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@ ConnecTechAsia2018 www . apb-news . com
26 June 2018
IP Master Class thought provoking
Declaring that IP is more than just about replacing SDI , Michel Proulx , media technologist and former CTO of Miranda Technologies , maintained that there is a more important transformation in the making , which is the transition to software-based processing .
“ The software-defined world needs IP because the real deal of flexibility comes from software , which will allow fixed tools to be more agile ,” he told engineers and other media professionals attending the IP Master Class held yesterday at the Marina Mandarin Hotel , Singapore .
The IP Master Class , entitled Real-time Media over IP inside a TV Facility , was organised by APB and systems integrator Ideal Systems — and supplemented with case studies from Arista , Dejero , Embrionix and Dell EMC .
Proulx , while sharing the latest updates in the development of
SMPTE ST 2110 suite of standards , pointed out four major drivers in replacing SDI with IP — the need to increase flexibility , to build a future-proof media facility , reduce cabling and infrastructure , and leverage IT innovation and scale .
Although the move to IP is inevitable , there are several factors slowing down the speed of transition in the industry , said Proulx . For instance , the standards for IP transportation are yet to be fully ratified and systems are more complex in an IP infrastructure . And when it comes to cost , IP is not less expensive as of today , he warned , adding that there are missing knowledge and skillsets among broadcast engineers .
“ In the long term , IP is the way forward , as the benefits are important and as software-based devices become more common ,” said Proulx in his closing remarks .
“ However , if broadcasters could
Participants attending the IP Master Class on Real-time Media over IP inside a TV Facility , came from Australia , Brunei , Hong Kong , Macau , Malaysia , Myanmar , Sri Lanka and broadcasters from Singapore .
afford to wait , I would recommend them to wait a year as the technology and solutions are not fully matured today .” Having said that , his next piece of advice is that while waiting to do the big project , start doing small experimental projects .
“ It is time to start training and learning these new technologies .”
The IP Master Class was specially designed as a deep dive into IP so as to equip engineers and technicians with new thought processes and the relevant skills needed in the transition to an all-IP infrastructure in the nottoo-distant future .
To provide more food for thought during lunch , sponsored by AJA , there was a short presentation on Don ’ t block out blockchain by Mock Pak Lum , senior adviser , Tembusu Partners , and the former CTO of StarHub .
For a more comprehensive report on the IP Master Class , make sure you receive your own copy of the July edition of APB .
Blockchain can verify authencity and ownership of data
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Be bold – look beyond traditional pay-TV business models
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potential crumbling of longentrench ed pay-TV business models for sports distribution .
In Asia-Pacific , many sports fans , particularly those of the football persuasion , continue to be compelled to sign up to expensive pay-TV bundles for their football fixes .
Think of it this way : Where once you had to purchase a combo package of fresh produce and healthcare products just to get a carton of beer , you could now not only just buy a carton of beer , but choose different
cost and friction of the transaction .
On Thursday , June 28 , Flint will be doing a blockchain presentaion at the BroadcastMedia closing plenary at Room 308 / 309 , Level 3 , at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre .
His presentation , entitled Creating The New Broadcast Content Economy on Blockchain , will explore how blockchain can be leveraged to change the paradigm of the content acquisition industry .
Flint , however , is keen to stress that blockchain , by itself , does not hold all the answers . “ In combination with other technologies , blockchain can add exponential physical efficiencies — in terms of data storage — and emotional support in the form of trust in the data that it stores .”
Urging broadcasters and media owners to embrace blockchain now , he adds : “ The threats , when it comes to media rights trading , are nonexistent .
“ Usually , blockchain disrupts the people who own the data , but because digital rights trading is so new , there is no one to disrupt !
“ The only entities that blockchain will debilitate are those that do not use it .”
brands within the carton .
Sounds implausible ? Going back to the example of football , may nation al football organisations today negotiate media rights collectively ; that is , they sell the broadcast rights to their respective leagues as a whole .
What happens when football clubs break away from this hierarchy , and are allowed to negotiate their own media rights — including live streaming — with the likes of Amazon ?
For a nominal monthly fee , video streaming services can offer exclusive access to the matches of specific
Blockchain has the potential to disrupt long-standing business models , and is poised to spark large-scale transformation of value and trust in much the same way the Internet did for information , suggests Mock Pack Lum , senior adviser at Tembusu Partners , a Singapore-based private equity firm .
Mock , who is also an ex-CTO of Singapore telco and pay-TV operator StarHub , says that with blockchain the middle man will disappear , and elements such as payment to rights onwers will all be automated .
Blockchain will affect content distribution dramatically , particularly in Asia-Pacific , adds Stan Moote , CTO of IABM . “ That is primarily because delivery consolidators are getting a lot of programming ; with blockchain , the lion ’ s share of the money will go back to the people who created the content originally .”
While both Mock and Moote acknowledged that blockchain is still an immature technology , Mock believes that when transaction speeds are sped up , what remains is a question of adoption and understanding .
Moote concludes : “ A lot of trending technologies can take many years to mature , and while we are a few years out when it comes to blockchain , its impact can be felt very quickly .”
football clubs on an a la carte basis . In Asia-Pacific , where idolatry for football clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United border on the fanatical , this will have wide-ranging repercussions for the pay-TV industry .
And while sports viewing , being the communal activity it represents , may still be best enjoyed on the big TV screen , there is nothing to suggest that viewers are resistant to the notion of viewing live sports on mobile devices — given the not insignificant incentive of having to pay less .
As the exclusive domain for pay- TV for so long , it is perhaps appropriate to see sports as “ the Great Wall of Pay-TV ”. However , as the way fans consume sports content continue to be revolutionised — as with any other content genre — cracks are beginning to appear .
Traditional pay-TV operators need to think of innovative ways of reaching out to sports fans . To seal or repair cracks within the wall , they need to take the bold step of looking beyond traditional business models . Otherwise , the likes of Amazon are waiting in the wings to tear down the old wall and build an entirely new one .