EP01 - Tommy Flanagan Hosts Thierry Fautier: From AI Hype to CDN Chaos - What’s Next?

In this episode of Playback Pioneers, host Tommy Flanagan sits down with industry heavyweight Thierry Fautier, (Former VP of Video Strategy at Harmonic, and MD of Your Media Transformation) for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about the state of streaming. From reflections on two decades of transformation in video tech to sharp takes on AI, UHD, and the messy middle of CDN evolution, nothing is off the table. Together, they break down the real blockers to progress in the streaming world - and what needs to change. With a healthy dose of insight, honesty, and humour, this episode offers a front-row seat to the minds shaping the future of media.

00:00 – Welcome to Playback Pioneers
5V Video's Josh Seeley opens up the conversation introducing Tommy and Thierry. 

08:48 – 20 Years in the Stream: Thierry’s Journey
Thierry reflects on his two-decade-long career, lessons learned, and how staying relevant means constantly reinventing yourself.

15:36 – Compression Tech: The Unsung Hero
The pair dive into how advances in compression have quietly powered the streaming boom—and where it's headed next.

20:43 – Live Sports: Why It’s Still a Tech Headache
They unpack the chaos of live sports streaming, latency nightmares, and why innovation here is still so tough.

27:04 – UHD, AI & the Road Ahead
A frank chat about AI’s role in the future of UHD. Is it helping or just adding buzzwords?

32:36 – Advertising in 2025: Smarter or Creepier?
From smarter targeting to ethical concerns, they explore where digital advertising is heading, and who benefits most.

39:12 – CDNs & Live: What Needs to Change?
The evolution of content delivery networks and the crucial role of edge computing come into focus.

44:25 – Time to Let Go: Tech Trends That Need Retiring
Not every innovation is worth keeping, Tommy and Thierry share what trends they’d like to leave behind.

51:16 – Quickfire Qs & Lighter Moments
Josh returns to wrap up the session with some quick-fire questions.