Anne Aaron

Engineering Large-Scale Live Video Streaming: Architecture and Encoding Challenges

Abstract: Live video streaming at global scale presents a distinct set of research and engineering challenges, including massive, unpredictable audience spikes, and strict real-time constraints across heterogeneous devices and networks. Meeting these requirements while maintaining smooth playback and high visual quality for millions of people tuning in at once, requires rethinking traditional streaming architectures and encoding strategies.

In this keynote, we examine the end-to-end design of a large-scale live streaming system, from content production and cloud-based processing to content delivery networks and client playback. Using the Netflix Live platform as a concrete case study, we discuss the architectural choices behind a highly reliable Live Origin and share insights from past, ongoing, and future efforts to improve network efficiency and video quality under real-time constraints. The talk highlights open challenges and design trade-offs that are relevant to live streaming systems.

Bio: Anne Aaron is Senior Director of Encoding Tech at Netflix. She leads the organization that develops media processing for VOD, Ads, Cloud Gaming and Studio. Her team is also responsible for broadcast, encoding and operations for Netflix Live shows.

Anne is originally from Manila, Philippines and holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. Anne was recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top 50 Women In Tech in 2018 and received the Workflow Medal from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in 2019. In 2021, her team received two Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards for video encoding and quality metrics. When she is not hanging out with family, she tries to catch up on the latest shows on Netflix.