Events

  EdgeNext has partnered with CCTV.com since 2017 to deliver a range of major events including the Lunar New Year Gala, Two Sessions, National Day Parade, and World Cup broadcasts. These events draw hundreds of millions of concurrent viewers, demanding real-time load balancing and exceptional reliability.

• Flexible Architecture

  EdgeNext's loosely coupled, highly modular architecture enables flexible deployment and precise traffic routing. By deploying over 1,500 global Points of Presence (PoPs), EdgeNext ensures that all video requests are handled by the nearest available edge node. This significantly reduces latency and helps maintain broadcast continuity across regions.

• Advanced Streaming Features

  Advanced streaming features such as instant playback, bitrate switching, and on-demand replay allow viewers to fully engage with content regardless of device or location. This flexibility supports rich and immersive viewing experiences even during periods of traffic congestion.

Applied Products and Services

Key Takeaway

Through its ongoing partnership with EdgeNext, CCTV.com has been able to reliably stream content to a global audience—even during peak usage scenarios with 11M+ concurrent users. With EdgeNext's highly customizable CDN and robust edge delivery infrastructure, CCTV successfully meets the demands of high-volume streaming without compromising quality, ensuring its role as a national media leader remains unshakable in the digital era.