- We are completely dependent on our Oracle databases to set up TV schedules, commercial breaks, login and much more. The databases ensure that our business-critical applications work properly," says Tonje Fløystad, Head of IT and Operations at TV 2.
With Oracle's databases at the bottom of a modern cloud platform (Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), TV 2 has, with Cegal's help, laid a technical foundation for TV 2 to achieve its goal of making TV 2 Play Norway's first choice for streaming and ensuring the best possible user experience for viewers.
IT security and modernization of the IT platform in the form of a gradual transition to cloud solutions are at the top of the agenda for TV 2. Today, TV 2 has most of its critical business systems in its own data center - on-prem - in the TV 2 building in Bergen, Norway. This was also the case with the Oracle Exadata servers that ran the Oracle databases. With both hardware and software approaching end of support and in need of replacement, TV 2 considered four options:
We chose Oracle Cloud@Customer because we wanted as little delay as possible between the business applications and the databases.
Bjarte Brandt, DevOps Architect at TV2
- As little delay as possible between the business applications and the databases was a key requirement when we were choosing a solution. So it was important to have the databases physically, on-prem, in our own data center. At the same time, we are embarking on a cloud journey and wanted Oracle Database as a cloud service. The choice fell on Oracle Cloud@Customer," Bjarte Brandt continues.
With Oracle Cloud@Customer, you get a complete cloud infrastructure (OCI) with all of Oracle's cloud services in your own data center - on-prem. At the same time, TV 2 only pays for the computing power and performance they use, thus avoiding major investments in both machines and software in advance.
- Previously, we had the Oracle databases in a "box" with fixed walls. Now we have the flexibility and scalability of the cloud, just in our own data room," Brandt continues.
Cegal has been TV 2's loyal Oracle partner for a number of years, and in close partnership with TV 2's IT resources has contributed with advice, planning and expertise during the cloud migration. Brandt and Fløystad praise the efforts of consultants Sigurd Aleksander Sagstad, Magne Rosendahl and Dag Harald Matland, who all work at Cegal's office in Bergen.
The consultants are always there for us, even though much of the work is done at inconvenient times. To avoid operational disruptions, we have to be careful about when we can take down our critical business systems, says Fløystad and praises the Cegal consultants for their efforts.
Tonje Fløysand and Bjarte Brandt in TV2.
IT Manager Tonje Fløystad says that the most challenging part of the project was the short deadlines. The project started in the late fall of 2023 and had to be in production well before the Champions League final on June 1, 2024.
The final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid was the ultimate test. Almost half a million people watched the final on TV 2 Play and linear. Would the new cloud solution scale and cope with so many simultaneous users?
Fløystad asks rhetorically
She says that the Champions League final went off without a hitch and that TV 2 has not experienced any operational disruptions with the new solution. Nor were there any major disruptions during the project.
- With Cloud@Customer, TV 2 can run applications faster but also get the same scalability, flexibility, high performance, automated operations and the same high level of security that you get with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). At the same time, the pricing model is subscription-based. TV 2 only pays for the CPU they use," says Magne Rosendahl, Lead Solution Architect and Team Lead at Cegal.
With Cloud@Customer we get the best of both worlds; flexibility, scalability, access to all Oracle technology in the cloud and "Pay as you Go". At the same time as the solution is in our data room.
Tonje Fløystad, Head of IT and Operations at TV 2
Previously, TV 2's Oracle has been packed up and paid to take the traffic peaks. Now TV 2 pays according to how much computing power is used.
"If we stop using a service, we reduce CPU usage and save money at the same time, so we are constantly working to optimize the Oracle solution," says Fløystad.
With Cloud@Customer, TV 2 has access to Oracle's latest database, Database 23ai - ai for Artificial Intelligence (AI)and continuous updates to it. Oracle Database 23ai connects artificial intelligence to the data and makes it easier to use AI to develop apps and work smarter with data analysis and critical workloads.