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Radio Renascença migrates to AWS
after Azure Media Services shutdown
The race against time
to migrate before Azure Media Services expiredRadio Renascença is one of Portugal’s biggest media groups, bringing news, music, and entertainment to millions through brands like Renascença, RFM, Mega Hits, and Popcasts. Their content – ranging from live radio shows and breaking news to music, podcasts, and on-demand video – reaches listeners across FM radio, digital streaming, and mobile platforms, with apps and in-car integrations like CarPlay and Android Auto.
Their entire media processing and delivery system was built on Microsoft Azure Media Services, which handled transcoding, packaging, and delivery. The setup relied on just-in-time packaging (JITP), which dynamically packages files when playback requests come in, allowing Radio Renascença to optimize storage while delivering an uninterrupted streaming experience to their listeners. The urgency to migrate came when Microsoft announced the discontinuation of Azure Media Services, with a hard deadline of June 30, 2024. Radio Renascença needed a solution that could replicate their existing workflow, support a seamless transition, and avoid costly disruptions. The clock was ticking, and with millions of listeners tuning in every day, there was no margin for error.
Replacing a critical system
without upsetting millions of listenersWith the countdown to Azure Media Services shutdown underway, Radio Renascença had to move fast. They started exploring alternatives right away, gathering recommendations, and evaluating providers based on scalability, automation, and reliability. AWS stood out as the best choice: it offered a strong cloud infrastructure, a comprehensive suite of media services, and a cost-effective model that aligned with their needs.
But replacing Azure Media Services wasn’t just about keeping things running. Ultimately, it was about finding the right long-term fit. The new system had to automate media processing, support high-quality, low-latency streaming, and seamlessly integrate across web, mobile, and in-car platforms. At the same time, Radio Renascença wanted to avoid unnecessary reprocessing costs for their large media library.
A solution that did more
than just fill Azure Media Service’s shoesRadio Renascença chose Insys Video Technologies because they understood exactly what it would take to move off Azure Media Services quickly and without any disruptions. The Insys team brought on board deep AWS expertise and a clear plan to handle the tight timeline. Most importantly though, they could minimize risk so that the broadcaster's listeners would experience no interruptions while listening to their favorite shows.
The solution – using Cloud Video Kit, a modular set of tools for video processing, management, and distribution – was built on a hybrid approach that preserved existing workflows while optimizing for future scalability.
Reusing already processed video files
Instead of reprocessing the entire Radio Renascença media library (which would’ve been costly and unnecessary, considering its size), Insys Video Technologies reused the already transcoded ABR video files and ingested them with AWS Elemental MediaPackage for VOD.
The new, optimized solution
For new uploads, however, they switched to static packaging via AWS Elemental MediaConvert as it’s more efficient and cost-effective. Today, everything is stored securely in Amazon S3 cloud storage, distributed globally through Amazon CloudFront, and automated via backend-to-backend API integrations.
Reusing already processed video files
Instead of reprocessing the entire Radio Renascença media library (which would’ve been costly and unnecessary, considering its size), Insys Video Technologies reused the already transcoded ABR video files and ingested them with AWS Elemental MediaPackage for VOD.
The new, optimized solution
For new uploads, however, they switched to static packaging via AWS Elemental MediaConvert as it’s more efficient and cost-effective. Today, everything is stored securely in Amazon S3 cloud storage, distributed globally through Amazon CloudFront, and automated via backend-to-backend API integrations.
“At Insys, we understand that a media migration isn't just a technical challenge; it's about ensuring the continuity of the viewer experience.
With Radio Renascença, our focus was on delivering a solution that not only matched their existing Azure Media Services capabilities, but also provided a future-proof foundation for their evolving digital strategy. By leveraging AWS and Cloud Video Kit, we were able to provide a seamless transition, minimizing risk and ensuring millions of listeners experienced uninterrupted service. We are proud to have been a part of this successful migration.”
Dawid Górniak, Product Manager at Insys Video Technologies
From first meeting to launch in just 4 months
Planning and preparation
The migration started with thorough planning. Both teams worked together to map out exactly what was needed, covering all the technical details and requirements. Given that Radio Renascença's content library was continuously growing, the migration process needed to be flexible enough to handle new files being added throughout the transition.
Deployment and ongoing optimization
Next came integrating the AWS-based workflows directly into Radio Renascença’s existing systems. This phase required rigorous testing to make sure transcoding, packaging, storage, and delivery worked as intended. Since the media library kept expanding, the migration was performed in multiple stages. Files were initially transferred up to a specific date, then after the automated scripts were run and validated, additional files added in the meantime were migrated in subsequent rounds.
Integration and testing
Finally, the system went live in production without any hiccups. But instead of simply calling it a day, Insys Video Technologies and Radio Renascença kept a close watch, adjusting and optimizing the solution in real time. Thanks to automation, the migration process could be repeated smoothly, allowing new content to be added without disrupting operations.
A platform built with future in mind
Since switching to the new AWS-based solution, Radio Renascença has experienced noticeable improvements across the board. With automated workflows that cut down manual effort, their team spends more time creating engaging content and less time managing technical details. Audiences have noticed improvements too, since now the content reaches them faster and with minimal buffering.
A big part of this progress comes from implementing a backend-to-backend integration by Radio Renascença’s own in-house team. They've streamlined their workflow so video and audio files uploaded to their digital platforms are automatically transcoded, packaged, and ready to stream without manual intervention.
But the real strength of the new solution is how it positions Radio Renascença for the future. They’re already looking ahead, planning to introduce AI-driven personalization, interactive features for their digital platforms, and further cloud setup optimization. Radio Renascença is also exploring new revenue opportunities like premium content subscriptions and targeted advertising.
“The transition from Azure Media Services to AWS, supported by Insys VT, was a critical step in ensuring the continuity and evolution of our digital content workflows.
With a seamless integration process and an automated approach to media processing, we have enhanced efficiency, improved scalability, and maintained a top-tier user experience across our platforms. This move has not only future-proofed our streaming capabilities but also positioned us for further innovation in digital audio and video distribution.”
Nelson Pimenta, Digital Director
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