One year in with the CEO of Zixi

Nearly a year into his role as CEO of Zixi, Marc Aldrich has spent much of this time listening to customers, partners and the broader industry. “From that, three priorities have guided our path forward: pricing, partners and politics,” he tells FEED. “Each one of these has been central to repositioning Zixi as the leading enabler of live video delivery over IP.”

Pricing: simplifying engagement, driving outcomes

When Aldrich joined Zixi, customers praised the technology but found Zixi’s business model complex. “Pricing and packaging weren’t always clear, making it harder for organisations to engage fully with us,” he says. 

“We’ve since simplified into straightforward solutions aligned with real-world use cases – from sports broadcasters regionalising feeds, to cloud playout providers scaling globally, to enterprises delivering corporate video,” he adds. “This shift ensures that pricing is predictable, transparent and aligned to business outcomes, with clear metrics such as per event, per channel or per affiliate/station.”

Such clarity doesn’t just make invoices simpler, it enables deeper partnerships. “Customers now start conversations not with questions like ‘what does it cost?’, but with ‘what can we achieve together?’. 

“At IBC, we’ll showcase how technological innovation underpins all of this work: zero-latency frame thinning, expanded encoding and a mobile contribution app. These features solve problems in practical ways, and our new pricing guarantees that customers know exactly how to leverage them.”

Partners: building an ecosystem for shared success

Zixi has always fostered strong relationships, but they weren’t always structured for mutual success. “In the last year, we’ve reinvigorated our partner ecosystem with a focus on interoperability and joint value creation,” says Aldrich. “Today, partners are not simply add-ons but multipliers of impact. Whether it’s through interoperability with Harmonic, co-innovation with Amagi or service delivery with Uplynk and Encompass, our aim is the same: reduce friction for customers and drive measurable outcomes.

“The industry is moving away from siloed, proprietary workflows,” he continues. “Customers demand seamless interoperability – and Zixi enables this. Supporting 13 different protocols – including SRT, RIST, HLS and our own – Zixi is the connective tissue that’s powering the future of IP video delivery.”

The results are clear: faster feature velocity, stronger solutions and deeper trust with customers, who increasingly view Zixi as a long-term business partner.

Politics: preparing for a changing landscape

Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The political and regulatory environment is shaping the context in which the industry operates.

“The upcoming sunset of C-band satellite spectrum is accelerating the shift to IP delivery,” explains Aldrich. “At the same time, the US administration’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is going to be investing heavily in broadband infrastructure, opening up new markets but at the same time increasing scrutiny on how video is transported, monitored and monetised.”

Zixi is positioned to be the bridge from satellite to IP, and is best placed to help its customers transition smoothly while ensuring compliance and efficiency. 

“We support existing standards such as SCTE 224, SCTE 35 and ESAM, while also innovating with tools including POIS (placement opportunity information service) to unlock new monetisation opportunities. Our approach is not about lobbying but about aligning technology with real-world frameworks, so customers are prepared for what’s next.” 

Looking ahead: enabling the IP era

Across the three Ps, a common thread is clear: Zixi enables the industry’s transition to IP. At IBC, Zixi will demonstrate this mission in action: a modernised broadcaster interface and ESNI management tools; a mobile contribution app that turns any device into a Zixi encoder; and integration with time addressable media store for fast live clipping. 

“These aren’t just features, they signal that Zixi is the platform of choice to deliver live, high-value video anywhere in the world,” says Aldrich.

Year one reflections

A year ago, Zixi had world-class technology but untapped potential in how it was positioned. “Today, through the three Ps, we have simplified engagement, rebuilt partnerships and aligned with the realities shaping our industry,” says Aldrich. 

“The journey is ongoing, but the path is clear. With transparent pricing, a reinvigorated ecosystem and forward-looking strategies, Zixi isn’t just adapting to the future of media distribution – we’re helping define it in close alignment with our customers and partners.”

Find out more at zixi.com

This feature was first published in the Autumn 2025 issue of FEED.