How Cognacq-Jay Image Achieved 200 ms Latency with Software-Based Encoders
Summary
- Cognacq-Jay Image (CJI), a company serving broadcasters and streamers, relocated its monitoring and playout operations. Meanwhile, the technical infrastructure for its signal processing remained in its data centre environment.
- For live monitoring, CJI needed encoders to distribute streams over IP at very low latency, so it could address monitoring issues quickly, without disrupting viewers. It also wanted to be able to share the transport infrastructure between live monitoring and playout.
- CJI initially doubted that software-based encoders could meet its low latency requirements. It tested and validated the low-latency software-based encoders from EasyTools – then bought 20 units for its live monitoring workflow.
- The EasyTools low-latency software-based encoders achieved latency of 200 ms. They also allowed CJI to use the transport network for both live monitoring and playout.
- In 2025, CJI needed an encoding solution to support low-latency contribution of production feeds into the final control room for live management for a key client. It chose the same EasyTools low-latency software-based encoders, which had already demonstrated their reliability.
Cognacq-Jay Image (CJI) provides services to leading broadcasters and streamers, supporting them with playout and distribution of OTT, 4K, live channels, and more.
Over 30 years, the company has built a reputation for reliable services that can be trusted to deliver the highest-quality video and audio.
The challenge
CJI moved its monitoring and playout operations to a different location. Meanwhile, the technical infrastructure for its signal processing remained in its data centre environment
This created a challenge. The team woud have to monitor streams produced at one location from a site more than 10 km away. The two sites had only a couple of cables for IP connection, and bridging the distance with traditional contribution infrastructure would mean pulling and managing many fibre SDI cables. This solution was both expensive and messy.
CJI looked for a robust, practical solution for signal contribution and distribution. The solution had to meet two strict requirements:
(1) It had to deliver very low latency so operators could start and stop live programmes quickly. If operators identified any issues, they needed to make changes immediately without disrupting the viewing experience.
(2) It had to allow a shared transport infrastructure for both monitoring and playout.
Low-Latency Software-Based Encoders
EasyTools offered software-based encoders that promised flexible deployments, scalability, and IP-based contribution and distribution. The encoders would enable a transport infrastructure that could easily be shared among different services. But CJI was skeptical about them meeting its low-latency requirement. It expected that, thanks to their hardware accelerators, hardware-based encoders would perform better. Nevertheless, it tested the EasyTools encoders and was surprised to find that their performance was strong enough for real live monitoring use – so much so that it chose the EasyTools encoders for its live monitoring workflow, buying 20 of them.
From Monitoring to Live Channel Delivery
After deploying the 20 software-based encoders from EasyTools, CJI was able to share its transport infrastructure rather than requiring point-to-point, dedicated contribution wiring for day-to-day operations.
It achieved all this while keeping latency at 200 milliseconds. But even more interesting is what happened next.
In 2025, CJI needed to select encoders to support low-latency contribution of production feeds into the final control room for live management for an important French client. A new requirement emerged. Besides achieving low latency and enabling a shared transport infrastructure, the encoders had to ensure high video quality throughout its operations, 24/7.
Having witnessed the reliability of EasyTools encoders used in its live monitoring operations, CJI chose the same encoders for its contribution of production feeds into the final control room for live management.
Sébastien Faure, Chief Platform Officer of Cognacq-Jay Image, summed up the results:
“We serve tier-one clients who have extremely high standards for Quality of Service. With the EasyTools software-based encoders, we were able to meet these standards for live with stable, reliable and robust quality – while keeping latency down at only 200 milliseconds.”
Learn more about the EasyTools encoders and transcoders for low-latency video contribution and video distribution.
FAQ
What was the main challenge for Cognacq-Jay Image?
For live monitoring, Cognacq-Jay Image (CJI) needed to find encoders that would enable IP-based distribution between two sites that were more than 10 km apart, while also achieving very low latency.
What solution did CJI use?
CJI used EasyTools low-latency software-based encoders designed to send streams over IP.
What latency did CJI achieve?
CJI achieved 200 milliseconds latency using the EasyTools low-latency encoders for live monitoring.
How many EasyTools encoders did CJI purchase for monitoring?
CJI purchased 20 EasyTools encoders to support its live monitoring workflow.
Was the technology only used for monitoring?
No. After successful monitoring deployment, in 2025 CJI selected the same technology to support low-latency contribution of production feeds to the final control room for live management.
What additional requirement emerged for low-latency contribution of production feeds to the final control room?
In addition to low latency, CJI required consistent, 24/7 high-quality video.
