Asia-Pacific Broadcasting (APB) Systems Integration 2015 | Page 15

Emerging technologies, workfl ows redefi ned
Adapt to change with the right partner
Aale Raza, director of Whiteways Systems, discusses some of
the technology trends impacting Asia’s broadcast industry,
and how picking the right SI partner can help overcome some
of the accompanying challenges.
In your opinion, is the Asia-Pacific
broadcast industry ready to integrate
IP into traditional broadcast workfl ows,
and is this an increasing requirement
you are seeing from your clients in the
region?
Aale Raza: While there is a large amount
of diversity between broadcasters in
Asia-Pacifi c, IP is defi nitely getting into
broadcast workfl ows. I think the fi rst ones
to adopt IP workfl ows will be the sub-
sidiaries of foreign broadcasters (HBO,
Disney, CNBC, Bloomberg). Th e more
progressive broadcasters will follow, and
then the more traditional ones.
Th e technical teams from large broad-
casters want to incorporate IP — it is the
users, operators and producers who do
not want such a drastic change to their
existing workflows. For example, the
operator who has been using a traditional
large-format switcher does not want to
change to an automated switcher with
a touchscreen. Th ere is also the fear of
large-scale job losses as many of the tradi-
tional broadcast skills will not be required
anymore.
New skills also need to be taught and
as far as I know, the educational institu-
tions are only now gearing up to teach
them. So, keeping all these factors in
mind, IP workfl ows will be incorporated
into broadcasting workflows, but at a
snail’s pace — over the next fi ve to 10
years, depending on country, broadcaster
and regulatory rules.
Another technology that has been fre-
quently making the headlines is 4K/
Ultra HD (UHD). How do you see 4K/
UHD developing in Asia-Pacifi c in the
next three to fi ve years?
Raza: Let me fi rst clarify the diff erence be-
tween UHD (3480x2160) versus 4K reso-
lution (4096x2160). Of course, there are
other variants of UHD as well. I think the
industry will leapfrog from HD to 4K and
UHD will be the in-between resolution.
4K is definitely taking off as the
weight of the TV set manufacturers
is behind the movement. The large
consumer electronics industry will ensure
that very soon, you will not have any
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HDTV sets available. Similarly, the same
industry will ensure that they will stop
producing HD cameras and related gear,
so broadcasters will have no choice but to
move to 4K. Th e price of 4K TV sets will
keep dropping and hence more and more
customers will adopt 4K. I expect that 4K
TV sets will become aff ordable in three
to fi ve years.
We are currently proposing 4K work-
fl ows in our recent proposals. If a broad-
caster is buying gear now, he should
definitely go for 4K-ready gear, as the
consumer will shift to 4K in the next
three to fi ve years. Fortunately, most of the
gear is backward-compatible. Similarly,
if content is being produced, it should
be produced in 4K so that it can be used
many years into the future.
Can you also share with us the current
scenario for digital migration in Asia-
Pacifi c?
Raza: Digital migration is a fact of life
and Asia-Pacifi c governments will ensure
that it happens. Th is will result in a lot of
benefi ts to consumers, especially those
in poorer countries, who stand to benefi t
more as it is easier to educate the popula-
tion using TV as a teaching tool.
Documentaries, news items and dra-
mas can educate, uplift and enhance mes-
sages, and large sections of the population
can be brought within reach of digital TV
and radio. Agriculture, weather, health,
sanitation and other educational topics
can pull large sections of populations out
of poverty.
Digital migration should be taken se-
riously by all Asia-Pacifi c governments. If
they put suffi cient funding in place, then it
can be achieved, in spite of all the hurdles.
In light of these developments, what do
you think