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However , in live production , best-effort packet delivery is not acceptable . Live broadcasting requires low latencies and seamless switching without signal loss or interruption . Networks must not only be fast , but also extremely reliable . As SDI is uncompressed , IP systems require low latency video codecs , delivering high image quality that are acceptable for broadcast service and low latency while using modest computing power .
Switching multiple AV sources requires precise signal synchronisation . Traditional SDI transport or transmission includes a synchronisation signal . In an IP Live production system , the networked media interface needs to perform synchronisation in compliance with SMPTE ST 2059-2 , using IEEE 1588 PTP ( Precision Time Protocol ).
Compared to a traditional SDI infrastructure , IP delivers high efficiency and agility . However , IP does raise security concerns due to network vulnerabilities , which may lead to cyberattacks . This makes network security a major priority , which World Broadcasting Unions ( WBU ) and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union ( ABU ) are addressing collaboratively . Such IP live production systems can be protected by securing the control path using transport layer security . In addition , it is possible to deploy standard , proven IT technology against security risks . Among them , the system can mitigate these risks using user authentication and device authentication .
It also can be observed that vendors are developing compatible products with a high level of interoperability using FPGAs ( field programmable gate arrays ). Leading IP core vendors will introduce products in compliant with standard networked media interface for major FPGA platforms .
Standards
Live IP technologies have been in existence for nearly two decades , but the effort to harness them is far greater today . Interoperability requires an ecosystem of compatible standards , practices and interoperable equipment . Industry players have been participating in the EBU ( European Broadcast Union ) and SMPTE ( Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers ) standardisation processes . The Joint Task group on Networked Media ( JT-NM ) has prepared a Roadmap of Open Interoperability that was discussed during IBC2017 , under the leadership of EBU .
Delivery challenges
Over-the-top ( OTT ) services have been in use for a number of years . However , as it uses public Internet or the Internet , quality of service ( QoS ) is not assured . OTT providers , including broadcasters who have introduced Integrated Broadcast Broadband ( IBB ) services such as HbbTV , have deployed content distribution networks ( CDNs ) to provide better Quality of Experience ( QoE ) to audiences . Deploying various metrics derived from Internet traffic , combined with multiple CDNs , can be used to enhance the QoE . This is one of the latest developments in IP delivery that offer media delivery services close to quality assured services such as digital terrestrial television ( DTT ), direct-to-home ( DTH ) and IPTV .
Multi-CDN combines a range of existing CDN providers into one large global network . Multi-CDN with monitoring technologies dynamically optimises and unifies leading cloud and network infrastructure providers across the globe to rapidly , securely and reliably accelerate Web content to users wherever they are in the world . By combining multiple CDN providers into one network , OTT service providers can get access to their aggregate power and reach , with a mechanism to fold back to redundant networks in each region .
Dr Amal Punchihewa is Director , Technology & Innovation , Asia- Pacific Broadcasting Union ( ABU ). He is also a Vice-Chair of the World Broadcasting Union ’ s Technical Committee .
Transparent . Open . Future-facing :
Mediacorp ’ s new-build broadcasting and media centre
Taking into consideration changing consumer viewing habits and the rise of over-the-top ( OTT ) services , Singapore terrestrial broadcaster and media company Mediacorp decided to “ fundamentally innovate ” its organisational structure .
“ The system architecture [ in the Mediacorp Campus ] enables technologies to be easily integrated , expanded or replaced , thereby reflecting future innovations and market changes as needed .”
— KONSTANTIN KNAUF Managing Director ,
Qvest Media Singapore
Looking to move away from traditional media lines towards a focus on specific consumer segments and target audiences , and to provide them with relevant content regardless of the media plaform , Mediacorp was looking for a state-of-the-art technical infrastructure that supports a new way of content collaboration , production and delivery .
As Mediacorp ’ s consultant and master systems integrator , Qvest Media was commissioned with the overall technological advisory , design and the entire systems integration of the Mediacorp Campus , a new 79,500sqm broadcasting and media centre . In just four years , a stateof-the-art infrastructure for close to 3,000 staff based on the most modern and robust workflows , and best perfoming solutions available in the media landscape , was built , according to Qvest Media .
Konstantin Knauf , Managing Director , Qvest Media Singapore , elaborated : “ One of the major challenges was to implement a technical design that allows a versatile combination of IT , AV , hardware and software solutions , despite having various technology standards by different manufacturers in a deeply integrated environment .
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