APB PANELLISTS
2 EDITORIAL
Embrace IP : A real and practical necessity
March 2016 ( volume 33 issue 2 )
EDITORIAL managing editor Shawn Liew , shawn @ editecintl . com contributing editor Millette Manalo-Burgos , millette @ editecintl . com contributing editor ( technology ) Karl K Rossiter , karl @ editecintl . com
When considering the numerous challenges facing broadcasters today , one word springs readily to mind : practicality .
Arguably , the key reason that 3DTV failed to take off was because there simply was no compelling incentive for broadcasters to launch 3DTV services , as viewers dislike having to watch their favourite TV programmes wearing cumbersome 3D glasses .
For many broadcasters , particularly those in Asia-Pacific , 4K / Ultra HD services , although appealing , are currently impractical to launch , not while their analogue TV services remain on air .
When it comes to the adoption of IP in broadcast infrastructures , it would appear that not only is it practical , but it could also prove to be crucial to broadcasters ’ longevity !
Recognising that IP is on the fast track to adoption across the broadcast industry , an independent trade association was recently formed , with a key mandate to promote the adoption , standardisation , development and refinement of open protocols for media over IP , with an initial emphasis on standards such as VSF TR-03 , TR-04 , SMPTE 2022-6 and AES67 .
Founded by some of the most prominent broadcast equipment manufacturers around the world — SAM , Imagine Communications , Lawo , Grass Valley and Nevion — AIMS , or Alliance for IP Media Solutions , will not be developing solutions ; instead , it will focus on promoting open IP standards and interoperability .
AIMS is also not the only IP initiative to be launched in recent times . The LiveIP Project , driven by Belgian public broadcaster VRT and the European Broadcasting Union ( EBU ), has developed what it calls a “ fully functional ” IP production studio , using existing open standards , and committed to a high level of interoperability .
As a content distribution platform , IP is also increasingly under the spotlight , as SVoD services such as Netflix grows in popularity . Interestingly , one of Netflix ’ s first moves after becoming available in Singa pore in January this year , was to announce partnerships with local pay-TV operators Singtel and StarHub , where Netflix will be available to subscribers as part of the operators ’ pay-TV packages .
With the likes of Netflix causing TV viewers to become “ cord-cutters ” and droves of millennials becoming “ cord-nevers ”, it is worth monitoring the long-term viability of such partnerships between pay-TV operators and Netflix and its brethren . Business models need to be re-evaluated , and regulations need to be put in place to ensure a level playing field — the fear being that such partnerships may eventually drive more viewers away from traditional TV services .
There is little doubt that operators such as Netflix and Amazon are great disruptors ; it should also be clear to most observers that these online streaming services represent a paradigm shift in how content is consumed today .
Thus , the onus is on pay-TV operators , and indeed terrestrial broadcasters , to navigate around these challenges — whether from mutually beneficial partnerships , or from a complete overhaul of outdated , obsolete business models .
As Peter Bruce , director of the IABM , APAC , suggested when writing for APB this month ( see article on page 6 ): “ The reality is that local TV will not be replaced by Netflix , although local TV stations need to sharpen up their content and distribute in a similar manner to Netflix .”
Instead of being a question of practicality , this is perhaps , critically , a question of necessity .
And to ensure that Asian broadcasters are on the right track when embracing IP , APB will be bringing together broadcast experts and key industry stakeholders to the APB ConneXxion Forum 2016 on May 30 in Singapore . This year ’ s APB forum will address some of the key issues and challenges broadcasters are likely to face in transiting to an end-to-end IP system .
Watch this space .
SHAWN LIEW MANAGING EDITOR
CORRESPONDENTS
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■ USA Mike Feazel , mfeazel @ gmail . com
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