8 NEWS & VIEWS
November 2016
IMDA to spearhead S ’ pore ’ s digital future
SINGAPORE – Following the restructuring of Singapore ’ s Infocommunications Development Authority ( IDA ) and the Media Development Authority ( MDA ), the newly minted Info-communications Media Development Authority ( IMDA ) has been officially launched .
IMDA ’ s strategies , according to Dr Yaacob Ibrahim , Singapore ’ s Minister for Communications and Information , will include spearheading Singapore ’ s transition into a digital future by helping businesses , workers and the community to harness the opportunities arising from info-comm media ( ICM ) convergence and technological changes .
The formation of IMDA will also allow Singapore to better adapt to digital disruption , Dr Yaacob added . To address the issues arising from the digital disruption and to empower the possibilities from the ICM convergence , IMDA will focus on : n Developing a competitive ICM sector and a strong ICM talent pipeline ; n Empowering innovation and economic growth through ICM ; n Building a trusted business environment and uphold consumer interest ; and n Connecting people and communities to quality local media content and ICM solutions .
For instance , a new Accreditation @ IMDA ( A @ IMDA ) initiative programme was launched in collaboration with Singapore terrestrial broadcaster Mediacorp ’ s Mediapreneur incubator programme — designed to help nurture mediarelated start-ups .
Under this initiative , A @ IMDA will complement Mediapreneur ’ s mentoring efforts by providing technical product testing , building of financial models and fund-raising pitches , which are tailored to the growth stages of these start-ups .
To exemplify the convergence of media content and technology , IMDA will also explore the use of virtual reality ( VR ) technology to enhance learning experiences in areas such as healthcare and education .
Dr Yaacob said : “ In healthcare , we are working with animation and special effects company SideFX to develop a VR tool to train doctors to do emergency procedures . And in education , we are working with local media company Beach House Pictures to create immersive worlds using VR , so students can live out the lesson rather than just reading it off a page .”
Reiterating the need for IMDA to take full advantage of convergence in the ICM sector , Dr Yaacob concluded : “ The opportunities are there . It is up to us to seize them and harness the full potential of technology and media to empower a future of possibilities for Singapore .”
ABU to empower broadcasters to embrace IP
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interoperability and the affordability of equipment , added Dr Amal , who reiterated the ABU ’ s commitment to spearhead and lead activities — in collaboration with ABU members and partners — in empowering broadcasters to embrace IP in Asia-Pacific .
He said : “ For example , in June 2016 , just prior to Broadcast- Asia2016 , APB organised a oneday event ( read more at https :// www . joomag . com / magazine / asiapacific-broadcasting-apb-connexxion-forum-2016-special-report / 0057279001467083331 ) in which ABU , with APB , discussed the readiness , issues and actions required to make use of the economic benefits of IP in broadcasting , especially for production .”
The transition to IP is certainly under way , and is a core foundation to enable efficient file-based workflows , said Charles Sevior , CTO ( APJ ), Isilon , who was also an attendee to the workshop .
He , however , sounded a note of caution when it comes to “ the death of SDI ” proclamations , and how IP networking can completely replace the existing dedicated video and audio circuits . “ There is no ‘ right or wrong ’ when building a media facility . Engineers and technical architects will select the appropriate technology on a caseby-case basis .
“ I see the end-game as moving our media equipment technology stacks away from dedicated single-purpose vendor solutions into a flexible , virtualised technology stack that looks identical to a cloud-scale data centre — built and managed by IT and media technologies .”
Another key takeaway from the workshop , Dr Amal revealed , is the consensus from participants that over-the-air ( OTA ), consisting of digital terrestrial television ( DTT ) and direct-to-home ( DTH ), remains the main delivery platform .
DVB ’ s Wood : ‘ VR a companion for TV , not a substitute ’
1 8 freedom for the viewer , and will probably offer monoscopic and and is currently leading the DVB ’ s stereoscopic options , with a family of resolutions . “ But there is ,
Study Mission Group on VR . He told APB : “ There are broadcasters and service providers who acknowledged .
of course , work to be done ,” he believe that VR can , and will become a successful service . But for key role in propagating VR . Wood
Content , naturally , will play a
others , there are still questions to pointed to studies that have indicated viewers are only likely to be answered .”
For starters , the multiplicity of view VR content up to a 20-minute proprietary systems means that duration . Does this signify that standardisation of VR remains a short-form content is the appropriate format , and can VR content key issue , and one which the DVB VR Study Mission Group is keenly producers ensure the elimination working on . of sensorial sickness ?
Wood explained : “ Our Study In the interim , Wood believes Mission ’ s goal has been to establish that sports will be the key driver whether VR could be commercially for VR usage . “ VR can bring to the successful , and if so , whether we viewer a sense of ‘ being there ’, set in motion the process of agreeing requirements and preparing a ment ,” he said . “ If you think of
bringing excitement and involve- specification . sporting events , these are occasions where we would probably
“ It still remains to be agreed by the parent committees , but there is wish to be physically present in the a majority view in the Study Mission stadium , and VR can go some way that there is a case for developing a towards that .” first specification that can be used Matching audio is also required in the near term for VR services .” as a multiplier of the quality of
This , he believes , is likely to the VR experience , added Wood , include a fixed panaromic camera system with three degrees of chief content officer at
an opinion echoed by CheeK , Singapore
The ABU ’ s fourth regional workshop on OTT and IBB highlighted broadcast IP in Asia-Pacific , and how broadcasters can make a successful transition .
terrestrial broadcaster Mediacorp .
He explained to APB : “ A key aspect of VR is audio . VR requires binaural audio that creates 360 ° sound to correspond with the visuals .”
While Mediacorp has yet to embark on the VR journey , CheeK is convinced of VR ’ s persuasiveness in altering content producers ’ perspective in storytelling .
“ VR changes the way we tell a story . For instance , VR puts the viewers into the very place where the story is happening ,” he elaborated . “ This is the ‘ presence element ’ that producers should consider when creating VR content .”
The recent launch of Sony Play- Station VR is arguably a growing indicator of how VR has found its niche in the video gaming industry . How can this relative success be translated to the broadcast TV industry ?
More content needs to be specifically designed for VR . This , CheeK reasoned , will raise viewers ’ appreciation and , in turn , demand for VR content .
And as with Sky UK , non-linear would appear to pave Mediacorp ’ s route to VR . CheeK explained : “ VR technology is complementary to traditional broadcast as it increases audience engagement and interaction .
“ Toggle , Mediacorp ’ s overthe-top ( OTT ) service , will be the natural platform for us to launch VR content as it is also available as a mobile app .
“ While we are still actively studying if VR is viable across multiple platforms , we are also partnering with vendors to try out their equipment for VR , in order to build our expertise and skills in this technology .”
VR will , perhaps , also inadvertently draw comparison with 3DTV ; both share similarities , and differences , according to Wood .
3DTV , with its varying cycles of popularity , failed in its last manifestation , because there was public annoyance with wearing 3D
He highlighted : “ Online viewing is growing but it is not totally eroding linear TV viewing . What online viewing does is to have a positive impact on linear TV viewing as it promotes and builds a relationship ( connection ) and stimulates the interest for a given programme .”
An increasingly challenging broadcast landscape is forcing incumbents to re-look and reflect on current offerings and workflow processes , added Media Prima ’ s Dr Zaki .
Broadcasters need to take proactive action to reduce operating costs and ensure relevance through the adoption of interactive services , he advised .
Technology changes are inevitable and , perhaps , it is a case of fortune favouring the brave . “ Service providers will just have to prepare [ for technology changes ], and I believe that the survivors will be those who are most forwardthinking ,” Dr Zaki concluded .
CheeK , Chief Content Officer , Mediacorp : “ VR technology is complementary to traditional broadcast as it increases audience engagement and interaction .”
glasses , lack of appropriate content and eye fatigue .
These are all lessons VR needs to learn from , cautioned Wood , as there is yet to be a clear and definable series of conditions for VR to be a success .
“ The name of the game today across the world is , to find out whether conditions can be made . Personally , I have a feeling that VR will become a companion for TV and not a substitute … but we have to start that journey — even if we don ’ t know if we will reach that destination .”
— Additional reporting by Josephine Tan
• To find out more about VR , join David Wood , consultant ( Technology and Innovation ), European Broadcasting Union ( EBU ), at the DVB Asia Conference in Bangkok , which will be held from Nov 29-Dec 1 at the InterContinental Hotel Bangkok . Wood will chair two sessions on December 1 : Just Around the Corner , which will discuss topics such as VR , 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ), over-the-top ( OTT ) and IP in the studio . He will also conduct the workshop entitled UHD – What you must know about HDR , HFR and NGA .