Asia-Pacific Broadcasting (APB) March 2018 Volume 35, Issue 2 | Page 38

PANELLISTS
❝ Deploying self-branded over-the-top ( OTT ) services are currently the most effective way to maximise the viewer experience , and build a more personal relationship with each subscriber while ensuring
the broadcaster remains in control .❞
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March 2018
Boxer teams up with V-Nova
Boxer , a UK broadcast solutions provider , has entered a new partnership with V-Nova . Under the deal , Boxer will represent V-Nova ’ s line of Perseus-powered P . Link products for the growing contribution and remote production markets , whether over fibre or satellite , as well as provide infrastructure support for the V-Nova P . Link customer base . Jayson Chase , commercial director at Boxer Systems , commented : “ V-Nova ’ s Perseus-enabled P . Link encoder / decoder has demonstrated its ability to provide the best video quality per bit of any contribution intra encoder on the market . This allows our customers to lower costs by up to 70 %, increase video quality , or increase the number of services in the same network link .”

Live streaming brings viewers around the world – instantaneously

What would be a better way to discover other parts of the world now if it is not possible to be there in person ? While video already enables viewers to travel around the globe without leaving the comfort of their homes , live video brings them directly to live events , in real time . Josephine Tan discovers how live video streaming is opening up new broadcasting opportunities .
PFT hires new CSO
Caesar Sedak has joined Prime Focus Technologies ( PFT ) as chief security officer . He brings in-depth knowledge of IT security and cybersecurity strategies and implementation , as well as his experiences in media and entertainment content security , anti-piracy and content distribution systems . Welcoming Sedek to the PFT team , Ramki Sankaranarayanan , founder and CEO , PFT , said : “ As the CSO for PFT , he will leverage all of these skills and experiences to enhance PFT ’ s overall leadership in content security , and ensure that the company provides trusted technology solutions for the media and entertainment industry .”
Next Month @ X-Platform
4K / Ultra HD OTT Services

PANELLISTS

Chong Siew Loong
CTO StarHub
Michael Cronk
Chairman , Alliance for IP Media Solutions ( AIMS )
Peter Bithos
CEO , HOOQ

People love watching TV , undoubtedly , as it is a fascinating form of entertainment for them to temporarily escape from reality . But in the 21st century , the term “ watching TV ” is being entirely redefined .

While TV itself still remains as the black box sitting in our living room , the programmes it has traditionally been transmitting can now be delivered across a wider variety of media — ranging from smartphones to tablets , as well as smart TV sets . And with the advent of network mobility and advanced technologies , consumers can now access their favourite TV programmes and channels anytime , anywhere .
Streaming is one technology that can be used to enable the delivery of video across multiple screens . It involves the transfer of video data , as a continuous stream , via the Internet . From the enduser perspective , streaming allows them to watch the programme in real time , without the need to wait for the entire file to be downloaded .
Video streaming was thrust into the limelight in 2005 , the year when YouTube was founded . Over a decade , the video streaming website has launched local versions in more than 88 countries , and can be accessed in 76 different languages . To date , according to YouTube , the service has garnered over a billion users — which is equivalent to almost one-third of all people on the Internet — generating more than one billion hours of videos being watched daily on the platform .
Following the acquisition by Internet giant Google in 2006 , YouTube has been expanding its offerings beyond just video sharing . For instance , YouTube has introduced YouTube Red , a subscription streaming service that provides subscribers with an “ enhanced , uninterrupted experience ” across YouTube , YouTube Music ,
❝ Deploying self-branded over-the-top ( OTT ) services are currently the most effective way to maximise the viewer experience , and build a more personal relationship with each subscriber while ensuring
the broadcaster remains in control .❞
YouTube Gaming and YouTube Kids ; and YouTube Live , a service that integrates live video streaming capabilities and discovery tools directly into the YouTube platform .
In an attempt to bring the You- Tube experience to live TV , YouTube has launched a TV streaming service known as YouTube TV . Available as a paid membership service in selected cities in the US , YouTube TV offers live TV streaming from broadcast and cable networks — such as ABC , CBS , Fox , NBC and ESPN — alongside content from YouTube creators . The service comes along with a cloud digital video recorder ( DVR ) with “ unlimited ” storage limit , enabling subscribers to record as many programmes as they want .
Another social media platform , Facebook , has also tapped into the video space with the launch of Watch , a new video platform for shows to be streamed on Facebook . Available on the Facebook apps , desktop site and on TV apps , Facebook Watch consists of shows that are made up of episodes —
— Stefan Lederer , CEO , Bitmovin
live or recorded — and follow a theme or storyline .
Although Facebook Watch is limited to a group of people in the US , Facebook has another live video streaming service that is available to the wider global community — Facebook Live . Using Facebook Live , users can create engaging conversations with viewers by fielding their questions in real time , and check out their live reaction to gauge how the broadcast is going .
Stefan Lederer , CEO of Bitmovin , tells APB : “ Live-streaming offerings such as Facebook Live , Periscope and YouTube Live are distributors or syndicators of content produced by other content creators , often called ‘ social video ’ services .
“ While these services are an important tool to increase reach and identify new viewers , they should not act as a replacement for a broadcaster ’ s own live video delivery infrastructure . Used as an exclusive distribution channel , these services effectively strip broadcasters of their direct relationship with the viewer , and prevent them