Marcel Poelstra
Independent streaming technology specialist
About Marcel
I'm Marcel Poelstra, an independent streaming technology specialist with over 20 years in video streaming. I have worked as a senior technical consultant for Europe's leading broadcasters and media providers, bringing practical technical judgement and operational discipline to every engagement.
Professional background
I work with clients across Europe and internationally, specialising in video streaming technology. My background covers more than 20 years of hands-on work developing OTT platforms and optimising video delivery for broadcasters, telecommunications providers, and digital media companies.
My consultancy grew out of deep technical work for European national broadcasters including NPO, SBS and ITV, streaming platforms such as MUBI and Pathé Thuis, and telecommunications companies including VodafoneZiggo.
The result is practical, vendor-agnostic advice that produces measurable gains in performance, cost efficiency, and user experience.
Technical foundation
My work spans the full streaming technology stack, from advanced video codec optimisation to enterprise-scale CDN architecture. I implement H.264, H.265 and AV1, and design efficient encoding ladders that cut bandwidth costs while keeping visual quality high.
My architecture work covers cloud deployment across AWS, GCP and Linode, with particular strength in hybrid cloud and edge computing.
I work hands-on with Linux administration, containerisation with Docker, web server optimisation with NGINX, and media processing with FFmpeg.
This foundation lets me diagnose complex performance issues, put reliable monitoring in place, and design failover that keeps services available across regions and device types.
Industry recognition
Throughout my career I have supported national broadcasters, international streaming platforms, and technology innovators.
I work with and alongside industry partners including Unified Streaming, Bitmovin, Bunny.net, MediaLab, Stackit and Akamai, so clients get technology integration suited to their requirements. See a full list of friends and partners.
My approach favours clear communication, practical implementation, and sustainable long-term outcomes that line up with business objectives.
Next steps
If you need independent expertise for a streaming technology initiative, I offer strategic consultation, technical leadership, and hands-on implementation to deliver results for your platform and audience.