In a shock move from Microsoft, the Azure Media Services division is being retired, with workflows ceasing support by the end of June 2024. While the upheaval could cause disruption for customers deeply reliant on Azure Media Services, the transition is good news for suppliers in the Azure partner ecosystem. Microsoft’s decision signals the commoditization of services such as video encoding, content discoverability, and DRM, as the organization’s media unit instead sees a shift towards remote collaboration, cloud rendering, and game engine-based engagement. Azure Media Services is a platform for managing and delivering media content with cloud-based workflows. One of the flagship features is Azure Video Indexer, a video analytics service using AI to extract actionable insights from stored videos…