BroadcastPro ME October 2023

ISSUE 156 | OCTOBER 2023

RESOUNDING SUCCESS

Bahrain's Ministry of Information raises the bar with futuristic facility for private radio stations

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

DISCOVER ELASTICITY.

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PROINTRO

GROUP Managing Director Raz Islam raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0) 4 375 5471 Managing Partner Vijaya Cherian vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0) 4 375 5472 Director of Finance & Business Operations

Welcome

Shiyas Kareem shiyas.kareem@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0) 4 375 5474 EDITORIAL Editor Vijaya Cherian vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0) 55 105 3787 Contributing Editor Sarah Nathan Sub Editor Aelred Doyle ADVERTISING Group Sales Director Sandip Virk sandip.virk@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0) 50 929 1845 +44 (0) 7516 993 862 DESIGN Art Director Simon Cobon Designer Percival Manalaysay MARKETING & EVENTS Events Executive Minara Salakhi minara.s@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0) 4 433 2856 CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION Data & Production Manager Phinson Mathew George phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 (0)4 375 5476 DIGITAL SERVICES Abdul Baeis Umair Khan FOUNDER Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015) Published by

It was great to be at IBC this year and see footfall return to pre-Covid numbers. I must confess I was rather surprised by the number of acquisitions and mergers that were announced over the last two months, and one never knows if that means more funding or a fight for survival. I am also sure you probably have read enough about all the buzzwords that have been doing the rounds at IBC, whether it be on digital transformation, AI, Generative AI, cloud or hybrid technologies, among other things.

What fascinated me though was technology that promised to potentially enhance the capability of your existing equipment. For instance, when someone from Blackmagic Design whipped out his iPhone and showed me how BMD’s new app could transform his device into a professional video camera, I was excited by what that would mean for filmmakers on a budget. Or when I heard that vendors were ditching their public cloud-only campaigns in favour of hybrid approaches, that meant they were respectful of market needs and revisiting their strategies to accommodate client preferences.

It was also interesting to meet with some MENA professionals at the show.

Invariably, when you get to speak to all of them within a span of three to four

ISSUE 156 | OCTOBER 2023

The publisher of this magazine has made every effort to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the publisher and editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content are published in good faith. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored

RESOUNDING SUCCESS

Bahrain's Ministry of Information raises the bar with futuristic facility for private radio stations

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

On this month's cover…

days, you begin to see patterns in the kind of integration projects that are emerging in the region. For instance, it took one ambitious IP project in Doha with Alaraby TV to get others going. While most end users were cautiously migrating parts of their facility to IP, Alaraby’s success has now spurred others to take the same path. But I have been sworn to secrecy on that. We shall hear more in the coming months, and they shall all be unveiled in BroadcastPro. In the meantime, I would like to draw your attention to some of our stories this month. StarzPlay, for instance, started off as a streamer but is now being engaged by telcos, not just in the MENA region but outside as well, to provide them with OTT services. Then there’s Asharq News, which engaged a French company to develop a technology that would help with its indexing requirements and will eventually be useful to other global players as well. The MENA region is not a small player anymore and if we are importing expertise and services, we are also exporting some now. This is a region worth keeping on your radar.

Vijaya Cherian, Editorial Director

Let’s create a vibrant online broadcast community!

Eng Abdulla Ahmed Al Balooshi, Asst Undersecretary of Technical, Ministry of Information, Bahrain.

@BroadcastProME www.facebook.com/BroadcastProME BroadcastProME

or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing. Publication licensed by Dubai Development Authority to CPI Trade Publishing FZ LLC. Printed by Printwell Printing Press LLC.

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October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 3

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PROCONTENTS

Inside this issue 07 NEWS Diagnal extends partnership with Intigral; Advanced Media to host CINE workshops in UAE and KSA; OSN+ ties with CleverTap; Al Arabiya chooses Vianeos in Riyadh; and more

October 2023 MBC ATTEMPTS FIRST MUSICAL

BAHRAIN ENJOYS RESOUNDING SUCCESS

14 HUAWEI TECH UPDATE Huawei Cloud unlocks growth in Middle East M&E industry

16 A SOUND SET-UP Bahrain’s Ministry of Information launches futuristic radio facility to woo private radio stations. We take a tour

24 STARZPLAY'S STELLAR

07

TELCO BREAKTHROUGH From MENA streamer to tech service provider, StarzPlay has evolved dramatically since its launch, constantly innovating and introducing new offerings.

The streamer talks about its recent partnership with Ateme and offering telcos in Pakistan, KSA and Egypt OTT as-a-service

16 STARZPLAY'S TECH TRIUMPH

30 ASHARQ'S AI PLAN Faced with a spate of recorded content and daily news stories that required meticulous indexing, Asharq turned to Newsbridge to develop an AI-powered solution

AI EMPOWERS ASHARQ NEWS TEAM

30

24 IMN'S SPORTS CHANNEL GETS FACELIFT

IBC2023 WRAP-UP

34 SPORTS SENSATION A look at how IMN turned its sports channel around with new technologies

38 IBC2023 WRAP-UP Exploring hybrid opportunities

40 GUEST COLUMN How satellite technologies and advances in IP and cloud are enabling greater efficiency in broadcast

34

38 October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 5

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Mangomolo and Rotana collaborate to launch FAST radio channels OTT video platform provider Mangomolo has joined forces with Rotana Media Group to introduce FAST channels aimed at streaming radio content for users across the Arab world.

Through the Fannbox app, Mangomolo allows Rotana to offer uninterrupted 24-hour streaming of three FAST radio channels, encompassing Khaleeji music, Egyptian hits and more.

Mangomolo provides

Rotana with a holistic platform supporting the distribution of radio and visual radio channels, live events, celebrity shoutouts and special occasions. It enables Rotana to deploy various monetisation models, including FAST channels, pay-per-view and a growing array of others.

Additionally, Mangomolo facilitates user management, chat moderation and celebrity content management within a unified platform.

Mohamed Zaghloul, Digital Product Manager at Rotana, said: “Mangomolo offers a flexible and adaptable approach to content curation, streaming and monetisation.

The launch of these FAST radio channels demonstrates how we are evolving together and catering to the changing needs of users.”

Mangomolo is maximising opportunities for Rotana to grow revenue by supporting a full suite of monetisation

models through the Fannbox app. By employing Mangomolo’s integrated platform, the streaming app has seamlessly launched all linear channels, ensuring high-quality, multi-bitrate, multi-format delivery across all devices. It empowers users to book virtual occasions, connect with celebrities regardless of their location and request personalised shoutout videos for all memorable moments.

Diagnal extends partnership with Intigral

MBC renews deal with Paramount Global for Nickelodeon content MBC Group has renewed its content licensing agreement with Paramount Global Content Distribution.

The deal ensures the continuation of Nickelodeon titles on MBC Group platforms for an additional three years.

Diagnal has extended its partnership with Intigral to revolutionise entertainment experiences for MENA audiences. Leveraging its expertise in OTT app development, Diagnal has worked with Intigral since 2020 to translate its vision and product requirements into robust application delivery plans.

Diagnal developed and tested video application solutions compatible with various TV devices, including the Android operator tier launcher on Skyworth STBs and crossplatform apps tailored for LG TV, Samsung TV, retail Android TVs, Apple TV,

Fire TV, Xbox and Foxxum.

Following the launch of these apps, Diagnal assumed responsibility for the development and testing of Intigral’s Android and iOS mobile applications. It also provides 24/7 technical support services to Intigral, ensuring the efficient management and resolution of any production incidents.

This technology partnership has led to a

substantial increase in Intigral product viewership.

The success has spurred the partners to explore additional avenues for enhancing entertainment experiences such as improving user navigation, introducing a dedicated kids mode, creating a branded sports section and expanding service availability in French across select MENA countries.

October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 7

PRONEWS

Advanced Media to host CINE workshops in UAE and Saudi Arabia Advanced Media, a major distributor of video, photo, broadcast and cinema equipment, will conduct CINE workshops in Saudi Arabia (Oct 6-7) and the UAE this month. In the UAE, in partnership with Prague Film School, it will host CINESchool, a specialised series of workshops and seminars tailored for aspiring filmmakers pursuing degrees, at Advanced Media’s showroom and training facilities from 11am-5pm daily, October 11-13. Registration is free and open to all film students across the UAE. Prague Film School (PFS) is known for its hands-on curriculum, involving students in numerous productions showcased at top film festivals.

The school’s approach blends European arthouse and American independent cinema, attracting diverse talent. CINESchool, the first of its kind in the region, aims to be a memorable learning experience for film students across the UAE. CINESchool is a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing the educational experience for film students, providing valuable insights and practical skills beyond what they typically acquire through academic programmes. Over the course of three days, they will participate in workshops, seminars and screenings led by instructors from Prague Film School. The event will feature the expertise of

Professor Gary Griffin and Thomas Krivy, instructors at Prague Film School, along with Raam Reddy, an accomplished filmmaker and Prague Film School alumnus who received recognition at the Locarno International Film Festival.

Professor Gary Griffin, a renowned cinematographer and director, has an MFA from Prague’s FAMU Film Academy. He has taught at various institutions, including the University of Johannesburg, Prague Film School and Hunter College.

He is currently an artist in residence at the American University in Washington, DC. Thomas Krivy, another esteemed instructor, gained experience as a camera assistant in Berlin and Babelsberg Studios before completing the regular camera

8 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

course (MA) at Prague’s FAMU Film Academy.

His extensive work spans narrative feature films, commercials, documentaries and music videos. He has been a camera instructor at the Prague International Film School since 2014.

Raam Reddy, a notable Indian film director, writer and photographer, made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Kannada film Thithi. It premiered at the 68th Locarno International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Leopard in the Filmmakers of the Present category and the First Feature award.

CINESchool’s interactive workshops will cover a wide range of topics, including camera operation, lens selection, lighting, grip techniques, colour grading

and exposure in the digital realm. Informative seminars will empower students to navigate all aspects of filmmaking, from finding their artistic voice to budgeting, shooting and mastering the intricacies of post-production.

This year, Advanced Media will also be launching the Arabic edition of CINE in Riyadh, KSA. Titled CINESeason, this immersive two-day event on October 6-7 is designed to offer aspiring filmmakers, content creators and enthusiasts a comprehensive educational experience encompassing various facets of cinematic filmmaking. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with industry experts and discuss the latest technologies, trends and solutions in digital cinema, broadcast and video ahead of the fourth edition of the Riyadh Season.

The workshops at CINESeason will cover video acquisition, lighting techniques for film and TV drama, workflow, post-production processes and the nuances of optics for shooting in highresolution formats. They aim to provide interactive and hands-on learning experiences, using a range of equipment from renowned brands such as RED, Sony Professional Solutions, Zeiss, Angenieux, Astera Light, DJI and Tokina.

Cinematographer Fouad Aoun, media and editing expert Mostafa Salah and renowned Egyptian DoP Ayman Abou el Makarem will conduct various workshops at the event.

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Depending on the model HyperDeck Studio features a wide range of video and audio connections such as 3G-SDI, 6G-SDI or 12G-SDI. All models include HDMI for connecting to televisions and projectors. There’s even a dedicated SDI monitoring output on the Pro and Plus models with on screen status.

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PRONEWS

OSN+ ties with CleverTap to enhance user engagement CleverTap, an engagement platform, has partnered with OSN+ to enable hyperpersonalised communication across all customer touchpoints. Ishan Singh, Director of Engagement and Retention Marketing at OSN+, said it will help the network

“enhance our overall user experience … CleverTap’s remarkable expertise within the OTT space means they are well-versed with the unique challenges and opportunities the industry presents. Content is king, and personalisation is the key to capturing

and retaining audiences.

Leveraging CleverTap’s patented technology and comprehensive all-in-one solution, we will be able to provide tailored, hyperpersonalised content and unmatched value to our customers.”

Radio Bahrain 96.5 launches livestreaming app

From left: Said Bacho, CRO at EditShare, with the company's new CEO Ramu Potarazu.

EditShare to merge with Shift Media EditShare has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Shift Media, a cloud-native video solution provider that helps creators manage, present and collaborate on their high-value projects.

The combined business will operate as EditShare, with Shift Media’s well-known products – MediaSilo, Wiredrive and Screeners.com – folded into the EditShare corporate brand.

The combination of EditShare and Shift Media will deliver a comprehensive, open solution that enables

creative teams and content creators to seamlessly store, edit, collaborate and share their content, whether they choose to work on-premise, in the cloud or with a hybrid solution. Products from both companies were showcased under the EditShare brand at IBC this year.

Ramu Potarazu, Shift Media’s CEO, will lead the combined company following the close of the transaction. Current EditShare CEO Conrad Clemson will leave the business to pursue other opportunities.

10 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

Radio Bahrain 96.5 has launched its own app, offering round-the-clock live streaming to a global audience. Omar Khalifa Shaheen, Radio Bahrain Company CEO, stated: “The introduction of our new hightech studios has created so many opportunities for the Radio Bahrain team, providing us with the space, environment and resources we need to create even better content for our listeners. Our soon-to-beintroduced ‘visual radio’ is a great example of this.

Visual radio will allow us to combine the best of both worlds – the audio experience of radio with the visual experience of video.

This will create a new and immersive way for listeners to engage with our content.”

Radio Bahrain has a potential broadcast reach of 6.5m listeners. With its digital transformation journey now underway, it is poised to expand its global audience even further.

Qvest Group acquires OTT specialist TeraVolt Qvest Group has acquired TeraVolt, a solutions provider specialising in digital media products and consulting services.

Based in Hamburg, Germany, it boasts a team of 50 experts skilled in product development, strategy and technology, with a strong focus on creating innovative TV experiences and digital products in collaboration with global clients. The company produces endto-end OTT solutions, spanning from concept inception to operational deployment.

TeraVolt’s inclusion in the Qvest Group enhances the group’s ability to deliver tailored solutions for TV, streaming platforms and content providers. Its existing team, including CEO Tobias Künkel, CCO Oliver Koch, CPO Tobias Fröhlich and CTO Volker Harbs, will continue to lead the company’s development and global expansion, in collaboration with Qvest’s management.

The Qvest Group will extend TeraVolt’s products and services through its global network of locations.

PRONEWS

Yes joins forces with Synamedia for watermarking with ContentArmor Yes, the pay-TV subsidiary of Israeli telco Bezeq, has deployed Synamedia’s ContentArmor distribution watermarking solution to enhance the protection of its streaming services.

Synamedia's solutions were reportedly easy to deploy, encoder-agnostic and able to support the Yes disaster recovery environment. As ContentArmor distribution watermarking was tailored for this application, Yes

Audio Visual Gateway Media gets new owner Broadcast veteran Peter Van Dam has transferred the ownership of the company he founded, Audio Visual Gateway Media LLC to Minamor Estonina, who is now owner and GM of the company.

Estonina said: “Our goal is to further enhance the value we provide to our customers and partners.”

She reassured customers that "the transition will be seamless, with no disruptions in services or business operations”.

was able to go live with the solution in less than a week in July 2023.

Itzhak Elyakim, VP of Engineering and CTO at Yes, said: “We first started looking at headend watermarking to meet security standards set by the national regulator and main national broadcasters here in Israel. As we investigated further, we could see that a distribution watermarking solution

would be more suited to our needs, giving us the security insight we need as well as meeting compliance.

As a long-standing user of Synamedia’s security on our traditional satellite broadcast services, we knew we could trust Synamedia’s technology and teams to meet our streaming anti-piracy strategies.”

Alain Durand, Senior Director of Business

Development at Synamedia, added: “As operators invest in premium content for their streaming services, it’s important to be able to quickly identify any leaks and take action to disrupt those pirate streams. Our ContentArmor distribution watermarking system makes this process easy and affordable, adding a new layer of security that helps operators stay one step ahead of the pirates.”

Al Arabiya partners with Vianeos for IPTV solution in Riyadh Al Arabiya, part of MBC Group, has adopted the Vianeos O.room Corporate solution, featuring Android set-top boxes and PC players, at its recently established Riyadh offices.

The O.room Corporate solution is designed to provide a flexible solution that can adapt to the specific requirements of

Al Arabiya in a corporate environment. The PC player allows employees to access IPTV services directly on their desktops, while the UI provides a seamless viewing experience. The solution is future-proof and built on an open environment (Android TV), ensuring that it can easily adapt to any changes in technology or

business requirements.

Bachir Ghalayini, Associate Director at Vianeos, said: “Vianeos’ O.room Corporate solution is tailored to meet Al Arabiya’s specific requirements for their new offices in Riyadh.

We are proud to deliver top-quality IPTV solutions to Al Arabiya and the region’s largest media groups.”

New appointments in MENA

Ammar Hina has joined as Director of Broadcast & Production Services at Saudi Pro League.

Rob Waters has returned to Blackmagic Design as Sales Director EMEA.

Ahmed Shanti has joined Broadcast & Studio Solutions (BSS) Qatar as Managing Partner.

October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 11

PRONEWS

MBC Group announces Arabiclanguage musical production Sukkar MBC Group has announced the upcoming release of its first-ever Arabic-language musical production, Sukkar.

A MENA first created by Heba Mashari Hamada, it follows the journey of Sukkar and her friends, who live in an orphanage.

Featuring original songs, it takes inspiration from renowned epistolary novel Daddy-Long-Legs by American Jean Webster.

Scheduled for release on October 12 across the

MENA region, Sukkar will be distributed by Empire Entertainment. Spearheading production is Samar

Akrouk, Group Director of Production at MBC Group, alongside MBC Executive Producer Lara Ghazal

Nassif and MBC Producer Alaa Awada. Executive Producer Tamer Mortada and Producer Mostafa Al Awadi from Aroma Productions managed the cinematic execution, under the supervision of MBC Studios.

Every location in the movie showcases newly constructed sets, including the orphanage, Fruto Palace, the cityscape and dumpsters. All set decorations were crafted for this project, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Simon West to shoot historical drama Antara at Neom’s Bajdah Studios British filmmaker Simon West is set to helm the epic historical drama Antara, set in Saudi Arabia and scheduled to be filmed in Neom, the production hub in the northwestern region.

It is based on the true story of Antara ibn Shaddad, an imprisoned warrior propelled to fame in the sixth century. Filming is set to commence in early 2024, for 12 weeks.

The film’s primary location will be Neom’s Bajdah Studios, equipped not only to capture the region’s landscapes but also to feature cutting-edge sound stages for production.

It will also make use of Neom’s 468-km Red Sea coastline, a prominent geographical feature.

West said: “Bringing the story of Antara ibn Shaddad

to the big screen and the masses is truly a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to continue his legend. The life of Antara is one of those relatively little-known true stories that prove that fact can be so much stranger than fiction. The opportunity to film in the homeland of the Banu Abs tribe means we will keep true to the piece while helping to grow the emerging film industry in the region. It’s a project I’m

thrilled to be involved with and I am looking forward to creating something unique for a global audience.”

Wayne Borg, Managing Director of Media Industries, Entertainment and Culture at Neom, added: “Our support of international productions such as Antara highlights the growing confidence film producers have in Neom and reinforces our position as the gateway to the MENA region for

The film will primarily be shot at Neom’s Bajdah Studios.

12 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

the media industries.

They also boost our ecosystem’s development by providing unparalleled work experience opportunities for young Saudis and fast-track the development and growth of the local workforce.”

Last month, Neom hosted various productions, including MBC’s Exceptional, a TV drama series comprising 200 episodes per year; Hobal, a Saudi feature film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Abdulaziz Alshlahei; and two Telfaz features as part of a partnership aiming to create multiple TV and film productions over the next three years. Additionally, two reality series and several commercials are in the pipeline for production in the coming weeks.

PRONEWS

UAE entities partner with Serie A to launch reality show The Italian Dream StarzPlay, PureHealth and Image Nation Abu Dhabi have collaborated with Serie A to introduce an original reality TV show titled The Italian Dream that offers young football players in the MENA region an opportunity to showcase their skills and fulfil their dreams. Over six episodes filmed in Abu Dhabi and involving Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Egypt, aspiring football stars will train alongside world-class players and have the chance to play in one of the world’s best football leagues. Serie A legends will serve as mentors and guides for the competitors.

The show not only spotlights participants’ football abilities but also delves into their families, aspirations and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Maaz Sheikh, CEO of StarzPlay, said: “The launch

of The Italian Dream is a testament to StarzPlay’s commitment to diversify its content range to meet its audience’s preferences, and its continued drive to produce the highest standard of Arabic content and showcase local talent. By examining audience viewing patterns and viewership data, we recognised that sports play a crucial role in attracting viewers across the Middle

East and North Africa, with football standing out as the sport of choice in a nation driven by the vision of its leaders towards healthy and happy living. It was from this analysis that the concept for The Italian Dream was born.”

Ben Ross, Acting CEO of Image Nation, noted: “Image Nation constantly looks for diverse new projects that uncover inspirational stories from the UAE and the region.

We are excited to embark on this unique show which will not only give a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to talented young footballers but will provide audiences with the chance to experience the emotional personal journeys of the lucky participants.”

StarzPlay is the home of Italian football in the MENA region, with the rights to stream every Serie A match live and exclusively. It has also partnered with Image Nation AD to launch Million Dollar Listing UAE, a new show that will bring viewers into the world of UAE real estate. The bilingual series follows a diverse cast of realtors living in the UAE, with a cameo from Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles legend Josh Altman and his brother Matt. It hit the StarzPlay platform as an original show exclusively last month.

FIPRESCI appoints Egyptian critic Ahmed Shawky as new President

Roya TV introduces three new live channels

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) has announced its elected board of directors, appointing Egyptian critic Ahmed Shawky as its new President.

This announcement was made during the FIPRESCI General Assembly in Hungary, hosted by

Roya TV has introduced three brand-new live channels. Haki Munawa (Diverse Stories), Hawal Al-Alam (Around the World) and Roya Palestine are set to deliver content to a global viewership. Haki Munawa features talk shows geared towards young people, addressing contemporary socio-economic issues and digital trends in Iraq, Egypt and Jordan. Hawal AlAlam presents curated documentary programmes from diverse regions. Roya Palestine is dedicated to preserving Palestine’s history and memories.

the Cinefest Film Festival.

Shawky is the first nonEuropean or American to lead the federation since its inception in 1925. Shawky, who serves as head of El Gouna Film Festival’s CineGouna SpringBoard, will assume the role of President for the upcoming term, coinciding with FIPRESCI’s centennial celebrations in 2025.

October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 13

PROADVERTORIAL

CLOUD FOR MEDIA, AI FOR MEDIA

Huawei Cloud Unlocks New Growth in the Middle East Media and Entertainment Industry In the age of 3D Internet, the audiovisual industry is experiencing a profound transformation, from traditional film and television content to short and long videos in the mobile internet era, and into the future of virtual reality in the era of IoT. With each leap in technology, significant changes occur in audiovisual production methods and content forms. Audio and video represent the most versatile means of content delivery, serving as the "core driving force of productivity" reaching consensus during the ongoing digital transformation across various industries.

Efficient Content Production: Cloud-Native + AI, a Revolution in Media Productivity Tools With the continuous development of digital technology, the field of content production, including film, animation, and variety shows, has witnessed explosive growth in digital content production. In recent years, the metaverse has led digital creation into a new era, with digital native content such as digital humans, AR/ VR, and virtual shooting becoming increasingly prevalent, raising the bar for production efficiency.

To meet the growing demand for content production efficiency, Huawei Cloud has created MetaStudio, an all-in-one cloud-based digital content production line. It migrates processes like film editing, modeling, binding, driving, and rendering to the cloud, providing a user-friendly one-click platform that automates the entire workflow. Additionally, Huawei Cloud

has opened its underlying cloud rendering engine, MetaEngine, to more enterprises, providing a powerful digital content production engine.

Huawei Cloud’s MetaEngine is not limited to the home decoration industry; it is also suitable for automotive design, digital factories, virtual social platforms, virtual concerts, and digital humans, among other applications. It delivers high-fidelity rendering results.

Huawei Cloud’s AI capabilities are integrated from modeling and simulation to rendering. For example, Huawei Cloud’s AI offline rendering acceleration technology combines AI with CG rendering algorithms, to improve video rendering speed by four times while maintaining the same quality.

Furthermore, to empower enterprises to build stronger content innovation capabilities in the AI era, Huawei Cloud has integrated its Pangu model into the MetaStudio digital content production line, creating the Pangu

“Huawei Cloud offers Low Latency Live (LLL) services, reducing traditional live streaming latency

from over 7 seconds to within 800ms, enhancing real-time interaction experiences for various live streaming scenarios”

14 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

Digital Human model. It offers two main services: model generation and modeldriven, and has been pre-trained using 200,000 hours of audio and video data.

Traditional digital human production models require million-dollar investments and months of effort.

With Huawei Cloud’s MetaStudio and Pangu Digital Human model, content developers can quickly generate and drive digital human models. It takes just 5 seconds to generate a 3D digital human model from a photo, with support for personalized facial adjustments.

After creating the digital human, the “digital human video production” service allows users to generate live broadcasts using text, voice, or video input. Huawei Cloud’s low-cost, rapid, high-quality digital humans have been applied in various industries, including online education, news broadcasting, corporate meetings, e-commerce live streaming, and entertainment live streaming, enabling businesses in various sectors to achieve “digital human freedom.”

Ultimate User Experience: High Definition, Smooth, Ultra-Low Latency for Exceptional Engagement According to a Conviva report, highdefinition video viewing on OTT platforms has surpassed standarddefinition video, with global highdefinition video viewing increasing by 63% year-on-year. Reports in the media and entertainment industry indicate that for every 1-second increase in loading time during video playback, user viewership decreases by 11%. As a result, there is a growing demand for high-definition, smooth,

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and low-latency viewing experiences, although ultra-high definition comes with high bitrates, leading to increased storage and bandwidth costs.

To address this challenge, Huawei Cloud offers an all-in-one OTT media solution, providing services such as live streaming, on-demand content, transcoding, and CDN. The high-definition, low-bitrate media processing service can compress the original video bitrate by 40-60%, significantly reducing video storage and distribution costs. Additionally, Huawei Cloud offers Low Latency Live (LLL) services, reducing traditional live streaming latency from over 7 seconds to within 800ms, enhancing real-time interaction experiences for various live streaming scenarios, including live e-commerce and sports events, and improving user engagement.

Efficient Traffic Monetization: E-commerce, Live Streaming, Metaverse – Fueling Growth in the Media Industry With the rise of e-commerce and live streaming platforms in recent

years, live e-commerce has gained prominence. In this business scenario, methods such as anchor rewards, live shopping, and building e-commerce platforms within video platforms have collectively created new models for traffic monetization. When large models and digital human technology are applied to live e-commerce, businesses can quickly establish lightweight digital human live broadcast rooms without the need for expensive studios or professional live streaming teams. They can generate digital humans rapidly from a single photo, with support for personalized facial adjustments. Using precise AI expressions and motion control, these digital humans can interact with the audience, just like real people. Furthermore, businesses can generate multiple digital human anchors, enabling 24/7 live streaming, increasing the duration of product sales, and removing constraints associated with the working hours of real people and limited physical space, thus allowing businesses to reach their audience more efficiently.

With the recent trend of the

metaverse, traditional media companies have entered the metaverse arena, launching entertainment content and social platforms that combine virtual socialization, content browsing, and gaming experiences. In the metaverse, businesses can leverage their highquality IP resources to create star digital human avatars, delivering immersive concert experiences. This opens up new monetization avenues for traditional media’s star IP resources.

As a company with more than 30 years of experience in the communication industry and a service provider for 75% of China’s top media companies, Huawei Cloud possesses over 1,000 audio and video algorithm patents, accumulating profound technological capabilities in video encoding, decoding, network transmission, and distribution.

The E3 model, emphasizing New Efficiency, New Experience, and New Evolution, is set to disrupt content production efficiency, optimize content consumption experiences, create new traffic monetization models, and reshape the productivity of the Middle Eastern media and entertainment industry.

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Bahrain recently inaugurated a brand-new futuristic radio facility intended to house private radio stations. Eng Abdulla Ahmed Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary of Technical at Bahrain’s Ministry of Information, takes Vijaya Cherian on an exclusive tour of the facility

RESOUNDING SUCCESS: BAHRAIN’S CUTTINGEDGE RADIO FACILITY 16 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

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The new building boasts six radio studio islands of varying shapes and sizes spread across two floors.

Upon entering the wellsecured gates of Bahrain's Ministry of Information (MI), one is transported to a realm reminiscent of a bygone era in the GCC. The compound's square, low-rise structures, which house departments such as television, radio and print, exude nostalgia. However, standing apart from these old structures is the new futuristic addition that has transformed the compound’s landscape: a stateof-the-art $7.5m radio facility.

Shaped like a sine wave, the building boasts six cutting-edge radio studio islands of varying shapes and sizes spread across two floors.

These opulent studios, designed specifically for individual private radio stations, were inaugurated on August 31 by Deputy King His Royal Highness Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain.

Each studio island is equipped with top-of-the-line studio equipment, including dedicated editing rooms, inviting lounges and reception areas. The facility also houses a radio library, a central master control room (MCR), a central lounge, an electrical grid, a generator and a UPS. The technical aspects were executed by RCS – the New York-headquartered systems integrator designed and built six FM stations as separate islands

while ensuring they were accessible from a single window by the Bahrain MI technical team. Each station can operate independently, and clients can rent them and go live immediately.

This facility marks Bahrain’s first foray into the world of audio-over-IP (AoIP), the future of radio broadcasting. Its successful

“We designed this facility with grandeur in mind, specifically catering

to the private sector”

Eng Abdulla Ahmed Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary of Technical, Ministry of Information, Bahrain

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implementation in a traditionally conservative market is testament to its growing popularity. RCS has also developed Mobile RCS2GO, a tool that empowers end users to work from any location, providing automation, music scheduling and traffic capabilities. With multiple layers of redundancy and remote console control between the different studios, this deployment ensures seamless operations for tenants.

Eng Abdulla Ahmed Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary of Technical at the Ministry of Information, Bahrain, proudly explains: “We designed this facility with grandeur in mind, specifically catering to the private sector. Our aim was to open the market up for private radio stations so we decided to construct six purpose-built studios from scratch, and this facility before us is the outcome of that endeavour.”

He emphasises the significance of this development by highlighting the shift from relying solely on the ministry’s infrastructure to enabling each radio station to have its own independent chain, complete with servers, studios and galleries, among other things. These studios are connected to the existing MCR but

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Each radio studio within the facility has a different look and feel.

can also operate autonomously, a significant leap forward for private radio broadcasting in Bahrain. To accommodate the needs of the private sector, the team added an external entrance for studio users and guests to access the facility without navigating the ministry’s fortified gates.

One of the facility's standout features is its state-of-the-art equipment. Al Balooshi elaborates: “All the equipment in the MCR, including the automation system, utilises RCS products. Furthermore, our transmission room has six transmitters, each catering to one of the six frequencies. We have also constructed a DAB+ platform, propelling Bahrain into the digital era of radio. What we have assembled is a comprehensive package exclusively for the private sector. Already we have received requests from clients for the DAB+ platform, and that is an indication of its immense potential.”

The facility has currently secured three tenants. One is 96.5 MHz, Bahrain’s only English-language radio station, previously under the

Key kit Lawo – main audio mixers and routers RCS – playout, scheduling, traffic AVT – phone system Arista – switches for audio network, with access to Cisco Ethernet network Aten KVM network – one network between MCR and studios, another within MCR Stirliz – media recorder Other hardware used in studios and MCR: AKG mics, Argosy racks, Draka cables HP top workstations HPE top servers and storages ASI soundcards – redundant audio Genelec speakers MasterClock wall clocks Tascam CD players Nevion A/D distribution TSL monitoring Trilogy Tektronix master clock Beyerdynamic headphones Yellowtec mic arms Xi Audio audio control

ministry and now transitioning to the private sector; another is 104.2 MHz Radio Mirchi, an Indian radio station currently on a temporary contract with the ministry and committed to bidding for the next five-year contract; and 103 MHz – English Entertainment has already been allocated space.

The ministry has also announced auctions for two new frequencies.

“We are in negotiations with a private channel that operates on an assigned FM frequency in Bahrain. There are more options on the horizon, including a Tagalog channel and another FM service.

Two frequencies are up for auction at present,” explains Al Balooshi, adding that the ministry recognises the potential for expansion and is constructing an additional facility to accommodate the growing office space requirements.

The incorporation of the DAB+ platform is significant, he explains. “The specifications for the DAB+ receivers have been approved and distributed to manufacturers through our Ministry

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of Commerce. As of January 1, 2023, the MI mandated that all new cars imported into Bahrain must include the DAB+ feature.”

Beyond providing the infrastructure, the ministry is committed to offering round-theclock support to tenants. “Our team controls the MCR and we provide transmission support from our end. Our technical teams are available 24/7 to address any equipment-related issues and ensure smooth operations.” The team has even customised the studio furniture for durability and protection from accidental damage.

Anticipating the diverse needs of the tenants, the team has proactively wired the facility to accommodate additional features, with the General Directorate of Technical & Technology Affairs technical team closely involved.

Al Balooshi elaborates: “Some tenants have expressed their desire for visual radio. We have the necessary infrastructure in

“We built everything from scratch, ensuring the

utilisation of the latest models for all installation materials and hardware” Baher Al Zaher, MD, RCS MENA place to incorporate cameras. Certain channels also wanted to showcase their branding in the background, while others requested streaming options. We can readily offer these additional features.”

Within the MCR, all the playout hardware has been installed by RCS to maintain a quiet acoustic ambience across the studios.

For real-time control of the RCS software suite, the systems integrator has installed an ATEN dual-screen IP-based KVM solution which ensures instant control and remote support. In terms of audio transport, the system employs AOIP, complemented by traditional analogue and AES connections for back-up and STL connectivity.

To facilitate audio transport, Nevion frames equipped with analogue and AES

distribution cards were installed.

These enable audio transmission to the transmitter via audio fibre, with TSL PAM1 devices installed for monitoring these audio feeds.

There were several challenges to completing this project, primarily due to the global pandemic and disruptions in chip supplies. Initially planned for development in March 2020, it was temporarily shelved and delivered in late 2022 by RCS, but only launched last month.

Baher Al Zaher, who leads the RCS MENA office, sheds light on the challenges. “We found ourselves in a precarious situation due to the lockdown imposed by the pandemic. The delivery of audio mixers, for instance, depended on other items, including the furniture on which the audio mixer was to be installed. We received partial deliveries at higher costs, while we needed them all to be on-site – fully delivered, installed and configured – prior to anything else. Whether switches, Ethernet switches, audio

This is one of the first MENA projects where RCS has not just provided most of the core solutions but also served as a systems integrator.

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The minor details RCS, in collaboration with various manufacturers and suppliers, installed a range of specialised equipment and technology in the new radio facility at the Bahrain Ministry of Information. The facility consists of six on-air studios, each featuring custom-made announcer tables from Knotty, Electrovoice RE27 dynamic cardioid microphones for high-quality recording and broadcasting, and Yellowtec Mika microphone arms.

Sound reinforcement applications were chosen for the announcer studios and control rooms.

For monitoring, RCS integrated Xi Audio HP505 monitoring panels with Lawo GPIO controls, enabling functions such as headphone monitoring, talkback and mute. Genelec speakers provide output monitoring in each on-air studio, while NTP-powered Masterclock units synchronised via GPS signal ensure accurate time.

The Soniflex on-air lights are integrated with Lawo via GPIO.

The Program Control Rooms are equipped with custom-made technical furniture that accommodates Mika arms and monitor arms for touch-enabled HP screens.

Lawo Ruby mixing consoles, along with the Lawo Power Core, serve as the central control system. This set-up enables AOIP connectivity with routing in the MCR, as well as traditional analogue and digital connectivity to other peripherals, including the Tascam emergency CD player, Program Delay Manager, Sonifex headphone distributor amp, Sonifex silence detector and Glensound talkback panel.

The AVT broadcast telephone system has eight SIP-based telephone lines, with phone and touchscreenbased show management software. The system is connected to the Lawo Power Core through AES. Each station has its own editing studio with customised furniture and AKG C414XLS condenser microphones.

AOIP is the main audio distribution, with study switching equipment at the core. RCS configured an Arista 7304X frame as the switching core, connected to Cisco 9200L edge switches via 10G fibre patches. VLAN configurations allow the studios to operate independently, with central management by the Bahrain MI engineering team also possible.

The RCS suite, running on HP servers and HPE workstations, is optimised for playout. The Z8 is the chosen playout workstation and the DL380gen10 server is complemented by an HP MSA 2050 storage array connected via 10G fibre. All machines are connected to an ATEN KVM-over-IP switch.

RCS has integrated Ravenna AOIP via virtual sound cards Lawo R3lay. The main audio routing is done on Lawo's Power Core, a powerful audio signal processor for broadcast, offering multiple high-density RAVENNA/ AES67 and MADI interfaces.

Back-up is ensured by a second unit in standby mode.

All hardware is overseen by Lawo's VSM system, which provides IP control for a safe and flexible broadcast operation. A__STAGE devices handle analogue and AES I/O for routing.

To ensure back-up, RCS incorporated additional HP Z8 machines as standalone playout systems synced over RCS’ Zetta ZCast feature with the main station servers.

These are directly connected to the router via AES interfaces, using ASI PCIE cards. Standalone CD/SD/MP3 units from Tascam are also installed as back-up devices to prevent on-air disruptions.

For off-air monitoring, RCS installed Deva Broadcast receivers along with exterior FM antennas and splitters.

Output is recorded using Stirlitz Media Software logger, running on a capable HP DL380gen10 paired with an HP MSA. This set-up ensures easy and reliable access to audio recordings.

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and fibre cables, racks and rack MDUs, they were all delayed.”

RCS had to recalibrate its approach, investing unplanned hours in building financial and technical solutions to overcome these challenges and offer multiple options to the client. Spikes in oil prices and the closure of Russian airspace further complicated the delivery of essential products, exacerbating delays.

Despite this, RCS successfully delivered the project within the revised timelines set by the ministry, Al Zaher says proudly. “RCS has earned a stellar reputation within the radio install sector as the world's largest broadcast software company, with our products being utilised in thousands of radio and TV stations, music channels, cable companies, ad agencies, satellite networks and streaming stations worldwide. This positions us favourably. Today, RCS has sister companies and technology partners that cater to every aspect a global radio station may require, from A to Z.” In the Arab world, RCS products enjoy a significant advantage. In addition to being intuitive and flexible broadcast tools, they also

offer multilingual support, making them attractive to end users in the region.

The collaborative effort between RCS, the ministry, suppliers and the consultant ensured successful completion of the project. RCS assembled a dedicated team of six specialists and six members of the infrastructure team. Al Zaher calls them the “RCS six-by-six team”: project director, implementations manager, technical architect, project coordinator, logistics coordinator and senior systems integration engineer, along with two Ethernet network

From left: Baher Al Zaher, MD of RCS MENA, with Eng Abdulla Ahmed Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary of Technical, Ministry of Information, Bahrain.

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specialists, three audio network specialists and an infrastructure implementation manager.

Once the logistical delays had been resolved, the testing and acceptance phase proceeded smoothly, with all issues promptly resolved. The most significant challenge was to strike a balance between wellestablished engineering practices and cutting-edge technology. “This project incorporates multiple layers of redundancy and is designed with future scalability in mind.

We built everything from scratch, ensuring the utilisation of the latest models for all installation materials and hardware. We are immensely proud to have delivered a comprehensive turnkey solution to Bahrain MI,” says Al Zaher.

The Ministry of Technical Affairs directorate also commended RCS for its equipment selection, compliance with international safety and performance regulations, and the seamless integration achieved throughout the project. “RCS possessed unparalleled expertise across all aspects of the project and their team went the extra mile, excelling in project management, design, supply, installation, implementation and commissioning services,” says Al Balooshi.

The Bahrain Ministry of Information’s new radio facility is testament to the country’s commitment to advancing private radio stations. With its stateof-the-art infrastructure, advanced equipment and comprehensive support, the facility opens doors for the private sector to flourish in the radio broadcasting landscape. The addition of the DAB+ platform and its commitment to future scalability reflect the ministry’s foresight and dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the radio industry. As Bahrain embraces this new chapter in radio broadcasting, the prospects for further growth and diversity in the sector are indeed promising. PRO

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© Copyright 2023 RCS. All Rights Reserved. RCS Sound Software and their marks and logos are registered trademarks of RCS.

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STARZPLAY’S STELLAR TELCO ENTRY

StarzPlay has evolved over the years from being solely an OTT player in the MENA market to offering its robust tech platform to telcos and studios, both locally and globally. In a recent development, the company joined forces with Ateme to help telcos across Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt enhance their OTT services.

CTO Faraz Arshad shares more details with Vijaya Cherian on how StarzPlay got into the business of offering OTT as a service Earlier this year, StarzPlay partnered with Ateme to launch a fully managed, white-label OTT-as-a-service solution for one of the largest telcos in Pakistan.

The use of the StarzPlay platform is the result of a technical breakthrough that the UAE-headquartered streamer has achieved in conjunction with Ateme.

On the back of that project, StarzPlay has also been contracted to provide similar services to telcos with OTT platforms in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

StarzPlay, which has since its inception developed its own OTT platform and continuously experimented on both technical and commercial strategy levels, identified opportunities to white label its solution and offer it to telco operators and studios in different regions. It is backed by e-vision, the media and entertainment arm of e&, the UAE’s biggest telco player, which helped open doors for the streamer to explore new partnerships with other regional telco players looking to expand their OTT services.

“Telcos in general prefer a fully managed OTT-as-a-service solution,” explains Faraz Arshad, CTO of StarzPlay. “The telco in Pakistan wanted a privately deployed cloud solution rather than a public cloud, and because sports broadcast is part of their customer offering, they wanted both live and VOD streaming delivery and redistribution options.

We roped in Ateme to help us put together this part of the platform. What we developed is a fully hybrid solution, with

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the live headend and delivery part deployed on premises.

The ability to move seamlessly between on-premises and public cloud environments was an important factor, with flexibility, scalability, cost efficiency and disaster recovery factored into the solution. But the positive outcome of this is that a major chunk of the traffic remains on-net. This delivery option enables telcos to avoid costs associated with international data transfer when using public cloud services.”

Telcos have traditionally been sceptical about using public cloud platforms due to security, compliance requirements, performance and latency, dependencies and cost considerations. However, despite these concerns, there has been a shift in recent years due to advancements in cloud technology, improved security measures and benefits such as scalability, agility and cost optimisation. These efforts help to address general scepticism and build trust among telcos.

StarzPlay, in conjunction with Ateme, has been able to offer a vast array of advanced features required for any next-generation OTT deployments on both private and public clouds, Arshad explains.

“This is one big differentiator that has helped us secure these projects. The second factor is the level of customisation Ateme has been able to offer as part of this project, as this is not a pre-boxed solution. When you ask them to customise anything for you, whether they be feature sets, the customisations needed for the stack development or all the

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other integrations required on-prem, Ateme was not only willing to do that but also had the capability to support that end to end. That’s why we have continued to work together on the other two telco projects in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Based on that, every deployment is customised.”

Like any such deployment, Arshad concedes that there were unexpected challenges that didn’t come up at the POC stage. “But this is to be expected. When you deploy a solution on-prem, you start seeing things that require further tweaks and customisations.” He adds that it was a great learning experience because all the engineering teams were up for the challenge.

“One of the reasons we were able to deliver fast was because Ateme did the heavy lifting on the required broadcasting and video streaming delivery customisations at their end and we could then focus on our core strength, which is building capability, feature sets and the integrations. These are the

StarzPlay's offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (above and below).

big differentiators. I think these two are our main strong points, and they have brought us to a level where we can now pretty much make it a plug-and-play solution. We have understood what telcos typically need and are able to showcase to them what we did before, and that serves as a starting point for a conversation.”

Rajesh Jagadish, Director – Sales and Business Development ATEME MEA, who worked closely with StarzPlay on these projects, says the biggest challenge was to deliver such a service within three months. Arshad for his

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part says the goal in each scenario was to actively address challenges and see how quickly solutions could be customised based on the integration points or solution the client was looking for.

StarzPlay, though a UAE-based company, also has a large development and video engineering team in Pakistan which has grown organically since the company launched.

“With continuous focus on tech innovation, the product and technology teams have been able to

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develop a media tech DNA within the organisation. This has helped us deliver a scalable, feature-rich platform that offers high-quality media content to users across various devices and network conditions,” says Arshad proudly.

“Currently, we’re working on some unique feature sets for the provisioning and acquisition verticals, which are being deployed at the Egyptian and Saudi telcos as part of our second phase of expansion. We are deploying those features in these OpCos, but once deployed, these features will also be rolled out on the overall platform across different clients.”

For StarzPlay, the platform development and integration for other third-party players has become an additional revenue stream that has immediately made the product and technical departments a commercially viable arm within the company. More importantly, a home-grown UAE company has built a solution being deployed both regionally and globally.

“The opportunity to license our platform and monetise the technology that we have worked so hard to develop in-house with our in-field learnings is amazing,” says Arshad. “This has incurred considerable investment from our side, so it is ideal to get some returns on it. As the licensing is completely SaaS-driven, it is fully customisable for major studios that we are working with. Lionsgate in India is one of them, where the complete delivery approach was cloud-based. We developed an end-to-end managed OTT platform for Lionsgate India, focusing on their requirements on both B2C and B2B fronts. With the telcos as well this is the core of the solution, but it includes the whole app.”

The telcos here wanted a modern approach to delivery rather than the traditional legacy approach, he says: “We made sure all the

features were available on the cloud as well as on-prem. So essentially we are running the stacks in parallel so we can switch between the two seamlessly while considering a deployment path in parallel.”

“The opportunity to license our platform and

monetise the technology that we have worked so hard to develop inhouse with our in-field learnings is amazing”

Faraz Arshad, CTO, StarzPlay

Telcos often have unique requirements and complexities that differ from other industries. Their scale of operations necessitates tailored billing solutions based on flexibility and scalability, with a customised pricing structure and a reusability factor that enables economies of scale, says Arshad.

StarzPlay has been flexible with customers, moulding solutions and services to individual needs.

In Pakistan it offers a service at the group level, where it covers all OpCos within the region. In other cases, it works with the client’s existing infrastructure.

Arshad says: “StarzPlay has

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been completely focused on the three major blocks of any OTT industry with this platform. One is the acquisition block that we have done for ourselves and includes the telco DCB [direct carrier billing] and other payment integrations.

The second is the discovery, engagement and retention, where we look at how to engage our customers, how they consume their content and how to retain subscribers, among other things.

The third is the data analytics part, where you look at how to segment your customers properly and make the right recommendations.”

Ateme complements the StarzPlay platform, managing the live and VOD delivery, while StarzPlay focuses on the overall tech stack. This solution can be considered a blueprint and deployed at scale faster and more efficiently, says Jagadish.

Besides developing the solution for these telcos, StarzPlay has also been retained by them as a SaaS provider. Jagadish says the platform has been designed to flexibly accommodate multiple tenants, each fully customised with its own business rules.

“It's a centralised multi-tenant solution that has been developed, delivered and monitored between Dubai and the rest of offices. So each tenant runs independently on our platform, where each of them can have their own UI/UX, with their own virtualised app stacks.”

Of course, this flexibility and scalability has required continuous effort on the back end, the CTO says.

“This tech licensing vertical has enabled us to come up with an R&D-focused mindset where we know what's needed and what's coming up in the next six months, and what kind of updates will be required in the next two years as part of our product and technology roadmap. Based on that, we are continuously enriching the

“Each tenant runs independently on our platform, where each of

them can have their own UI/UX, with their own virtualised app stacks” Rajesh Jagadish, Director – Sales and Business Development, ATEME MEA

StarzPlay has a large development and video engineering team based in Pakistan.

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solution for our tenants. We are the technology partner for these telcos.”

Jagadish adds: “When people want end-to-end solutions, they need a content management platform, an application and a DRM. We are not involved in these three elements. Our forte is video delivery. This offered us the perfect opportunity to showcase the Ateme prowess, because they do the first four elements and we step in to do the final part. So basically the intelligence sits with StarzPlay and the business rules sit with StarzPlay. Ours is the video processing part; that includes encoding and origin packaging of CDNs and so on. So we have done Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi and we are in the process of discussing three other opportunities.”

Having gained confidence in big regional and South Asian markets, the two teams are now looking to take this opportunity to global markets, Arshad concludes: “We are not limiting this to a Middle East-only consortium. We plan to push this to new markets in conjunction with StarzPlay.” PRO

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INDEXING NEWS WITH AI

Asharq News partnered with Newsbridge to develop an AI-powered indexing technology that summarises hundreds of hours of recorded content, offering its news staff enhanced efficiency. BroadcastPro ME brings you the details

Asharq News is a 24/7, multi-platform Arabic news service reaching across the Arab world and beyond.

When it required an automated way to describe and accurately summarise the 1,500 hours of archive and interviews it records each month for use by journalists, editors and producers, it partnered with Newsbridge to use its MXT-1 AI indexing technology.

This generative AI tech has been a game changer for Asharq News, enabling it to produce accurate, unbiased content descriptions in multiple languages, 40 times faster than a human could. MXT-1 enables it to index at scale in record time and search its large video collections as easily as it searches the web. The project is currently in the final stages of review before rollout.

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The context As a leading MENA news source, Asharq News conducts about 70 interviews with economic experts daily, each 5-10 minutes long. To successfully build a news story, it frequently taps into its archived footage. Ensuring that each piece of content is indexed with an accurate summary is critical.

The challenge Kathey Battrick, Senior Manager, Library and Media Management at Asharq News, who helmed this project, speaks about the challenges.

“Asharq News deals with a massive volume of content, indexing around 1,500 hours every month. If content

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“Being able to quickly publish quality content to

leverage the momentum of global news is a key requirement for the channel. Adopting such technology means we have descriptive metadata available to search within a matter of minutes” Kathey Battrick, Senior Manager, Library and Media Management, Asharq News

descriptions are missing or indexing is inaccurate, it takes additional time to find content and start crafting stories. Being able to quickly publish quality content to leverage the momentum of global news is a key requirement for the channel. Adopting such technology means we have descriptive metadata available to search within a matter of minutes,” she says.

In addition, Asharq News has a hybrid approach to indexing media assets in both Arabic

and English. It uses AI to generate multilingual, timestamped metadata.

Librarians review video footage and create descriptions so that content is thoroughly searchable and can be repurposed in the future.

Manually indexing media content in two languages, however, is challenging.

Transcribing and summarising just one hour in a single language can take as long as eight hours for a human to complete. In addition, content descriptions must have a neutral tone of voice. When indexing is performed by a person, the descriptions can be biased based on their perspective. Creating this level of detail manually would require a large team of archivists. This in turn increases the risk of introducing spelling mistakes and inconsistencies in metadata entry and naming conventions.

Asharq News produces media content in Arabic, while many of the journalists and news producers search for content in English. The channel therefore needed a robust, efficient and accurate solution to produce scene descriptions of archived content in both languages.

The solution Asharq News tapped Newsbridge, its longtime technology partner, for a solution that would enhance its multilingual media indexing process. “Newsbridge was already exploring the use of natural language

models to generate human-like descriptions of video content.

Our news requirements just acted as a catalyst for them to create MXT-1, Newsbridge’s generative and multimodal AI indexing technology,” explains Battrick.

MXT-1 combines multiple AI modalities, including computer vision and speech processing, with natural language models.

The technology transcribes, detects and summarises people, objects, logos, context, actions, landmarks and landscapes. It describes the audiovisual content then gives it a one-line editorial summary, all with no human intervention. It can index more than 500 hours of video a minute.

The collaboration Asharq News and Newsbridge worked together to train the MXT-1 technology on hundreds of hours of audiovisual content, leveraging AI transformers to make it particularly efficient at describing content with the same tone of voice and expressions used by the media organisation.

Every interview that Asharq News records is automatically transcribed and summarised by MXT-1, with the Asharq team supervising. The AI model is continuously fine-tuned to ensure that it outputs descriptions with the same grammar, syntax and tone of voice as Asharq News archivists. MXT-1 creates the content descriptions 40 times faster than real time.

“The use of AI can also facilitate the creation of your own datasets relevant to your content. In our use case, this is a dataset of Arab public figures and business leaders. Beyond summarising the transcript, MXT-1 leverages multimodal AI technology to recognise and add the names of Arab public figures and business leaders to the summary based

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Kathey Battrick (c), flanked by the Newsbridge team.

on facial recognition, ensuring a consistent approach to names and designations,” explains Battrick.

The innovation Asharq News is taking the industry forward in terms of technology deployment, with state-of-theart infrastructure such as highly advanced studio equipment, the latest broadcast technology, efficient asset management and

high-speed internet connectivity. It has the latest graphics, augmented reality and virtual reality systems, as well as a motion-tracking system that allows high fluidity while displaying visual content. It accommodates traditional as well as new media platforms, including mobile TV, broadband and IPTV, allowing content to be distributed across different platforms.

MXT-1 brings a special approach to AI indexing for Asharq News.

The technology detects people, objects, logos, context, actions, landmarks, landscapes and text, as well as transcribing, translating and summarising audio-to-text in multiple languages. While traditional AI providers in the market can generate keywords and speech-to-text content, MXT-1 uses natural language to link everything together and describe a scene, resulting in more accurate descriptions and faster, more affordable AI indexing.

The technology offers Asharq News a significant leap forward in AI indexing technology based on its ability to describe scenes in natural language, which ChatGPT and other generative AIs currently on the market do not offer. Moreover, it improves upon the current state of AI indexing, which produces a jumble of tags that fail to give content owners the level of information they need.

MXT-1 bundles all the latest evolutions of Newsbridge's multifaceted AI and can be trained and fine-tuned by an end user with multimodal rules and a custom thesaurus. It generates

Asharq News is currently beta testing the AI media summarisation capability for interviews in English, and plans to support other languages in the future.

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PROCASESTUDY

The Asharq News studio in Dubai.

metadata with confidence scores of over 90%, ensuring it is accurate. Through a userfriendly interface, Asharq News can assess and monitor metadata output, meaning it is always in control and gets reliable results.

At a time when sustainability is important, MXT-1 technology dramatically reduces energy consumption, making it seven times as cost-efficient as mono or unimodal AI systems. This is achieved by maximising the use of energy-efficient CPUs over GPUs, coupled with a smart frame sampling technology.

Transforming multilanguage media indexing When news producers at Asharq News are building a story, they need to be able to quickly find relevant sequences of footage.

With MXT-1 media summarisation, the media company has achieved an important efficiency breakthrough in content indexing and discovery workflow, with

news teams no longer needing to wait two or three days for an expert interview to be fully catalogued.

While most AI systems generate tags in English, MXT-1 generates actual descriptions in multiple languages, leveraging natural language models.

Asharq News is currently beta testing the AI media summarisation capability for interviews in English, and plans to fine-tune the summaries and add support for Arabic when the language is released alongside French, Spanish, German, Italian and Portuguese in the near future.

“The user interface is intuitive, and we are

able to smoothly train the AI to detect and recognise who is being interviewed to optimise our archiving workflow” Kathey Battrick, Senior Manager, Library and Media Management, Asharq News

Battrick says the collaboration with Newsbridge on MXT-1 media summarisation offers “a fast and efficient way of enhancing the cataloguing of our content … the user interface is intuitive, and we are able to smoothly train the AI to detect and recognise who is being interviewed to optimise our archiving workflow.

We are able to create a rich multilingual archive, leveraging translations based on the Wikidata knowledge graph. This means that reporters will be able to search for content in both Arabic and English. Through a customised thesaurus, Asharq News can easily manage people’s names, titles and aliases in two languages.”

As an early adopter of MXT-1 generative AI indexing technology, working closely with Newsbridge to specifically develop media summarisation, Asharq News is working to transform how producers, writers and reporters working across its broadcast, social media and digital platforms find content. PRO

October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 33

PROIRAQ

SPORTS SENSATION Iraqi Media Network (IMN) undertook a complete overhaul of its sports channel as part of its efforts to give sports fans a better experience.

Systems integrator Wave Media Solutions was roped in to add 4K and other futuristic technologies. BroadcastPro ME brings you the details

The overhaul includes the addition of 4K systems and a 12G-SDI set-up that supports UHD 2160p.

Iraqi Media Network (IMN) has undertaken a comprehensive transformation of its sports channel, AlIraqiya Sports TV, available on Nilesat, Arabsat and through streaming. This project includes more than just a visual overhaul and a fresh logo; it also saw the relaunch of its sports channel from a brand-new studio, with a complete rebrand ahead of the Gulf Cup in Basrah earlier this year.

Al Iraqiya Sports TV is broadcast from a new 200sqm studio in IMN’s vast compound, which dates from 1957 and has over the decades seen incremental additions in terms of studios, broadcast facilities and other prerequisites for the country’s largest media network. The sports studio is housed in a new structure and includes pre-existing equipment such as Panasonic 4K studio cameras and ARRI SkyPanel LED lights.

“The whole idea was to give a fresh look to the channel, as we had the broadcast rights to the Gulf Cup and other local leagues,” explains Eng Naseer Ali Radeif, Head of Studios Engineering at IMN. The new elements include the addition of 4K systems and a sophisticated 12G-SDI set-up that

34 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

supports UHD 2160p. This transformation was undertaken through systems integrator Wave Media Solutions.

The new studio was completed at the end of last year, a significant milestone in IMN's journey to enhance its sports programming. It is underpinned by state-of-theart 4K solutions and smartly integrated technologies.

Zaid Wattar, CEO of Wave Media Solutions, offers more detail: “IMN wanted state-of-the-art technologies that met current requirements but also anticipated future needs. They wanted seamless and intelligent integration, leveraging software-defined platforms for optimal integration, ease of use and future scalability.

And that’s what we provided to the client.”

One of the chief challenges was integrating 4K technology with minimal cabling while incorporating embedded MADI audio processing, 12G-SDIs, direct audio set-up, multi-viewer monitoring and sports slow-motion servers with sports analysis platforms, and Wave Media Solutions strategically harnessed a suite of technologies from Ross.

PROIRAQ

Technical highlights include the ULTRIX 4K 12G routing and multi-processing platform, the Carbonite ULTRA vision mixer with TouchDrive mixer panel, the PIERO Intelligent Sports Analysis Graphics System, the MIRA slowmotion replay server systems and the OpenGear processing systems. While the cameras and other studio equipment are pre-existing, the integration of these new technologies required meticulous planning and execution.

Ali Radeif attributes much of the success of the project to the choice of technologies: “The technical aspects of this project have contributed hugely to the success of the project, whether it be the implementation of unified multiprocessing 4K 12G-SDI routing, multi-viewer processing, audio embedding and de-embedding, or frame synchronising through the ULTRIX platform. Our use of the 12G-SDI 4K Carbonite, the PIERO Intelligent Sports Analysis Graphics system and the incorporation of OpenGear multi-processor glue cards, and having a centralised configuration and control facilitated through the Ross DashBoard unified control system, have all helped streamline our workflows and offer enhanced capabilities. As a result, the system we have now is not only highly flexible and expandable, but also

“The whole idea was to give a fresh look to the channel, as we had the

broadcast rights to the Gulf Cup and other local leagues”

Eng Naseer Ali Radeif, Head of Studios Engineering, IMN cost-effective in terms of equipment, cabling and operational efficiency.”

Wattar adds that it has already delivered tangible benefits such as significant cost savings, streamlined operations and a leap forward in the quality of sports analytics graphics and interactive analysis.

“This studio is now aligned with

regional and international sports 4K infrastructure. By implementing multi-processing platforms, we have reduced cabling and other complications dramatically. With centralised control, we require less manpower and will see less errors. We have also helped IMN develop the look and quality of its sports analytics graphics with creative interactive and AIbased sports science analysis.”

Wave Media Solutions, with a prominent presence in Iraq including offices in Baghdad and Erbil, collaborated closely with manufacturers to provide training.

Wattar notes: “Given that these technologies are fairly new to the end user, extensive training was essential. We are confident that the client is proficient in using the system and equipped to scale it to meet future requirements.”

Wave Media Solutions says the new tech additions at the facility will help elevate content quality and viewer experience for IMN. As the Iraqi network continues to distribute content across various platforms, this strategic upgrade will help cement its position as a key player in Iraq's broadcast landscape.

Al-Iraqiya Sports TV's brand-new studio.

October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 35

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PROIBC2023

IBC2023, THE PREMISE OF A HYBRID WORLD? This year’s edition of IBC once again underscored our industry’s appetite for innovation. It also showcased how broadcasters are adopting, crossbreeding and integrating new technologies into their legacy tech stack. The upshot is a hybrid world where competing techs coexist and moderation prevails.

Consider the growing acceptance of SMPTE-2110 in both production and playout environments. Portrayed as the next step towards a fully digital landscape, it seeks to swap legacy baseband routers specifically built for the broadcast industry with Ethernet switches transplanted from IT data centres. Connectivity to legacy equipment is ensured via gateways that convert SDI video signals to multicast IP data streams and vice versa.

The need to transition to SMPTE-2110 has almost beccme a mantra these past years, with prominent organisations such as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) defining it as a must-have for any new broadcast facility. No longer.

The advent of mature 12G-SDI solutions has heralded a more balanced landscape. Many solution architects admit today that if SMPTE-2110 brings undeniable benefits to managing large-scale media production and playout facilities, 12G-SDI offers a more cost-efficient environment that is easier to implement, configure and maintain for live production studios and galleries.

The result? Hybrid broadcast plants that combine 12G-SDI and SMPTE-2110.

The migration to the cloud is going through a similar transition. Major hyper-scale cloud vendors like AWS, Google and Microsoft have traditionally advocated the merits of exclusive cloud set-ups – no more. Microsoft announced over the summer that it will close its Azure Media Services by June 2024, and AWS and Google emphasise hybrid architectures that leverage AWS Outpost and Google Anthos-managed solutions or integrate on-demand cloud processing with on-premises S3 storage systems.

Software-based solutions are also going hybrid. When Grass Valley initially introduced its Advanced Media Processing Platform (AMPP), the spiel

38 | www.broadcastprome.com | October 2023

was that the future would be containerised software running on Kubernetes and hosted in the data centres of public cloud service providers or on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers sourced from third-party equipment manufacturers. This year at IBC, the narrative shifted. Grass Valley started promoting its own GV AMPP cloud and introduced AMPP Grid compute nodes to facilitate hybrid or on-premises deployments. In doing so, it adapted to a market where projects have shown that many broadcasters want sovereign cloud solutions (think G42 in the UAE or Saudi National Cloud in KSA) or crave hybrid ones that leverage hardware sourced directly from a single solution vendor.

Wireless transmissions may be going down a similar path. 5G was the talk of the floor. Haivision, LiveU and TVU demonstrated field encoders that leverage these new public networks. Nextgeneration private wireless platforms are finally making it out of the labs. The BBC won its IBC award for deploying the world’s largest pop-up 5G stand-alone non-public network to cover the coronation of King Charles. The IRT B<>COM technology research and innovation centre in Rennes, France, announced the commercialisation of its software-based platform to facilitate the creation and management of private cellular networks operating in band 77 of the new 5G radio spectrum. The future may again be hybrid, with 5G connectivity combined with new self-healing, self-forming wireless mesh networks or low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellite uplinks such as Starlink or OneWeb. In many ways, this blended technological landscape may be the product of intersecting technology adoption curves and Gartner hype cycles. As broadcasters move beyond the peak of inflated expectations for a specific technology and navigate the trough of disillusionment, they explore alternative solutions. Stacking multiple technologies might be the key to ascending the slope of enlightenment … And this was the scenario even before the surge in generative, cognitive and multimodal AI services.

Nicolas Hans is Partner, Middle East, Broadcast Solutions GmbH

PROIBC2023

IBC2023 attracts 43,065 attendees from 170 countries The IBC2023 show attracted 43,065 attendees from 170 countries at the RAI Amsterdam. With more than 1,250 exhibitors and a 16% increase in total attendees, industry leaders and pioneers converged within bustling exhibition halls, networking events and packed theatres to shape the future of media and entertainment.

Michael Crimp, CEO of IBC, said: “There was a real sense of purpose at the show as business leaders and tech innovators came together to help our industry navigate change and build a better future for media and entertainment. I’d like to thank everyone for the ongoing support and participation.”

IBC2023 featured three fundamental pillars throughout its content programme: Transformative Tech, Shifting Business Models and People & Purpose. It presented the most comprehensive and engaging content agenda to date, addressing critical industry challenges and

endorsing the media & entertainment (M&E) mission to foster more sustainable and inclusive business practices. An expanded line-up of more than 325 speakers across an expanded number of theatre halls took to the stage, advocating for new technologies, future business models and creative innovations that expand the horizons of media and entertainment.

The show spotlighted pivotal topics such as cloud, AI, 5G, VR/AR/XR, metaverse, gaming and edge computing throughout the show floor theatres and exhibition halls, including proof-of-concept demonstrations delivered by the IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme projects, championing crossindustry collaboration and pioneering new use cases.

It introduced fresh show features and expanded several exhibition halls, including the opening of Hall 3. It also launched an immersive Esports Showcase in collaboration

with Unlocked, presenting the latest innovations in esports production and delivery. The former Future Zone underwent a transformation into the IBC Tech Zone, powered by the EBU, to showcase cuttingedge technologies shaping the future of media experiences.

IBC Director Steve Connolly said: “There’s been tremendous energy at IBC2023. We’ve seen incredible participation from a wide range of long-standing exhibitors and new players that are tackling technology transformation while unlocking new business opportunities.

We’re ready to continue evolving for next year’s show to keep up with increased demand, and we’ll be expanding our footprint with additional outdoor pavilions and the opening of Hall 14 for IBC2024.”

The exhibitor line-up at IBC2023 included industry giants such as ARRI, AVID, AWS, Blackmagic Design, Bridge Technologies, Canon Europe, Cisco, Comcast, Deluxe, EBU, Google, Grass Valley, Gravity Media, Harmonic,

HP, IMAX, Lawo, LTN, Microsoft Corporation, Orange, Prime Focus, Riedel Communications, Ross Video, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony, Tata Communications, Telestream, Vizrt Group and Zixi.

Consumer electronics leader LG joined a host of first-time exhibitors from around the world. This diverse group included companies such as Brompton Technology, Compress2x, Layercake, Quine, SAS Software, Small Pixels, Sohonet, Wondershare, ZEASN and Zinema Motion.

Samira Bakhtiar, Director, Global Media & Entertainment, Amazon Web Services, stated: “IBC is so important because it provides a venue for the community to come together.

When you’re able to come together with customers and partners, you can ideate and provide diverse perspectives that would normally not be able to come out.”

All content sessions from IBC2023 are available online. IBC will return from 13-16 September, 2024.

October 2023 | www.broadcastprome.com | 39

PROGUEST

“With developments in cloud and IP only set to continue to enhance broadcasting, it’s an exciting time to be in the industry”

How satellite, and advances in IP and cloud are enabling greater efficiency in broadcast The broadcast media are often seen as reliable, particularly during crises. During the Covid-19 pandemic, millions turned to broadcast as a source of trusted, quality media, capable of keeping people updated in real time. In fact, the average time spent on news and movie channels in the Middle East rose by 30% during the first period of the pandemic and Ramadan.

While consumers look to broadcast for reliability in their news, behind the scenes it has become increasingly important for broadcasters to meet the demands of their viewers and share important real-time events with the best image quality, low latency and buffering with a global audience over the internet. This is no small feat. In our globalised world, breaking news is no longer restricted to the walls of the studio and often requires a presence in remote or unstable locations.

Fortunately, satellite technology and advances in IP and cloud are enabling broadcasters to work more efficiently than ever before to bring breaking news and other programming to viewers, from contribution to distribution.

In the middle of the action War zones, regions affected by climate change, and natural or

man-made disasters are just some of the locations that news crews have reported from in recent years, and remote production – with the capability to collaborate with an entire geographically dispersed team – has become a necessity.

Remote production, or the remote integration model (REMI), allows live content to be captured from a remote location and managed from a master control room. Cloud computing has transformed the process, allowing sound or video editors working from home to process files from the cloud.

The result is a production crew that can work from anywhere and still collaborate effectively with the rest of their team, provided they have access to the cloud. Cloud access has become such a powerful enabler of productivity that the demand for satellite connectivity as part of a blended all-IP solution is soaring, especially in remote areas.

Advances in satellite and IP The pandemic helped accelerate remote production capability, as studios sought innovative ways to continue delivering important and newsworthy content directly to the end user. This influx of activity and increased demand could have created network congestion, but those taking advantage of

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emerging and innovative satellite technology were able to avoid this.

Over time, satellite capabilities have evolved from large remote production trucks to cellular bonding techniques, with two or more cellular connections combined to provide greater bandwidth for uploads and downloads. This enables video and audio streaming, live broadcasting and other data-intensive applications, to ultimately achieve higher levels of reliability and quality of service.

Production crews can now look to blended all-IP networks to enable their work in the field and unrivalled access to the cloud. By blending all available IP networks, teams can lessen the risk of damaging the quality of the transmission associated with cellular bonding by using satellites when IP terrestrial networks are not up to scratch. Easy access to the cloud is also assured. Again, this facilitates teams to work from anywhere, simply sending their footage back for editing at a central location.

With developments in cloud and IP only set to continue to enhance broadcasting, it’s an exciting time to be in the industry. Every day, broadcasters are bringing quality content to the largest possible subscriber base with high reliability.

Alex Beach is Head of Media and Broadcast at ST Engineering iDirect