broadcast technology trends and insights 2015
It is perhaps timely for broadcasters to seriously consider integrating IP — to a degree that best suits their current needs — into broadcast workflows , because the evidence thus far suggests that IP will be an invaluable tool in navigating today ’ s rapidly evolving media landscape .
realise investments in baseband while exploiting some of the cost and agility advantages of IP-based environments .
SAM , a new company formed earlier this year from the merger of Quantel and Snell , has identified as one of the first steps in a new roadmap the provision of a risk-free transition path to IP routing and cloud-based playout .
SAM believes that , in the short term , IP is possibly the only way forward as 4K / UHD and , to a lesser extent , 8K begin to gain momentum .
IP is fast becoming central to the modern studio , because it offers benefits in terms of reduced costs and enhanced interoperability , said NETIA , which is offering AirPlayList 2.0 . In addition to facilitating automated playout of multiple radio channels simultaneously and with “ guaranteed redundancy ”, the audioover-IP ( AoIP ) -compliant module also leverages the AES67 standard to support broadcasting via traditional physical sound cards or IP-based virtual drivers .
Another development worth keeping tabs on is cloud technology , which , in all likelihood , will see its adoption intrinsically linked to the advancement of IP within the broadcast industry .
The cloud will herald the revolutionising of MAM technology , and will offer a new spate of opportunities for MAM as the core system , said Mariano
Monteverde , sales director for Asia-Pacific , VSN . Among other benefits , Monteverde pointed out that new cloud-based MAMs provide access from many locations , and enable the sharing of workflows between different companies , thus facilitating multiple versions of the media for different platforms .
As content continues to proliferate , the kind of infrastructure required to support content management will make the adoption of cloud technology an inevitability , suggested Tan Tian Seng , Director of Business Development , Singtel Satellite , who sees more customers looking to outsource using the cloud .
For Caton Technology , it would appear that the cloud is “ Mission Possible ”, as the company continues to work on the creation of a next-generation Video Delivery Network ( VDN ) that will provide customers with a cloud service for video distribution and fast file delivery .
While it would appear that the groundwork is being laid for the integration of IP into broadcast workflows , it is perhaps premature to see IP as the be-all and end-all in the next evolution of broadcast technology . There are many issues that must be resolved before IP can become a fully operable proposition , not lest the lack of standardisation that could potentially hamper full interoperability .
Clearly , it is unrealistic , and impractical , to expect entrenched baseband infrastructures to be overhauled in favour of entirely IP-based systems . Moreover , IP will not today , nor in the future , completely replace existing broadcast systems . Instead , expect IP to be complementary to existing SDI systems as hybrid infrastructures emerge .
Bandwidth connectivity , or the lack thereof , will further ensure that mass
broadcast delivery will not end any time soon , because there simply is not enough capacity to deliver content to mass audiences over IP infrastructures .
The merits , and demerits of IP , will continue to be debated and discussed as the broadcast industry ushers in 2016 .
While the discourse on IP continues , it is perhaps timely for broadcasters to seriously consider integrating IP — to a degree that best suits their current needs — into broadcast workflows , because the evidence thus far suggests that IP will be an invaluable tool in navigating today ’ s rapidly evolving media landscape .
THE FINAL PIECE IN THE 4K / UHD JIGSAW ? For many countries in Asia-Pacific and beyond , the jury is still out on the feasibility of 4K / UHD . While the prices of 4K / UHD screens continue to drop towards the sub- US $ 2,000 level , thus making the issue of affordability less relevant , are broadcasters really equipped to deliver a true 4K / UHD experience ?
The difference in image quality between SD and HDTV is easily discerned by consumers . Can the same be said for the transition from HDTV to UHDTV in its current guise ?
If a clear distinction in image quality cannot be delivered to the average TV viewer , how can broadcasters then provide a convincing proposition to advance consumer adoption of UHDTV ?
Expect High Dynamic Range ( HDR ), and Wide Colour Gamut ( WCG ) and High Frame Rate ( HFR ) to dominate the 4K / UHD conversation in 2016 .
Crucially , by adding these technologies into the 4K / UHD ecosystem , the benefits of 4K / UHD can be fully experienced by the consumer , with the dependence on viewing distance and screen size vastly reduced .
The Consumer Electronics Association ( CES ) has already published its definition of an ‘ HDR Compatible Display ’, paving the way for the introduction of 4K / UHD HDR screens to the home .
It is equally likely that broadcast
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