TVBE End of year Review

www.tvbeurope.com

Business, insight and intelligence for the media and entertainment industry

2016

TVBEurope 3

Welcome

The year of unprecedented change

By James McKeown, content director, NewBay, and editor-in-chief, TVBEurope

W

elcome to the inaugural ‘Year in Review’

director of the IBC Daily was certainly a baptism of fire,

supplement from TVBEurope. If there was

but it opened my eyes to the level of collaboration

ever a 12-month period where the term

already in process between industry entities, and the

‘unprecedented’ was so globally in vogue, then 2016 was

potential for further cooperation on formal and informal

it. For better or for worse, we are in the grip of remarkable

levels. It also served as another reminder of the wealth

cultural and political change, while internally, our industry

and quality of thought leadership in this market that

is proactively taking to task the accessibility with which

arguably doesn’t enjoy the profile that it deserves.

it will engage with the future digital environment, and its many acronyms.

This supplement has been created to remedy that; to bring together some of the leading voices in the industry

It has been some year, but for all of the furore that

to pass judgement and perspective over a year in which

has enveloped wider society, progress within the sector

we’ve seen plenty of progress, as well as large portions of

continues to fuel positive sentiment in a relatively serene

status quo.

manner. I have written with some regularity about my

It is a distinct honour to welcome such an esteemed

personal buzzword of the past year – collaboration –

bank of contributors who have offered exclusive insight for

and within these pages you will find further supporting

TVBEurope, and I’d like to thank each and every one for

evidence that entities from across the media supply chain

taking the time and effort to participate.

are actively engaging with each other to ensure there

Just like the Interoperability Zone at IBC2016, it is a

is a cohesive and sensible approach to technological

very rare occasion in print media that the authorities

interoperability and enablement.

contributing to this publication are all seen in the same

It was in the run up to IBC2016 that the idea for this publication was first born. Serving my first term as editorial

place. Let’s call it an ‘unprecedented’ gathering of industry insight, and one which I sincerely hope you enjoy.

4 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

Contents 06

08

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12

14

16

18

20

22

24

25

26

28

29

30

32

34

36

37

38

39

40

06

Richard Welsh, VP education, SMPTE

08

Mark Harrison, managing director, DPP

10

Mike Cronk, chairman of the board, AIMS

12

Michael Crimp, chief executive officer, IBC

14

Glodina Connan-Lostanlen, chief marketing officer, Imagine Communications

16

Gordon Smith, president and chief executive officer, NAB

18

Neerav Shah, senior vice president of strategic marketing, Grass Valley

20

Simon Fell; Stefan Kuerten; Graham Warren, EBU

22

Stella Medlicott, VP marketing and communications, media, Ericsson

24

Simon Spanswick, CEO, and Tom Wragg, business development director, AIB

25

David Ross, CEO, Ross Video

26

Bryce Button, product marketing manager, AJA

28

Daniel Sacchelli, event manager, Ascential Events (BVE)

29

Michael Harrit, marketing director, Sony Professional Solutions Europe

30

Peter White, CEO, and Lorenzo Zanni, research analyst, IABM

32

Andreas Hilmer, marketing and communications director, Lawo

34

Peter MacAvock, chairman, DVB Steering Committee

36

Brad Gilmer, executive director, AMWA

37

Tim Thorsteinson, CEO, Snell Advanced Media

38

Peter Sellar, associate director, broadcast, DTG

39

Daniella Weigner, managing director, Cinegy

40

Aaron Matthews, industry sustainability manager, Bafta

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6 TVBEurope

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2016: the year in review

Celebrating 100 years of innovation: A look back at SMPTE’s centennial year

By Richard Welsh, SMPTE education vice presidentelect and CEO of Sundog Media Toolkit

T

he past year has been momentous for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), which has celebrated

its 100th anniversary; a century of leadership in motion-imaging standards and education. Both the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences (ATAS) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) have recognised SMPTE this year for reaching its century milestone.

The AMPAS Special Award plaque honours the fact that, “For one hundred years, the society’s members have nurtured technology, provided essential standards, and offered the expertise, support, tools and infrastructure for the creation and post production of motion pictures.”

Since it was formed by Francis C Jenkins in

content to the big screen, broadcast and OTT

reflects a diverse array of players in today’s

1916, SMPTE has developed more than 800

services, as well as to new VR and AR devices.

marketplace. This year, our diamond members

standards, recommended practices, and

Over the past year, we have seen formats

include Amazon, Apple, Blackmagic Design,

engineering guidelines that are in force today. All

diversify and consumer experience progress. The

CBS, Deluxe Technicolor, Disney/ABC/ESPN, Dolby

these documents support the society’s primary

transition to IP infrastructure continues at pace,

Laboratories, DTS, Ericsson, Fox Entertainment

mission of enabling worldwide interoperability.

requiring new standards for all aspects of delivery

Group, Google, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Netflix,

SMPTE generates an annual average of 50 new

— from any camera to any screen. Alongside

Nokia Technologies, Paramount Pictures, Ross

standards documents focused on cinema,

this, the first SMPTE standard specifically for the

Video, SONY Electronics, Technicolor, Telstra

television, internet video, audio, and associated

unique identification of media files in cloud

Corporation, Turner and Warner Bros. The society

metadata. For 2016, we are proud to be on

systems has begun work. SMPTE’s current and

has evolved and adapted to better address the

track to have produced the most standards ever

future standards must continue addressing

ever broadening range of media technologies

developed in a single year.

new forms of media, new methods of delivery,

while simultaneously strengthening our efforts

and new definitions of content consumption

to increase the membership’s diversity and our

as they emerge.

global participation.

SMPTE’s 2016 standards have advanced time labels: Interoperable Master Format (IMF) — which is becoming essential to both motion

As the media ecosystem continues to evolve,

In the past year, individual SMPTE membership

picture and broadcast workflows; 6G/12G

so too do the types of organisations shaping

has grown to nearly 7,000 individuals in more

serial digital interface (SDI) — which supports

the media and entertainment industry, and

than 60 countries, representing almost every

real-time transport of higher resolution formats;

SMPTE’s sustaining corporate membership

continent. The society’s rapid international

digital cinema; and timing sync (SMPTE ST 2059)

expansion includes the launch of the Poland

— showcased in an interoperability demo at

section, which was approved by the board of

the SMPTE 2016 Annual Technical Conference

governors in October. Fourteen per cent of our

& Exhibition in October. Other innovations in the

members worldwide are students, and we’re

works include UHD with HDR, HFR, wider colour

working to build on this growth through a variety

gamut (WCG), all of which are raising the bar for

of mentoring programmes, scholarships, and

imaging and content production.

educational initiatives. The board also approved

Through this ongoing standardisation work,

three new student chapters: George Mason

SMPTE supplies the industry with the tools to

University in Fairfax, VA; Media Arts Charter

address the current proliferation of media formats, allowing it to move forward in delivering

High School in Albuquerque, NM; and University The 2016 HPA Tech Retreat UK in Oxfordshire

of Surrey in the UK in October. Among SMPTE

TVBEurope 7

student initiatives are the Louis F Wolf Memorial Scholarship and Student Paper Award. We are also collaborating with our partner, the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) on projects such as the SMPTE-HPA Student Film Festival and the Young Entertainment Professional (YEP) programme.

SMPTE is uniquely positioned to engage the next generation of media professionals and by

“As the media ecosystem continues to evolve, so too do the types of organisations shaping the media and entertainment industry, and SMPTE’s sustaining corporate membership reflects a diverse array of players in today’s marketplace”

helping them understand the art and science

back to the UK again this coming July and for summers to come.

The SMPTE 2016 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (SMPTE 2016) in October drew nearly 2,500 attendees, a substantial increase from the previous year, for a programme boasting 72 papers, two exhibit halls, 108 exhibitors, and social and networking functions. Filmmaker, innovator, and entrepreneur Douglas Trumbull joined SMPTE president Robert Seidel who is also

that enable rich entertainment experiences. The

vice president of engineering and advanced

society educates thousands of individuals each

viewed only in its native format (often referred

technology at CBS, to present the opening

year through webcasts, the virtual classroom,

to as ‘the whole shebang’) in select theatres

keynote. Alternately addressing cinema and

local section meetings and our conferences held

including AMC Loews Union Square in New

broadcast, the pair took a look at the past,

around the globe. In 2016 alone, we offered 22

York, Arclight Cinemas Cinerama Dome in Los

present, and future of media and entertainment

webcasts and have prepared our newest virtual

Angeles, Taiwan’s Vieshow Cinemas in Taipei, the

technology, as well as supporting standards work.

classroom course, on IMF Essentials, for its first

Beijing Bona Youtang International Cineplex and

It was a remarkable testament to the progress

session in January 2017.

Shanghai Film Art Center.

our industry has made in the years and decades

At NAB Show’s ‘The Future of Cinema

In July, HPA and SMPTE collaborated to bring

leading to our centennial.

Conference: The Immortal Movie’, produced in

the HPA Tech Retreat to the UK for the first

partnership with SMPTE, crowds were drawn to

time. The Tech Retreat is a pivotal gathering of

Over the course of SMPTE 2016 week, many

our conference sessions and special screenings.

those supporting the creation, management

technical innovators were honoured with SMPTE

These events featured top industry minds and

and dissemination of content for the dynamic

honours and awards. At the Centennial Gala,

creative talents, discussing forward-looking

landscape of distribution environments. In the UK,

following the conference and exhibition, the

techniques and challenges in creating content

we featured two solid days of sessions focused on

society officially awarded honorary membership,

for theatrical release and beyond. The highlight

today’s most relevant topics and timely projects.

the society’s highest honour, to Avatar and

of the Future of Cinema Conference was multi-

In addition to the conference sessions, along with

Titanic director James Cameron in recognition of

Oscar winning director Ang Lee – known for

a curated Innovation Zone, were organisations

his work advancing visual effects (VFX), motion

films including Life of Pi; Crouching Tiger, Hidden

demonstrated their latest technologies. For

capture, and stereoscopic 3D photography,

Dragon; Brokeback Mountain and Sense and

many who had not been able to travel to the US

as well as his experimentation in HFR. The

Sensibility – presenting the conference’s 16 April

Tech Retreat, this was a unique opportunity for

society’s most prestigious medal award, the

keynote address alongside editor Tim Squyres

networking, education and technical discovery.

Progress Medal, was presented to Trumbull, who

and production systems supervisor and engineer

We are now working to bring the Tech Retreat

spearheaded VFX in 2001: A Space Odyssey

of the motion-imaging industry’s creative and

Ben Gervais. The trio, speaking to a standing-

and Blade Runner. The award recognises

room-only crowd, described their visions of

Trumbull’s contributions to VFX, stereoscopic 3D,

cinema and the creative opportunities within the

and HFR cinema.

future of filmmaking. The keynote followed the

Extending over decades, and continuing to

first public screenings of Lee’s ‘Billy Lynn’s Long

grow, the pioneering work of both Cameron

Halftime Walk’, for which SMPTE custom built a

and Trumbull reflects how vital engineering is to

special screening room. This was able to show

the art and science of the motion-imaging field

the footage in its native 120fps, 4K, 3D format

and the progress of the broader media and

and extra screening sessions were added to

entertainment industry. As Cameron said in his

accommodate the snaking queues around the

acceptance speech at the Centennial Gala,

Las Vegas Convention Centre.

“To be here with a group of engineers, and to be

During the follow-up session titled, ‘Deep

acknowledged by engineers, is so much more

Technical Dive into ‘Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime

meaningful to me truthfully, then all the kind of

Walk’, Lee, Gervais and Squyres were joined by

glitz and glamour of the artistic side of Hollywood

stereographer Demetri Portelli, Scot Barbour;

in a way because at heart, you guys are my

vice president of production technology for

peeps. I love engineering.”

Sony Pictures Entertainment; and David Cohen

Like media technologies and creative

of Variety, to discuss the technical challenges

techniques, SMPTE continues to evolve. In our

of production and postproduction in 120fps, 4K,

centennial year, 2016, we can be proud that

stereoscopic 3D. They explained that continual

our commitment to enabling interoperability has

collaboration between the studio and the

remained unchanged.

technical and creative teams enable using technology efficiently to tell stories in a way that is both emotionally moving and natural for the viewer to watch. ‘Billy Lynn’ was released in November by Sony Pictures and can be

https://youtu.be/bal73KK1xrs h https://youtu.be/M7rSbbP1ti0

8 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

2016: The year broadcasting got a name change

By Mark Harrison, managing director, DPP

down change process. The evolution of audio-

the media Venn diagram that overlaps more

visual content creation and distribution has been

with marketing, brand experiences, gaming,

largely under the control of the broadcasters

education and training than with TV.

and their specialist suppliers. In global terms,

And now consider the broadcast operation

broadcasting has never been an especially large

itself. Security: the moment broadcasting went

I’s amazing how much you can learn at a

sector, and that has worked to its advantage in

online, the dark side of the internet came rushing

trade show without speaking to anyone. I

managing the pace of change. But then along

in. Infrastructure: a new commoditised, software

always make a point of taking in the language

came the internet, with its revolution in consumer

led, service orientated supply chain is offering

of the stand signage. Each individual vendor

habits. And that revolution is now spreading

huge efficiencies – but also disrupting the

will have carefully chosen the wording; but if

higher up the hill.

expensive, hardware-heavy, people-dependent

I

you look at the aggregate of these individual

technology, operations and finance divisions

choices, patterns start to emerge. It’s like a peek

that have been the beating heart of broadcast

inside the collective unconscious of an industry.

organisations for decades. Talent: how can

So what was our industry unconsciously

graduates be persuaded to choose a cash-

telling us in 2016? In the halls of IBC, the

strapped, tech-transitioning broadcaster over

message was loud and clear: media is the new

a well funded, tech-transforming start-up or

broadcast. The language of the stands was about content for a range of sectors, of which

Click here to watch the video

TV was just one. Broadcasting (capital B) was out; media (small m) was in.

online giant?

So, has media just overwritten broadcast?

Far from it. It was broadcasting that put the

Consider some major trends of 2016. UHD will

mass into mass media. Creating high-quality

definitely happen, but whereas the roll out of HD

content, managing it and distributing it to

has not in fact gone away. So is this subtle

was orchestrated by broadcasters, no single part

vast audiences as a constant, dependable

shift in language just a piece of marketing

of the value chain can claim to be orchestrating

service is enormously complex; and, ironically,

nonsense? Not at all. It reflects a very real shift

UHD. Then there’s IP. Much to its credit, the

getting more complex still with the rise of

in the balance of power; from a world where

broadcast industry has got itself organised to

online platforms.

broadcast called the shots to one where

make this fundamental shift happen as quickly

At times like this an industry finds out about its

opportunities now seem to come from a bigger

and smoothly as possible. But ‘quickly’ can still

essence. And managing quality, complexity and

sector: the non-broadcast media industry.

be measured in years. Meanwhile, live streaming

volume is the core skill of broadcasting that will

services from YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat and

survive any rebadging.

But as you’ve probably noticed, broadcasting

The icon that gets used to denote broadcasting – the little transmitter with the semi-

so on are being gobbled up by media-hungry

circular waves – is a wonderfully telling piece

connected consumers.

of semiotics. The individual tower of metal sits

Next up is immersive technology: VR, AR and

‘Mass media supply industry’ isn’t a wording anyone will want to put on their trade show stand. But that’s what broadcasting really is.

high on a hill, beaming out over the surrounding

360. Broadcasting loves innovation, and so it

And why, as non-broadcast media grows, it may

terrain. Broadcasting hasn’t just been a one-to-

loves immersive tech. But those who will actually

begin to acquire familiar characteristics that will

many means of sharing media, it’s been a top

run with this technology hang out in the part of

leave the old guard lost for words.

The global resource portal for media technology content

White papers, webinars, opinions, blogs, case studies, tutorials and more.

5L^)H` *VUULJ[ UV^ VɈ LYZ L]LU ^PKLY JVU[LU[ MVY P[Z YLNPZ[LYLK \ZLYZ PZ LHZPLY [V UH]PNH[L HUK WYV]PKLZ \ZLYZ ^P[O KLKPJH[LK ^LLRS` UL^ZSL[[LYZ VɈ LYPUN H KPNLZ[ VM [OL SH[LZ[ JVU[LU[ HUK JHYLM\SS` selected content from its themes of the month.

Why join NewBay Connect?

Free and easy to use: stay informed with the latest industry white papers, opinion pieces, ^LI ZLTPUHYZ HUK JHZL Z[\KPLZ [OH[ HɈ LJ[ `V\Y business and your career. ࠮ Categorised content All material is organised into clearly referenced, specialist areas. ࠮ Customised search @V\ JHU X\PJRS` SVJH[L [OL PUMVYTH[PVU YLSL]HU[ [V your business or area of interest. ࠮ Tailored email alerts 5V[PÄ JH[PVUZ ZLU[ [V `V\ ^OLUL]LY [OLYL PZ HU update within your chosen areas. ࠮ Dedicated weekly newsletters Visit www.newbayconnect.com to register, browse and download content for free today.

Content Director: James McKeown jmckeown@nbmedia.com +44 (0) 20 7354 6002

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10 TVBEurope

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2016: the year in review

IP collaboration defeats confusion AIMS chairman Mike Cronk explains how, throughout the year, the broadcast industry united to avoid a bloody format war and instead delivered the first phases of an IP-led ‘velvet revolution’

N

ot much more than a year ago at IBC2015, ‘confusion’ was a common descriptor for the state of broadcast

industry alignment when it came to the adoption of IP. While recognition was deepening that IP was an essential technology to enable broadcasters to compete in a multi-platform content consumption world, there were multiple and disjointed proposals for how IP should be applied to broadcast, especially with regard to live production. With a mish-mash of standards and various proprietary proposals, some progress was being made but unless a common approach could be found it looked like we were heading into another ‘format war’.

Bruised from previous experience of other expensive and time-consuming competing format misadventures, our industry rightly wanted to avoid getting embroiled in another one over IP. No one wins a format war: it only causes vendors to add cost, complexity and delay because they are forced to try to implement numerous protocols, none of which are compatible. Broadcasters are then forced to bear this cost (and complexity). Ultimately, such endeavour only limits progress and choice.

But the industry was staring down the barrel of exactly this kind of gloomy, expensive and frustrating scenario only some 15 months ago.

Fast-forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. At IBC2016 – in a first ever IBC event sponsored by leading standards bodies, technical recommendations organisations and trade alliances – over 30 companies demonstrated interoperability along a common roadmap.

This collaboration, sponsored by the Audio Engineering Society (AES), the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), the European

TVBEurope 11

“Never before in my twenty-plus years in this industry have I seen such collaboration between so many companies and organisations”

of circumstances (external threat, painful past

Catalyst

experience, and recognition of the value of

These two factors – recognition of the need

a network) provided an environment in which

for collaboration and a strong foundation of

even fierce competitors understood the need for

standards/technical recommendations for IP –

collaboration.

were essential, but by themselves were still not enough to drive the IP roadmap forward. Both

Recommendations

of these factors were arguably in place during

However, in addition to a strong recognition

IBC2015 when the market was still grappling

for the need to collaborate, our industry had a

with confusion. A catalyst was needed. The

Broadcast Union (EBU), the IABM, SMPTE and the

strong foundation of technical recommendations

industry also understood this and formed AIMS

Video Services Forum (VSF), was unprecedented.

and standards for IP. In terms of developing

to provide such a catalyst. AIMS was founded

Additionally, thanks to the joint efforts of the

open, collaboratively deliberated standards

on 14 December 2015 with this mission: ‘To foster

VRT-EBU LiveIP initiative and their 14 corporate

and specifications, our preeminent technical

the adoption of one set of common, ubiquitous,

sponsors, IBC showcased an actual IP-based live

recommendations and standards organisations

standards-based protocols for interoperability

production of IBC TV using technologies on that

were well on their way towards developing

over IP in the media and entertainment industry’.

same roadmap. In short, the industry has come

just what the industry needed. The VSF had

together to create a single, common roadmap

produced two technical recommendations,

strong and is represented by vendors,

for IP interoperability – avoiding a format war and

VSF TR-03 and VSF TR-04 which specified IP

broadcasters, system integrators and service

aligning to produce the technical foundations

protocols for studio video applications. As is

providers alike. The secret of AIMS was not

that will offer a new era in TV history.

typical, the VSF recommendations had been fed

to compete with the existing standards and

into SMPTE as the basis for standardisation work.

technical recommendations organisations, but

confusion and potential for conflict into a clear

(At the time of writing, work is ongoing within

rather to become their biggest cheerleader: to

and cohesive plan for advancement so rapidly?

SMPTE to draft SMPTE ST 2110 based on these

promote their work to the market and to offer

VSF recommendations.) The AES had already

them constructive feedback based on the

before in my twenty-plus years in this industry

paved the way for transmission of audio streams

experiences of those of us implementing the

have I seen such collaboration between so

over IP with AES-67, and AMWA was developing

standards who are finding gaps or issues. It’s

many companies and organisations. I therefore

IS-04 (Interface Specification 04) which specifies

not that AIMS accomplished the collaboration

think we should stop and look at just how

something akin to ‘plug and play’ for broadcast

achieved in 2016 single-handedly, or that AIMS

that collaboration came about so that we as

systems, a capability not possible with traditional

had a bigger role than any other organisations,

an industry continue to learn and practice

SDI-based systems. In other words, there was no

but AIMS was a new and needed ingredient

such collaboration into the future. From my

additional need to invent a brand new standard

that worked with other equally vital elements

perspective, I noticed three key factors that

from scratch. As of late last year, work was

in the mix. Working together, we as an industry

worked together to facilitate the collaboration

already well underway that showed a promising

were able to establish and sustain momentum

we saw in 2016:

technical future for IP interoperability from the

for an open standards and specifications-based

1. Recognition of the need (for collaboration)

technical organisations that have earned our

approach to IP on which even the fiercest of

2. A strong foundation (of standards/technical

trust countless times over the years.

competitors agreed.

How was it possible to transform the reigning

In one word, it was ‘collaboration’. Never

At the time of writing, AIMS is 56 members

recommendations for IP) 3. A catalyst

Recognition First, there was a near-universal recognition of the need for collaboration in our industry.

The meteoric rise of OTT-based video delivery from IT and cloud-oriented companies such as Netflix, Hulu and others has instilled a sense that the broadcast industry must innovate.

New technologies and open specifications and standards are essential to such innovation.

Moreover, many in our industry can remember painfully the VTR format wars and file exchange battles (GXF versus MXF and the various flavours of MXF), which slowed down progress and fragmented the market. As well, all have seen the explosion of commerce and opportunity that a common network protocol, http, has fostered over the World Wide Web. Therefore, all have come to accept that the value of a network is directly proportional to the number of people and companies that can connect to it. This set

The unprecedented gathering at the IBC Interoperability Zone. From left to right: Felix Poulin, EBU; Michel De Wolf, VRT-EBU LiveIP; Richard Friedel, VSF; Karel De Bondt, VRT; Peter White, IABM; Brad Gilmer, AMWA; Mike Cronk, AIMS; and Peter Symes, SMPTE

12 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

IBC2016 was the biggest show to date

2016: An IBC perspective yet, with more exhibitors (1,679, including 249

creativity across media and entertainment.

that were exhibiting for the first time) and more

We introduced two new conference streams,

attendees than ever. 55,796 people visited over

widening its breadth to six in total. The ‘Platform

the course of the six days of the conference

Futures’ stream examined platforms, content

and exhibition, coming together from over 160

aggregation and distribution strategies that

countries to share knowledge and discover how

fit into the 24/7 connected world; while the

we can best surmount the challenges ahead.

‘Audiences and Advertising’ stream looked

the world stage and in the industry, and

Despite Dominique Delport of Havas Media

at how broadcasters and TV platforms can

we are proud that IBC2016 managed to

warning the audience that “the 50-year party is

engage and monetise their viewers in an

reflect those changes and also start charting

over” in the opening keynote session, the buzz

increasingly fragmented and digitally driven

the future roadmap. There is a large amount of

across the show was all about opportunity.

environment.

the tectonic plates on which it stands shift to

A transformative conference

in the industry present to the conference

new, as yet not fully knowable formations, but

As such it was appropriate that the theme

delegates, with the likes of Lord David Puttnam;

there is also a huge degree of optimism as well.

we chose for the IBC Conference this year

WPP founder and CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell; and film

was transformation in the digital era and

director (and this year’s International Honour for

what that means for leadership, strategy, and

Excellence award winner) Mr Ang Lee providing

By Michael Crimp, chief executive officer, IBC

2

016 has been a tumultuous year, both on

uncertainty in the industry at the moment, as

This attitude was prevalent throughout the Amsterdam RAI as we staged the biggest IBC

We also had some of the biggest names

TVBEurope 13

hard-hitting insight into the way their areas of industry interest are developing.

Screening of footage from Ang Lee’s latest movie, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, was a conference highlight and is emblematic of the drive to new, higher quality formats throughout the industry. Specially created for IBC, the clip from the film was projected at 120 frames per second in 4K 3D, using Christie’s 6P laser

“People write less about disruptions and disruptors nowadays and more about transformations. In many regards this indicates that the industry has now accepted that change is constant and that transformation is inevitable”

The IBC Daily office

projection and Dolby Atmos.

YouTube started supporting 60fps 4K at the start of December, and one of the key things we’ve noted this year has been 4K’s steady

how that story develops through 2017. Another

progress into becoming an industry standard.

of our new areas, the IBC IP Interoperability

It’s not there quite yet, but when combined with

Zone, reflected the undeniable momentum

the HDR technologies that proved to be such

behind IP as a production model. Showcasing

a hit on the IBC show floor, it is a compelling

the collaboration of the Joint Task Force on

proposition for viewers and content creators

Networked Media, we had over 30 companies

alike. Is it a step on the way towards 8K? We will

demonstrating verified technical interoperability

have to wait and see, but NHK’s super hi-vision

over IP. As with VR, walking around the exhibition

demonstration in our Future Zone showcased

you could see a lot more activity in this area,

the rapid progress that is being made there,

and this is a technology that we feel will

and with less than four years now to the Tokyo

fundamentally reshape the industry over the

Moving on from disruption

2020 Olympics we only expect to see progress

next few years.

So, when we reconvene again next year in

accelerate.

In many ways it could have the same impact as the cloud has had – and will continue to

Amsterdam on 14 September, what will be the prime concerns of the industry?

VR and IP

have. One of the most significant events of 2016

Many of 2016’s themes will be present again,

One of the major industry stories of 2016 has

was watching Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, flick a

but likely exacerbated. The move to 4K HDR, at

undoubtedly been the rise of VR. We’re in a

switch and instantly expand his SVoD service to

least as a production standard, will be further

really interesting period with VR: interest is strong

130 new countries. Not only did it illustrate nicely

underway, with steadily more broadcast outlets

but it has a way to go yet to make it to being a

the power of the new digital-native players and

for the format. And the deployment of 4K

mass market broadcast production. Our Future

the way they have changed the industry over

resolutions in the VR space is going to have a

Reality Theatre reflected that, exploring the

the past years, it also showed precisely the full

positive impact on the level of immersion that

intricacies and challenges of creating VR and

potential of what you can do with the cloud

can be achieved.

360-degree content for a new generation of

and its almost limitless ability to spin up servers as

viewers and devices. It will be fascinating to see

and when they are required.

The rise of streaming seems unstoppable. One of the standout statistics from 2016 revolved around the Olympics and the fact that NBC alone streamed more than a billion minutes of live content from the 2016 Games, 2.71 billion more than it had from of all the previous Olympics combined. And with viewing growing inexorably on mobile, and the heavyweight hitters of YouTube and Facebook both aggressively chasing the live market, you can see why the number of people attending IBC Content Everywhere is growing too.

One of the interesting things that we’ve noticed over the past couple of years is that people write less about disruptions and disruptors nowadays and more about transformations. In many regards this indicates that the industry has now accepted that change is constant and that transformation is inevitable, but one thing you can be certain of: IBC will always mirror the evolution of the broadcast industry, no matter how rapid or unexpected.

The 50-year party may be over, but IBC is 50 this year and already looking forward to the next five decades that follow.

14 TVBEurope

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2016: the year in review

A year in broadcast

By Glodina Lostanlen, CMO, Imagine Communications

Computers do not understand those standards, so as an industry we have had to create a workaround, with each device containing an extra box or board, which converts SDI to computer-speak on the way in, and computer-

nyone walking around IBC or NAB this

A

speak to SDI on the way out. And then the same

year would surely have been struck

on the next device. It is inefficient, adds latency

by the transformation in our industry.

and creates more points of failure.

built premises-based and purpose-built

SDI, nor does it follow a one-signal, one-path

appliances, increasingly they are now offering

transmission structure. Broadcast organisations

software solutions.

and experts over the past few years have been

Where just a few years ago broadcast vendors

What makes this so visible is that booths at both

IP-based networking is not point-to-point, like

effective in leveraging these unique aspects

IBC2016 and NAB Show 2016 were dominated by

and conditioning IP so that it is now capable of

commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computers, rather

delivering the performance and precision media

than boxes featuring the design and branding of

professionals require, as evidenced by its ability

the vendor. That tangible shift actually masks what

to meet the split-second requirements of the

has been a more gradual, measured transition.

financial trading industry, for example.

Product developers increasingly began to

Where problems have arisen is that the industry,

use standard platforms inside their appliances.

until recently, had failed to reach a consensus on

Imagine’s Nexio range of servers, for example,

a standard way of transmitting audio, video and

uses enterprise-grade disk drives and PC

related data over IP-based networks. Everyone

controllers, but with some smart software and

agrees that there are obvious benefits to moving

additional hardware to give it the very high

to an IP-centric environment, but it is hard to take

availability and reliability that broadcasters

that step until you can see how to build the best-

demand. This processor-level use of standard

of-breed solution that is right for your organisation.

It was founded to promote and give direction to

Some vendors took the view that they could

organisations that are already defining standards

components gave vendors two big advantages.

First, it allowed them to offer extremely high-

provide most of the required architecture and

for IP communications. AIMS is focused on the

quality products at a lower price point, because

offered to provide complete solutions, based

standards already out there, work done by great

the hardware development costs are carried

on their own approaches or on one of many

bodies like SMPTE, AMWA, VSF and EBU. AIMS

by the IT industry. Second, it allowed them to

competing standards. But locking users into a

membership is now over 50, including vendors

get products to market much more quickly,

single vendor or a standard without industry-wide

and media companies of all sizes.

making them more responsive to the needs of the

support is not in anyone’s interest.

broadcast community.

But the step-change the industry saw in 2016

2016 saw two huge advances for AIMS, which

That is why Imagine Communications and

I believe are crucial for the whole industry. First,

other technology suppliers, through their work

it published its roadmap. This sets out an open,

was subtler than the more overt use of COTS

with the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS)

collaborative way in which IP connectivity can

hardware. When we, the vendors, embedded

has established a roadmap for the adoption

be implemented in all areas of broadcasting,

standard IT technology inside our devices, we

of open standards in IP connectivity that is

including live production. It is the only set of IP

kept the broadcast bespoke connectivity: SDI,

being widely embraced across the industry.

standards in the industry that has been developed

AES audio and the rest. These are remarkable

Imagine Communications CTO Steve Reynolds is

using a collaborative, non-proprietary approach.

standards: they provide the performance

deputy chairman, working from day one for the

As a result, it has garnered industrywide support.

required (at least up to HD resolution) and every

betterment of this trade organisation.

More importantly, organisations, including

single vendor and user recognises them.

AIMS is not a standards-making body.

customers, are able today to construct solutions

TVBEurope 15

and modernise their networks using standards

2016 also saw significant progress in areas such

business opportunities that were too expensive

identified in the AIMS roadmap.

as UHD, VR, HDR, monetisation through targeted

to pursue in a traditional, purpose-built

This leads to the organisation’s second

advertising, cloud-native applications and

hardware environment.

notable achievement of 2016. AIMS worked

multiplatform delivery using OTT networks.

with IBC in September to bring a new feature to

But all of these advances are in some way

By embracing design principles, such as microservices, that deconstruct monolithic

the exhibition. The IP Interoperability Zone saw

tied to and dependent on the transition to more

applications into autonomous services,

more than 30 separate companies in one area,

agile, versatile and future-proof infrastructures.

media companies will be able to incorporate

across dozens of applications, demonstrating

The adoption of architectures defined by software

the latest technology into their applications

real, practical, working standards-based

sets the stage for the media and entertainment

nearly on the fly, future-proofing their networks

interoperability.

industry to enter a new era in which technology

against costly technology overhauls and

At the centre of the IBC IP Interoperability Zone

no longer places constraints on creativity and

competitive set-backs.

was a live production studio, a replica of the EBU/

innovation. Media companies will possess the

VRT Sandbox LiveIP studio in Brussels. All day and

ability to deploy functionality wherever it makes

and Imagine Communications has a number

every day this studio was in use, creating live

the most sense: on-premises, private or public

of market-proven installations around the world

television content, using only IP connectivity.

data centres, or a hybrid combination of the two.

showing it in action. It all depends upon getting

The ability to nearly instantaneously commission

IP interoperability right, which is why I see it as

the highlights of what has been a meaningful year

and decommission resources will give media

the most important advance not just of 2016,

in the broadcasting industry.

companies the freedom and ability to explore

but in a generation.

The advancement of IP, of course, is only one of

As I mention, all of this is available today,

16 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

2016: A tipping point for next-gen TV?

By NAB president and chief executive, Gordon Smith

in the US – on each and every day – a

That’s why broadcast networks have invested in

local TV station is raising funds for a local

Hulu and CBS All Access, and it’s why local TV

charity, collecting food or clothing for neighbours

stations often host the most populated websites

in need, or devoting free air time to promote

in any given market.

education and healthy lifestyles. Being a good

M

onumental. Historic. Jaw-dropping.

Those are just a few adjectives that describe the tsunami-like disruption

Perhaps the broadcast innovation with the

corporate citizen is in the DNA of the local

most potential to shake up the video landscape

broadcaster.

is the development of a new broadcast

And right now, working with the Partnership for

transmission standard. For the past several years,

Drug Free Kids, broadcasters across the US are

the Advanced Television Systems Committee

occurring in today’s media delivery landscape.

running PSAs, airing town hall meetings and using

(ATSC) – a cooperative effort between

Every day brings a breathless press release

our social media platforms to fight opioid and

broadcast, consumer electronics, cable, satellite,

announcing a new app, a new IPO and a new

heroin addiction, an epidemic that is ravaging so

motion picture and computer industries – has

OTT service destined to destroy ‘traditional’ TV.

many communities and families.

been working on a new IP-based transmission

Indeed, broadcast TV faces competitive challenges the likes of which our business has never seen. But make no mistake: Local TV stations – in partnership with broadcast networks – are the King Kong of TV content, delivering millions of viewers each and every day as the US’ premier video entertainment option.

Broadcast television remains the mostwatched entertainment programming, from Empire to Modern Family to Big Bang Theory

standard called ATSC 3.0, also known as next-

“Next-gen TV has the potential to save countless lives through advanced emergency alerting features that are broadcast to not just TVs but also smartphones and tablets and other mobile devices”

to The Voice. We are the most-reliable source

gen TV. This new transmission standard combines the advantages of broadband and broadcast to transform the way we deliver mobile, interactivity and higher quality content – all available to consumers for free.

At the 2016 NAB Show in April, broadcasters highlighted just some of the potential advances made possible by next-gen TV. NAB broadcast live content from the show floor to the pavilion to demonstrate the standard’s support of UHD that

for local news, weather, sports, public affairs

provides a richer picture quality, HDR that offers

and emergency information programming.

During this election year, local TV stations worked

a greater accuracy of colours, and wide colour

We are home to over 90 of the top-100 rated

to ensure voters could make informed choices

gamut that shows a broader spectrum of colours.

programmes during primetime, as well as ‘must-

when they went to the polls. Local TV stations

Because the new standard makes more efficient

see’ marquee programming such as the Super

aired countless debates between candidates

use of spectrum, broadcasters could have the

Bowl, the Oscars and the Olympics.

running for federal, state and local office. We

chance to offer these features on not just their

sponsored voter registration drives to help

main programming stream but on multicast

that is free and locally based. Local TV stations

citizens make their voices heard. Broadcasters

channels offering a diversity of programming.

are in every corner of the country providing a

spent newscasts, town halls and specials delving

necessary public service to communities. When

into the national and local issues facing voters.

also enables interactivity for consumers, which

disaster strikes, it is broadcasters who are in the

Our commitment to serving the public good is

could also provide broadcasters with new

field with boots on the ground reporting before,

a reason the most civically engaged citizens

revenue streams. A viewer might be able to

during and after the disaster. We are devoted

tune into local TV to stay informed about their

shuffle through different camera angles while

to investigative journalism, serving as a

communities, according to a recent survey.

watching a football game, or even click on an

Broadcast TV is also the only video service

watchdog on corrupt government officials and shady local businesses.

We live and work in the communities we

Yet, despite these successes, broadcasters are not resting on their laurels. We know we face stiff competition as viewers increasingly

The standard’s use of an IP-based backbone

advertisement and be taken to that company’s website where they could shop.

Next-gen TV is also designed with built-in

cover. So it’s no wonder it’s the local TV station

go online to watch their favourite shows or

native mobility from the very beginning, and was

that sheds light on City Hall scandals from Flint,

turn to smartphones and mobile devices for

engineered to serve devices in motion. Viewers

Michigan to Missoula, Montana. Somewhere

entertainment or information.

would be able to access their local broadcast

TVBEurope 17

channels on their phones, tablets, or even in cars,

We need the FCC to bless this standard before

example, a family at home in the path of an

subways and trains.

we can begin innovating with it.

approaching tornado could be woken up in the

Already we are seeing broadcasters making

In April of this year, NAB partnered with

middle of the night by a tablet turning on and

progress in deploying the new standard. In June,

the Consumer Technology Association (CTA),

alerting them to ‘seek shelter immediately’. The

Capitol Broadcasting’s WRAL-TV in Raleigh-

America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and

standard also allows broadcasters to provide

Durham, N.C. became the first commercially

the Advanced Warning and Response Network

multimedia content, which could be used during

licensed station to begin broadcasting using the

(AWARN) Alliance to ask the FCC to begin the

emergencies to send evacuation maps, videos,

new standard. In October, Tribune Broadcasting’s

process of allowing local TV stations and TV

pictures, and other content to help keep people

WJW-TV in Cleveland delivered the first live

receiver manufacturers to implement next-gen TV

out of harm’s way.

broadcast of a major professional sporting event

on a voluntary, market-driven basis. NAB hopes

in next-gen TV: game two of the World Series.

the FCC will issue a rulemaking by the end of

remained at the forefront of Americans’ lives

the year so consumers can begin to enjoy the

because of our high-quality content, community

potential benefits of next-gen TV.

service and dedication to keeping viewers

Sports will continue to help lead the charge towards widespread option of next-gen TV. In South Korea, there is a mandate to broadcast the

From a public safety perspective alone,

For decades, local broadcast television has

informed about the world around them.

2018 Winter Olympics in UHD. Korean-based TV

the FCC should move swiftly on our petition.

manufacturers, including the world’s two biggest

Next-gen TV has the potential to save countless

broadcasters know that we must continue to

in LG and Samsung, will be unveiling new TVs

lives through advanced emergency alerting

push forward with new and innovative content

equipped with next-gen TV reception next year

features that are broadcast to not just TVs but

to keep the attention of the public. A new

in anticipation of these broadcasts. These sets

also smartphones and tablets and other mobile

broadcast standard can help us achieve our

should soon be available in the US as well.

devices. The standard allows broadcasters

goals. We strongly urge the FCC to join us and

to ‘wake up’ devices in given areas with

help implement next-gen TV to the benefit

emergency alerts when danger is near. For

of all Americans.

Despite the progress made by broadcasters on next-gen TV, we still need action from the FCC.

That was no exception in 2016. Yet,

18 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

What we learned in 2016: It’s all about the content is consumed. At Grass Valley, a Belden Brand,

like a live event, and expectations for the live

the changing consumption habits and many

viewing experience continue to rise. Sports,

different delivery channels have shown us that

election coverage, national celebrations and

it’s more important than ever to provide solutions

major news events have the power to overcome

that empower customers to create, control

the allure of time-shifted viewing and demand

and connect content wherever, however and

the biggest ad dollars. Designed for HD, emerging

T

whenever it is consumed.

HDR and 4K/UHD experiences, our live production

By Neerav Shah, senior vice president of strategic marketing, Grass Valley his past year was characterised by continuing shifts in both technology and

There are four main areas where we believe

solutions apply a format-flexible approach to

trends in the broadcast and production

our customers face the most critical challenges:

ensure that a customer’s production is ready

markets. These shifts, which have been

live production, news, content delivery, and

for anything. For example, our new LDX 86N

developing for years and really began to

networking. These are the areas around which

camera gives broadcasters the advantage of

take definite shape this year, have impacted

we are focusing our activities and these are

selecting between native 4K or switching to

manufacturers and broadcasters alike,

the topics of the conversations we are having

native 3G/HD depending on the application.

necessitating a new way of looking at the

with our customers each and every day. Our

It also offers the ability to upgrade to LDX 86N

challenges and opportunities that we all face.

integrated solutions make it easier for customers

Universe functionality, with 6X HD and 3X HD/3G

Gone are the days of creating and delivering

to build successful businesses that meet the

high frame rate capture. Similarly, our GV Korona

content via a single, static channel with little to

changing needs of their respective clients.

K-Frame S-series switchers combine ultimate mid-

no information about how or when that content

Everyone knows that nothing compels a viewer

range switcher performance, along with proven

TVBEurope 19

“The ability to expand an audience while generating new revenue streams is critical to staying competitive”

originate as SDI or IP, such as SMPTE ST 2022-6.

GV Node offers integrated processing of video and audio signals and multiviewers for reduced cabling and scales from very small to very large systems, especially when combined with COTS IP switches. Today’s facilities are pushing SDI, IP, AES and even analogue signals across complex networks. IP networks are on the rise, while UHD and 4K signals are increasingly part of the modern production environment. Our integrated network solutions provide powerful, reliable distribution of signals under all circumstances.

Although we look back on 2016 as a time of change, and see the pace of that change accelerating, we are excited about the opportunities for helping our customers find the solutions that are right for them today while ensuring they are prepared for the future. A big part of that process is embracing open industry standards that ensure the interoperability of workflows and simplified control of complex

any channel. As the broadcast industry morphs

equipment in any production environment. As

productions with a smaller footprint perfect for

into a collection of services designed to deliver

part of that commitment, we played a key role

studio, mobile and venue environments. And our

the immediacy and convenience consumers

in the formation of the Alliance for IP Media

K2 Dyno offers advanced, variable-speed replay

demand, creating different viewer experiences

Solutions (AIMS), a non-profit trade alliance that

functionality across SD, HD, 3G and 4K. All of Grass

across different platforms is both a challenge

promotes the open standards that broadcast and

Valley’s live production solutions are IP-ready and

and an opportunity. The ability to expand an

media companies use to move from legacy SDI

purpose built to capture and replay the action in

audience while generating new revenue streams

systems to a virtualised, IP-based future – quickly

any way imaginable.

is critical to staying competitive. Our content

and profitably.

Broadcasters only get one chance to cover

delivery options offer VoD content preparation

breaking news; content that viewers increasingly

that’s fully integrated with automated linear

The past year has shown us that our customers are faced with the need to create and support

expect to receive in real time. And the long

playout so customers can capitalise on catch-up

new workflows while, in most cases, continuing

list of ways that people access news keeps

TV and time-shifters instead of being burdened

to operate their legacy workflows. They’re

growing, from television and the web to mobile

by them. iTX On-Demand is our new VoD solution

simultaneously broadcasting through traditional

and social media. Our news solutions help our

that helps broadcasters and content owners

channels, while creating and distributing alternate

customers keep viewers informed and engaged

streamline VoD content creation so they can

versions for OTT platforms and VoD along with

to guarantee that their outlet is where viewers

scale to meet demand while maximising revenue

reformatting for tablets, PCs and mobile. And

will come for more, again and again. Designed

opportunities. Designed to automate VoD

they’re still working to figure out how to monetise

for simplicity, efficiency and speed, GV Stratus is

workflows, iTX On-Demand is even more powerful

all of these new content distribution schemes.

a full set of production tools in one application

when paired with iTX integrated playout, ensuring

that helps users better manage entertainment,

live sports/news and special events are on OTT

together is content. Content is what determines

on-air operations and news production media

platforms minutes after the event finishes.

the course of video consumption. Content is the

workflows. With task-driven tools that operate in a variety of environments, GV Stratus can be

The heart of any broadcast facility, truck or live venue beats because of the solutions that enable

The common thread that connects this story

common link between what our grandmother called television and what our grandchildren will

specifically tailored for each user’s job function,

a smooth flow of signals, data and commands

watch. Nothing else is the same. Content is what

increasing efficiency and enabling more effective

throughout a workflow. In 2016, advances in IP

drives our business and it’s what we must continue to improve on in the coming year.

collaboration throughout the entire production

networking have become more prevalent in

lifecycle. Producers can access content easily

the broadcast space. GV Node, a fundamental

from archives or from sources anywhere in the

building block of what we refer to as a broadcast

world and efficiently incorporate them into

data centre, provides deterministic, vertically

feeds that are transmitted seamlessly across

accurate switching of video signals whether they

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=sR5C0wGm854.

20 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

Tradition is nothing without innovation Stefan Kuerten and Graham Warren

Simon Fell

Graham Warren, director of network at Eurovision; Stefan Kuerten, director of Eurovision services and sports rights; and Simon Fell, the EBU’s director of technology and innovation put forward the wider perspective of the European Broadcasting Union

A

s we look back on 2016, it’s hard to say how the world of media will look in the coming year. No doubt we will continue

to face many uncertainties and change. However, there is one thing we can be sure of: with so many

The EBU stand at IBC2016

advancements in technology, it has never been a more exciting time to be in this industry. huge amounts of data available to them at

“We have the technical means to make additional

Eurovision

their fingertips. This additional material is not yet

content and data available to our clients in the

For more than 60 years, Eurovision – a division

fully being capitalised on by broadcasters but it

highest quality so they can then enhance their

of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

will be in the future, especially with the rise of

offerings to audiences online and by traditional

– has been at the forefront of technological

on-demand services.”

means,” says Warren.

advancements when it comes to producing and

As broadcasters and content owners move

distributing sports and news content. Its unrivalled

online to offer on-demand services to audiences,

expertise in these areas and the capacity of its

it has become clear that data is the currency

Tailored broadcast services are where it’s at

global network allows it to deliver large volumes

to watch. But how do broadcasters and sports

Personalisation now plays a central role in content

of content in a reliable way to broadcasters

federations who face scrutiny from audiences to

delivery. Sports federations actively seek out ways

everywhere. Looking back at 2016, there are three

deliver top quality images manage to transmit this

to tailor their content to audiences based on

things we have learned and we believe will play a

additional data alongside large video files?

customer segmentation (for example, by region,

strong role in the coming year:

Eurovision NEX was developed last year as a

first versus second screen). They do so to meet

1. The future is data driven

solution for broadcasters to capture HD broadcast-

growing audience expectations for simplicity.

2. Tailored broadcast services are where it’s at

quality video files (near-live clips and additional

“In line with this, we see our clients – large sports

3. Tradition is nothing without innovation

content) and transport it over fibre, satellite or

federations and media organisations – also

internet depending on the venue connectivity to

demanding us to make their lives easier. This is

The future is data-driven

telecommunications networks. This year, the

why we are constantly enhancing our services

As Graham Warren, director of network at

entire UEFA Champions League football season

and making them customisable and flexible to

Eurovision says, “If you think about it, broadcasters

relied on Eurovision NEX to deliver and capitalise

meet their needs,” says Stefan Kuerten, director of

– especially those onsite for live events – have

on its content.

Eurovision services and sports rights.

TVBEurope 21

The Eurovision control centre

“Based on our experience, we see that collaboration plays a strong part in creating tailormade solutions for the future. Partnering with the right people and the right companies along the value chain to deliver a superior end-to-end result for clients is essential,” he continued.

Take a closer look at the collaboration between UEFA, Delatre and Eurovision to develop Eurovision NEX. The result: an essential element in a successful delivery of EURO 2016. The project was also shortlisted for an Innovation Award in Content Delivery at IBC2016.

Tradition is nothing without innovation As Kuerten points out, “2016 was a tumultuous year

pixels”. It is important, therefore, for broadcasters to

This year’s IBC Conference in Amsterdam

look beyond an increase in spatial resolution and

demonstrated that practical and proven

consider parameters such as HDR and HFR as well.

interoperability is on track, following the

As the EBU’s director of technology and

for sport, not only because of the sheer amount

innovation Simon Fell points out, “UHDTV or 4K

of sports events that Eurovision was involved in

sets are increasing in sales. The production of

Joint Task Force on Network Media (JT-NM) Roadmap.

Started in the summer of 2015, the VRT-EBU

(the Olympics and EURO 2016 spring to mind), but

content will take longer, however, delivery can

LiveIP studio is the world’s first proof of concept

also because it marked the launch of several new

be achieved using broadband services such

of a complete live production that relies

technologies that may make a huge difference in

as HbbTV.” He also notes that, “One of the

exclusively on IP. Since then, the project – which

the way sports content is transmitted.”

most impressive developments in 2016 was the

is the result of collaboration with 12 leading

breakthrough in HDR standards.”

technology partners – has won a number of

Eurovision Flex is a perfect solution for smallerscale sports events, where it is not necessary

In 2016, the International Telecommunications

or viable to send a fully-fledged broadcast team.

Union (ITU) has supported two existing options

It is a self-managed digital transmission tool that

for a standard for HDR (which has been

awards, including this year’s IBC Content Creation Innovation Award.

As Fell points out, “The LiveIP project is a

enables broadcasters to deliver live content

ratified by the DVB). The DVB HDR solution

practical implementation where we can start

over a mix of managed and unmanaged

supports Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) and PQ

learning to use the new technology, evaluate

networks, including internet and Eurovision optical

(Perceptual Quantiser).

its benefits and feedback to vendors so they can improve their products and ensure more

fibre network. It is secure, reliable, fast and cost effective.

“Tradition is what got us here, but innovation is what will keep us ahead of the game in the future,” says Kuerten.

EBU: Technology and innovation As the largest association of national broadcasters in the world, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) brings together experts in the field of

“2016 was a tumultuous year for sport because it marked the launch of several new technologies that may make a huge difference in the way sports content is transmitted” - Stefan Kuerten, Eurovision

interoperability.”

Personalisation As on-demand services continue to grow, broadcasters now face a tough task: how to reach audiences on multiple devices.

As Fell says, “Hybrid media devices that can deliver audio, video and interactive content over both broadcast and broadband offer an exciting

technology and innovation to stimulate the

opportunity for broadcasters and media providers

exchange of ideas and foster co-development

to enhance their audience experience with

and cooperation with EBU members in the field of

Furthermore, the new specification defines

broadcasting technology.

HFR; going beyond the current 50/60 Hz. HFR

Looking back at 2016, there are three things we

interactive personalised services.”

He continues, “recommendations involve

offers sharper images of moving objects. When

complex distributed systems and require a

have learned and we believe will play a strong role

it comes to audio, DVB has added the latest

high level of tuning in order to best engage

in the coming year:

Next Generation Audio (NGA) schemes

the audience in order to in order to remain

1. Better pictures

supporting object- or scene-based audio. These

competitive, broadcasters need to find ways

2. IP production and collaboration

new features can be combined with HD and

to personalise their content.” EBU members are

3. Personalisation

UHD resolutions.

collaborating on software developments to do

The impact on high-quality content is

exactly that.

Better pictures

clearly noticeable on new screens and has

Nowadays, broadcasters are working hard

The number of new technologies arriving in

great creative potential, ‘visible innovation’,

to do this; however, these exciting opportunities

consumers’ homes – or at least on offer from

as they say.

are often met with challenges for broadcasters

manufacturers – continues to grow.

who don’t have control over the devices in the

IP production and collaboration

way that vertical operators have. They also tend

broadcasters is the possibilities for moving beyond

One of the biggest challenges facing broadcasters

to offer a more varied content proposition (for

HDTV. When it comes to describing the immersive

and media companies today is the transition to IP.

example, sports, current affairs, drama, children’s

experience promised by UHDTV, the EBU has been

Successful productions rely on many component

programming). Nonetheless, “it is crucial that they

an early advocate for “better pixels, not only more

parts working together to deliver the end result.

continue to make enhancements,” says Fell.

Today, an important subject of discussion for

22 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

More mobility and greater integration for the TV Anywhere world

By Stella Medlicott, vice president, marketing and communications, media, Ericsson

device, according to Statista. However, this is not a quadrennial phenomenon; it signals the shape of things to come. According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, mobile video traffic is forecast to grow by around 50 per cent annually through 2022 to account for nearly three quarters

P

redicting the future of an industry like TV, which is barely a century old, is an exciting challenge. The recent past is always a

of all mobile data traffic.

With the growth in mobile viewing, we expect that next year around a third of consumers

great starting point to understand what might

will watch video content while on the move.

be next, and in the last few years the industry

Currently, one of the biggest limitations to

has seen significant changes in technology,

greater mobility is the cost associated with

services and consumer viewing habits: the rise

streaming video, due to the data required to

of SVoD; the transition towards IP as the universal

access high quality content outside of the home.

underlying TV technology; and a globalisation

This year’s Ericsson ConsumerLab Report reveals

of content that has unlocked a golden era for

that consumer demand for streaming video

TV lovers the world over. 2016 has been a year

is here. Forty per cent of consumers surveyed

where global sporting events have opened up

said they are interested in a data plan that

new market potential for TV technology such as

offers affordable streaming of reasonable video

ConsumerLab, 44 per cent of linear TV viewers in

4K and UHD, which will continue to accelerate in

quality without rationing data. This is even higher

the US said they couldn’t find anything to watch

the year ahead.

for millennials, with almost half (46 per cent)

on linear TV on a daily basis, compared with 36

interested in this.

per cent in 2015. Meanwhile, only 34 per cent of

Viewers become increasingly mobile

In 2017, the industry needs to stay focused on developing solutions to make streaming video

VoD viewers in the US say the same thing.

In contrast, these consumers spent 45 per

The Olympic Games in Rio showed that live TV

on-the-go more cost effective for consumers to

cent more time choosing what to watch on VoD

continues to capture and engage audiences

help increase adoption.

services compared with linear TV. This revealed a

worldwide. Quite simply, these big sporting

very clear ‘content discovery paradox’.

events command massive TV audiences. This

Content discovery gets personal

While 63 per cent of consumers claimed to be

year, 45 per cent of viewers watched at least

The poor state of TV content discovery tools is

very satisfied with their content discovery options

some of The Olympic Games on a mobile

becoming an issue of the past, as the art of data

for VoD services, only 51 per cent said the same

analytics starts to mature. There is still some way

for linear TV.

“Over the last three years we have witnessed strong M&A activity in the media and entertainment space with 170 deals taking place since 2014”

to go, but discovery tools are finally starting to

This suggests that although VoD discovery is

reach an equal footing with friend and family

more time consuming than linear TV, consumers

members’ recommendations when it comes to

rate it as a less frustrating pastime, as it implicitly

choosing what to watch.

promises the opportunity to find something they

We are also starting to see consumer

want to watch, when they want to watch it. They

expectation around content discovery

are also willing to invest time scrolling through

changing, with the rise of video consumption

VoD libraries because of the flexible pricing and

on VoD services providing greater immediacy,

short cancellation periods (often within a month);

flexibility and choice. According to Ericsson

there is a desire to maximise the potential of the

TVBEurope 23

service they have paid for. While the consumers

heighten further than we have seen before, as

globally to become the organisations they

of today are more active when seeking out

increased industry consolidation and consumer

threatened to be. With new market entrants

content, they still sometimes don’t have a clear

dissatisfaction drives broadcasters and pay-

and the proliferation of mobile devices, the

picture of what they want to watch, and are

TV service providers to experiment with new

industry has seen the needs of the consumer

often looking for a steer or recommendation.

technologies; even if it means ‘failing fast’

shift alongside this. Consumers increasingly want

Occasionally, they want to stumble upon a new

and pivoting back to the previous way

(and expect) access to content at any time

show and broadcasters have the opportunity to

of doing things.

and from anywhere, and the TV industry must

capitalise on this opportunity with investment in the most effective content discovery tools.

Expect more mergers and acquisitions and market consolidation Over the last three years we have witnessed strong M&A activity in the media and

This landscape will also forge closer ties

respond. Moving forwards into 2017 and the

between service providers and technology

years ahead, data analytics is going to have

vendors, because using the right technology

even more significance for TV providers if they

will become critical in creating the experience

are to offer better value services for customers.

consumers want.

The cloud will also grow in importance, as it offers

We can expect more of these partnerships and

a way to bring together different services and

entertainment space with 170 deals taking place

co-innovation initiatives established in 2017, as

deliver seamless viewing experiences. All these

since 2014. PwC figures indicate that these deals

service providers and technology vendors look to

industry changes are creating a need for new

together are worth almost $70 billion. We expect

become more responsive to the convergence of

competitive business models and are driving

that this activity will keep on growing in 2017

mobile, cloud and media.

huge transformation in the TV industry.

Where next?

industry co-operation and collaboration, the TV

2016 is the year that TV changed. The industry

sector will be in a strong position to capitalise

players, with bigger market caps and more to

has witnessed the coming of age for OTT services,

on these changes and deliver even better

lose. 2017 will see the battle for the consumer

with Netflix and Amazon Prime now expanding

experiences for viewers in the year ahead.

as distributor deals quieten and content and technology deals accelerate.

All of this M&A activity creates bigger

As technology advances and we see greater

24 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

Buoyancy amidst upheaval

new international broadcaster from Turkey, was occupied and taken off air during the attempted coup, TRT journalists in their bureau in London, based at Celebro studios in the heart of the West End, used Facebook Live to continue to serve audiences around the world.

Natural disasters around the world have given broadcasters challenges to overcome. Many of these have brought to the fore the debate about climate change and the media’s role within it. While much of world has been coping with deadly storms and flooding, much of western media have been embroiled in a debate about whether global warming really exists. This is something that is definitely not questioned by our members in the Asia Pacific region who are coping with its impact on a daily basis. Although the climate sceptic debate will continue in

By Simon Spanswick, CEO, and Tom Wragg, business development director, AIB

the US and Europe, the practical effects of the

016 was a tumultuous year and

2

collaborates – albeit grudgingly at times – but

international broadcasting has been

2016 saw a global level of co-operation that has

buffeted by the shock waves that have

pleased many of us. Cyber security is a growing

spread around the globe. For clarity, when I

threat to the operations of broadcasters, but is a

refer to broadcasting I am using that word in the

very difficult one either to understand or to deal

planet’s changing climate still exist for the public and our Members in many parts of the planet.

Broadcasting has always been a sector that

widest possible sense and including all forms of content delivery to the public.

with. It is both scary and costly, but it cannot be David Coulthard at The AIBs

At the AIB, we are focused on organisations

ignored. The AIB has established an international working group that shares information and

that broadcast and support international

roles of broadcasters and social media platforms.

exchanges intelligence on techniques and

broadcasting. We have seen the stresses placed

Social media was also under the microscope in

threats among our members. Importantly, it is

on the sector by world events on almost a

2016. Social media companies are now major

collaborating with other groups and other sectors

daily basis. Nevertheless, it has not been a bad

players in international broadcasting and their

to ensure that broadcasting is made as secure

year for our members. Media, as a market, is

use of algorithms to push news to their consumers

as it can be from cyber threats. To illustrate the

growing globally and despite the upheaval

has been questioned for its editorial intent.

point, the AIB is supporting the North American

caused by rapid technological advances and

Despite social media companies’ assertions that

Broadcasters Association (NABA) initiative to

multiple changes to the ways consumers can

they are merely platforms, it is self evident that

define technology standards for equipment that

get content, it remains a very good market. Also,

they are far more than that as they constantly

will support cyber security protection.

big stories are always good for broadcasters as

take unregulated editorial decisions. Combine

they create compelling reasons for audiences to watch. For commercial broadcasters, those audiences attract revenue. For public service broadcasters, big stories are their reason d’être.

2016 was uncomfortable for many news organisations as they became a part of the story and, in some cases, the focus. In the UK and the

Looking ahead, we see the continued merging of all forms of media onto IP delivery systems and the inevitable coming together of TV, print,

“Broadcasting has always been a sector that collaborates – albeit grudgingly at times – but 2016 saw a global level of co-operation that has pleased many of us”

radio, online, and social media. This was clearly demonstrated in our 2016 international awards,

The AIBs, where for the first time our judges decided to award both the short-form journalism and online awards to the UK’s Guardian

US, the rise of nationalist political oppositions,

newspaper. This year the event attracted many

Brexit and the presidential race have raised

diverse entries helping to underline the very

many questions about how coverage should

rapidly changing market we are in. You can

be handled. Debate has been started about

this with political pressure groups and lobbyists

see the winners and finalists book at

confusion between balance and impartiality.

who have learnt how to use the algorithms to

https://goo.gl/ZY0vfd.

In both countries, questions have been asked

push their own views direct to targeted groups,

It seems inevitable that 2017 will be equally as

about scrutiny of facts and whether news

and it seems inevitable that social media will

tumultuous and as challenging with elections in

reporting held candidates sufficiently to account

come under some sort of oversight, perhaps

Europe, a new president in the White House and

for their comments and actions. This debate

sooner rather than later.

China flexing its muscles on the world stage. Old

will continue as broadcasters, politicians and

Social media has also been a major

certainties have been replaced, although the

regulators come to terms with the very rapid

disruptive influence that in 2016 spread as far

world’s broadcasters remain central to informing,

changes in society and what these mean for the

as broadcast distribution. When TRT World, the

educating and entertaining.

TVBEurope 25

2016: the year in review

A highly definitive year for broadcast lobbying the semiconductor and connector

identified and are addressing gaps. It turns out that

manufacturers, we did end up with the chipsets and

the standard broadcast equipment approach of a

connectivity needed to product 12G equipment.

single login giving full root access to a system is no

Those semiconductors are now in full production and

longer acceptable. Security has now become part of

shipping in quantity. Ross’ Ultrix Routing System was

our new product development framework. This will be

one of the first 12G products to hit the market and

an ongoing area of focus for Ross going forward and

016 was quite a year for the world and for

you will be seeing more 12G support from us and

we have added an industry IP security expert to our

the broadcast and production industries

others in the future. A number of the large OB van

board to help.

as well. We had some difficult decisions to

companies in North America wrote an open letter

By David Ross, chief executive, Ross Video

2

make, many with long-term consequences. This past

about the need for 12G, single link solutions for 4K

The promise of virtualisation

year, our customers and the industry battled with

as a robust and practical interconnect in mid and

Another big topic of discussion in 2016 was

increasing complexity and often tough challenges

smaller sized vehicles where the complexity and cost

virtualisation. I guess we could have expected

when making long-term decisions. Business models

of today’s IP solutions just aren’t practical. In 2016, it

this as an extension of video-over-IP and while

are evolving with more possibilities competing for

became clear that 12G SDI is here to stay and offer

this is further out for most real-time production

attention, production formats are evolving to higher

an SDI future to those that want it.

applications, it is an area we are active in. At Ross,

resolutions, frame rates and colour gamut and IP is

we virtualised our own office servers for functions like accounting and manufacturing years ago,

deployments; just to name a few of the things we saw

Studio video over IP: finally converging on a set of standards?

the industry grappling with. As a technology vendor

The lack of a clear set of multi-vendor open standards

and reducing administration effort. It makes sense

and now creative and production services provider,

for IP connectivity is one of the things that had

for broadcast today with many functions that are

Ross is about helping our customers take advantage

prevented Ross from rallying around IP as a strong

non-synchronous with real-time processing being

of technology and navigate a series of technology

supporter. That changed in 2016. After a couple of

early and experimental today. Keep your eyes on this

transitions. Here are a just a few of the topics that

years of the new IP standard ‘flavour of the season’

space in the future.

struck a chord this past year.

which changed with every major trade show, it looks

becoming a conversation in real-time video systems

significantly reducing server count, saving money

Remote production for sports

SMPTE-2110 standard, for encapsulation at least. Ross

Your computer game: now your virtual set

As IP connectivity improves for remote venues,

jumped in with both feet acquiring Coveloz, an IP

Computer gaming technology is pretty amazing,

with transmission costs dropping and latency and

technology company, and joined AIMS, so we are

blowing away the level of reality that we’ve

bandwidth improving, the notion of ‘REMI’ or

now fully invested in the future of IP with our wholly

been able to achieve with broadcast virtual sets.

‘At Home’ productions continues to make more

owned Coveloz subsidiary providing core technology

Photorealistic rendering, physics and particle engines

and more sense beyond just big events like the

to all comers, not just Ross. While there are still many

provide lifelike video game experiences. These

Olympics. Let’s face it: the days of driving a complete

problems to solve for a more complete interoperable

systems have now been made to behave for live

production studio around will eventually come to an

solution, it looks like the industry is finding its way with IP.

broadcast with added features like genlock via add-

like things may be starting to settle on the (still future)

end. In the meantime, Ross’ focus with openTruck,

on software. Ross, through our partnership with The

which looks at the whole truck workflow as a tightly

Security? In broadcast?

Future Group in Norway, showed a demonstration

integrated solution, has succeeded in bringing a

2016 (and to a certain extent 2015) was the year

of this technology at IBC 2016 with virtual sets being

more efficient, less expensive and standardised

that the broadcast industry – and we as vendors –

generated by a product called Frontier (hyperlink to

production platform to the world.

really started waking up to the needs of security in

video) based on the Unreal gaming engine by

an IP world. We had a number of customers visit us

EPIC games. You’ll see more of this marriage of

12G SDI becoming mainstream

to make it clear of the focus that they expect from

gaming and broadcast technology from us in

Three years ago, there was much discussion

us as a vendor when it comes to IP security on our

the year ahead. As we continue to focus on the

about SDI not making the jump to 4K for single link

products. This was a real wake-up call for Ross as I’m

industry evolutions mentioned, what we really

production with the prognostication from many

sure it was for other vendors out there. While many

expect in 2017 is that the majority of the production

being that 4K would be an IP-only proposition.

of our products meet the needs of today’s security

world will remain focused on 1.5G high definition

Well, as a result of Ross and other manufacturers

requirements, there are some where we have

production in 1080i or 720p.

26 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

Advertorial

A landmark year for broadcast scale interoperability and began establishing

Converters also augment IP workflows. IPR-1G-

roadmaps to ensure a seamless transition. We

HDMI decodes VSF TR-01 and other JPEG 2000

saw the rise of SMPTE 2022-6, which supports

streams, and formats the data for output on a

hybrid IP/SDI systems, and SMPTE 2022-7 for

full-size HDMI 1.4 interface. IPR-1G-SDI decodes

seamless protection switching. VSF TR-04, another

VSF TR-01 and other JPEG 2000 streams, and

recommended standard using SMPTE 2022-6

formats the data for 3G-SDI BNC output. The

016 will go down as a landmark year for

2

for video with embedded audio, and AES67 for

converters support a range of HD and SD

broadcast, Pro AV, production and post.

separate IP addressable audio streams, also

formats, and can be used for everything from

We saw IP, HDBaseT and HDR advance on,

became accepted. It became clear that

source monitoring to video walls and more.

while the proliferation of social media generated

VSF TR-03, which improves on TR-04 by

renewed enthusiasm for live streaming. There

packetising video, audio and metadata into

HDBaseT comes of age

were several groundbreaking developments in

separate IP streams all synchronised with PTP.

HDBaseT grew in interest for specific broadcast

each of these areas that will forever change the

TR-04 and TR-03 are currently being standardised

needs and within the Pro AV verticals in 2016.

way professionals work. And although we made

as SMPTE ST 2110.

Not only did we see interest peak among our

By Bryce Button, product marketing manager, AJA

great progress, the industry is still in transition mode. At AJA, we’ve both led and followed each development within the industry closely, working to deliver technology that simplifies these transitions, and in the case of live streaming, improve workflows, and that will remain a focus

customers, but the HDBaseT Alliance also saw

“2016 marked the year that HDR hit the masses from Amazon to Netflix, YouTube, UHD Blu-ray and beyond”

for us going into 2017.

a spike in membership. The emerging standard allows for the transmission of UHD video, audio, power, Ethernet, USB and more over a Cat5e cable, and will be a game-changer for live production, enabling greater remote control of technology while eliminating audio interference on stage.

Moving toward an IP future

With this in mind, we rolled out RovoCam,

From NAB to IBC, IP dominated industry

As a founding member of AIMS, and a member

a UHD/HD compact block camera with an

discussions this last year, namely for its promise

of both the Aspen Community and Sony IP Live,

integrated HDBaseT interface that delivers

to bring broadcasters advanced flexibility,

we supported the efforts of these organisations

incredible picture quality for live event

scalability and ultimately cost savings. A number

and will continue to in 2017. Guided by their

production. It enables simple mounting in

of broadcasters, industry organisations and

roadmaps, we launched products and updates

a range of scenarios. Power is carried from

technology developers joined forces to pave

to advance IP-based workflows with Kona IP,

companion receivers RovoRx-SDI and RovoRx-

the path to an IP future with new standards and

which offers reliable and flexible video and

HDMI, and delivered to RovoCam(s) up to

IP-compatible technology designed to make the

audio I/O for IP-based workflows with support for

100m away, eliminating the need for an AC-DC

transition seamless. Though broadcasters won’t

SMPTE 2022-6 IP-encapsulated uncompressed

converter on-stage. Multiple RovoCams can be

fully be letting go of their SDI workflows in favour

3G-SDI, HD and SD video, audio and VANC data,

ganged together and presets can be shared,

of full IP workflows any time soon, IBC gave us a

and updated it with the Desktop Software v12.5

making it easy to set up. Free RovoControl

taste of the road ahead, with a live IP production

release, which brings SMPTE 2022-7 support for

software enables remote control of up to eight

demo on the show floor.

seamless protection switching to Kona IP. We will

cameras and electronic PTZ to move a 1080p

continue to offer further functionality and options

box around a UHD frame for region of interest

IP Live and the Joint Task Force on Networked

with Kona IP through firmware in 2017.

pan, tilt and zoom. In 2016, NHL began using

Media (JT-NM) collaborated in 2016 on large-

Our new 1PR-1G-HDMI and IPR-1G-SDI Mini-

our RovoCams in playoff arenas to produce

Groups like AIMS, the Aspen Community, Sony

TVBEurope 27

video replays for judging a new offside rule, and has decided to expand the deployment to all franchise facilities for the new season.

HDR popularises 2016 marked the year that HDR hit the masses

“As social media outlets increasingly strive to become media outlets, they’ll need high quality content to compete with traditional broadcasts”

from Amazon to Netflix, YouTube, UHD Blu-ray

and HDMI inputs and outputs, and the power to handle up to 1080p 60, HELO opens up a new world of streaming workflows for producers. We also released ROI-SDI, which is a powerful scanconverter that simplifies the customisation of video signals to meet a range of display and image demands; users can rotate source signals, define a

and beyond. In post, the industry has moved the

portion of an image or reframe the source image

needle forward, but there is more work to be done

Mini-Config software. These developments

from any 3G-SDI signal. In combination with HELO, this can be a powerful tool for many streaming

in 2017, especially in standardising and controlling

are only a sample of what’s to come, as we

how colour is treated scene by scene and shot

continue to explore other challenges we can

workflow needs. And as social media outlets

by shot. HDR standards are still very much coming

work to address.

increasingly strive to become media outlets,

A renewed interest in live streaming

traditional broadcasts. Our U-TAP USB 3.0 capture

devices is improving, so we’re likely to see some

Live streaming has been around for quite a while,

devices enable just that, allowing users to connect

major progress in the new year.

but the launch of Facebook Live, proliferation of

higher quality cameras into their live stream

In the meantime, AJA has been working to

Periscope and growing availability of live sports

workflows. Moving into 2017, our live stream focus

together, and the interaction between NLEs, colour correction systems and other monitoring

they’ll need high quality content to compete with

alleviate some of the typical frustrations brought

and news event streams online have generated

will likely be on tools that help streamers improve

on by HDR pipelines, especially in monitoring. Our

renewed excitement in the medium. In 2016,

the quality of content while working within the

12.5 Desktop Software allows Kona 4, Kona IP and

AJA worked to help resolve some of the toughest

limitations of provided bandwidth.

Io 4K users to monitor HDR footage while editing

challenges live streamers face and looks forward

and colour correcting with greater accuracy using

to building on that work in 2017.

HDR10 HDMI output in AJA Control Panel. The Hi5-4K plus, released earlier this year, also facilitates

Our HELO H.264 streaming and recording

It was an exciting and productive year across the board in 2016, and we look forward to seeing what 2017 will bring.

appliance, for example, allows users to

pristine visual fidelity with support for HDR pipelines

simultaneously stream video signals directly to

and HDR metadata generated in accordance

CDNs while recording either to an SD card, USB

with HDMI v2.0a/CTA-861.3 via accompanying

drives or network-based storage. With both 3G-SDI

http://www.vimeo.com/ channels/aja

28 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

Continuing the quest of exploration

By Dan Sacchelli, event manager at BVE’s parent company, Ascential Events

T

he beginning of the year saw BVE actively expand in to the pro AV and live entertainment market, responding to the

continuing merging of technologies between live events and broadcast sectors. The theme of converging sectors has been one that has continued throughout 2016.

What we have seen this year, along with everybody else in the industry, is the exponential

A panel session at BVE 2016

progression of VR. Unlike IP or the cloud, this is very much a consumer-driven technology. How the end-user embraces VR determines its place in the market. Many compare it to 3D – another technology whose success was determined by how the consumer masses adopted it. As much as people pride themselves on writing off 3D as a

“IP means investing a lot of money. It is admittedly more expensive than SDI to set up, but where longevity comes in to play, IP wins”

‘flash in a pan’ it is still prevalent in our cinemas,

staff are already trained to work with it. IP means investing a lot of money. It is admittedly more expensive than SDI to set up and then there is training, but where longevity comes in to play, IP wins. The fact of the matter is, whether you are pro, against or agnostic, it is the very nature

with all the major blockbusters available to

of our industry to stay on the cutting edge and

watch in all their three dimensional glory. It may

immersive technology is going to take us. But we

not have had the warm welcome in our homes

have needed this year to learn and build on our

that we once expected, but it has proven itself

knowledge, which will act as the springboard for

have been discussed and scrutinised in 2016.

to work on the larger screen formats for films

us to achieve, what seems now, this monumental

Companies such as NewTek are pioneering the IP

and sports. This is what we are seeing with VR.

growth in the immersive technology market.

movement whilst in the world of VR, production

Nobody is quite sure of where this technology is

The other acronym that has been on

therefore important to consider every option.

VR and IP are just two of the technologies that

companies such as Happy Finish and Jaunt are

going to sit, and, like 3D, we won’t know until we

everybody’s lips is of course IP. There are so

pushing forward. On reflection, whilst the world

see how it is consumed. For gaming, advertising,

many arguments against whether the industry

outside of the industry has experienced seismic

architecture, feature length films, the possibilities

is ready. Always loving to draw a comparison: is

changes to its political and socioeconomic

are endless. Much of VR at the moment is still at

it like 4K, where the technology is ready but the

standing, we have carried on our quest of

the R&D stage, being used in many industries.

end-user is not? It has been said that where we

exploration. And that is where 2016 has taken us:

This is why at BVE 2017 we are taking a broader

stand at the moment, it is easier to deploy IP in

despite the uncertainty of IP and VR across the

approach to the broadcast market and delving

trucks rather than buildings; it is after all more

industry, we have continued to probe and look

in to the converging markets. It is not simply the

painless for a truck to go into maintenance than

at all sides of the argument as to where we are

broadcast sector that concerns itself with taking

it is a building which has legacy technology to

heading. We need to prepare for the future, and

content from creation anymore.

contend with. For many companies, SDI is still

this past year has seen us do exactly that.

With Digi-Capital predicting AR and VR

the most reliable and safe option; to implement

revenue to hit $120 billion by 2020, 2016 has

an SDI workflow is a more economically viable

BVE 2017 takes place from 28 February to 2

seen just the tip of the iceberg of where this

option – infrastructure is already in place and

March 2017 at ExCeL London.

TVBEurope 29

Advertorial

Re-imagine media production A dynamic broadcasting year in review by Michael Harrit, marketing director, media solutions, Sony Professional Solutions Europe

2

016 was characterised by unprecedented

for consumers to enjoy on their HDR-enabled 4K TVs

heart is our next-generation Hyper Convergent

political and socioeconomic uncertainty

and projectors is steadily increasing.

Node – a freely scalable platform that can be deployed on demand for multiple applications,

on the world stage. Against this backdrop,

talk in the broadcast industry was focused even

Ready today, open for tomorrow

replacing separate silos for storage, database

more sharply on programme makers’ perennial

This year, IP has been steadily invading the field of

and processing resources. IBC in September

preoccupations of achieving more within the

live production; an area dominated by decades

provided another illustration of Sony’s strategy to

constraints of steadily tightening resources.

of SDI-based working practices. The power and

reinvent media production and delivery around

flexibility of IP Live was reinforced by our delivery

an increasingly open, IT-oriented approach. We

organisations with innovations in image, IP

of the world’s first totally IP-enabled 4K OB truck to

successfully demonstrated Media Backbone

and workflow – three key areas where industry

TV Globo that proved itself during the summer’s

Conductor running on Amazon Web Services,

transformation is focused right now. Throughout

sporting action in Rio.

showing how hosting enterprise-grade applications

At Sony, we’ve continued to support media

2016, we helped our professional customers explore

Throughout the year, Sony has actively

in the cloud offers a highly attractive opex-focused

new creative options and engage with wider

contributed to the creation of open standards

operating model for content owners, with an agile

audiences while driving down their real-world

for IP that benefit the entire production community.

scaling of resources to meet fast-changing business

operating costs.

We continue to work alongside the EBU, SMPTE

needs. IT methodologies are permeating every

and other industry players in the Joint Task Force

phase of production workflow, right through to

HDR tops the image agenda

on Networked Media as well as AIMS and AMWA

storage and nearline archive. Offering even higher

Everything starts with the image. After the HD

to ensure smooth interoperability between IP Live

capacities and faster transfer speeds, second

gold rush of the mid-2000s, picture quality was

products and solutions from different vendors.

generation Optical Disc Archive now lets post

back on the agenda big time in 2016 driven by

At our newly-opened IP Live facility at Pinewood,

production customers – like Raw Cut TV in Soho

burgeoning consumer demand. One of the year’s

professional customers can now benefit from

– make programmes more efficiently, browsing

biggest stories has undoubtedly been 4K HDR.

a wide range of hands-on IP training courses.

footage and pulling it straight back onto the

With an expanded range of brightness levels and

And with over 60 leading manufacturers

timeline for near instant editing.

an increased colour palette, this brings a new

lending their weight to the IP Live Alliance, it’s

dimension of immersive realism to sport, episodic

become abundantly clear this year that IP is

Looking forward to 2017

TV drama, entertainment, arts, and events of

all set for primetime.

There’s a growing perception among customers

historic significance.

I’ve spoken to that technology alone can’t answer

Media with more intelligence

the big questions that broadcasters are wrestling

hardware, standards, post production workflows,

Once sharply separated, the worlds of AV and IT

with right now. What’s more, a fragmented and

streaming, and live broadcasting. From our HDC-

are becoming ever more closely intertwined in

hugely competitive landscape means that there’s

4300, HDC-4800 and CineAlta cameras to the

every broadcaster’s operations, large or small.

no one-size-fits-all approach that addresses

acclaimed BVM-X300 TRIMASTER EL OLED reference

Sony is responding rapidly to this major shift in its

programme makers’ diverse needs. As a result,

monitor, the components are here to help content

professional customers’ needs with innovations

broadcasters and media organisations are

creators realise an end-to-end 4K HDR ecosystem

like the development of Media Backbone Hive

increasingly looking for manufacturers to help them

to tell their story with unprecedented excitement

– worthy winner of an IABM Award at NAB, and

understand and capitalise on the opportunities of

and authenticity.

at IBC, a ‘Best of Show’ Award from TVBEurope as

a dynamic media landscape.

2016 saw developments in 4K HDR across

IBC 2016 saw the introduction of Sony’s new

well as, most recently, the prestigious IABM Peter

While the hurdles are bigger than ever, so are

‘SR Live for HDR’ workflow for simultaneous 4K

Wayne Award. Hive reinvents news production

the potential rewards for organisations that can

HDR and HD SDR live production. Forward-looking

around data centre-class technologies. All phases

successfully re-invent traditional business models in

broadcasters reported on successful live 4K HDR

of the news workflow are orchestrated with a

a changing world. At Sony, this is our clear focus for

broadcast trials. And with more flagship series

suite of powerful applications for planning, ingest,

the year ahead: leveraging our consultancy and

being streamed OTT by major players like Netflix

browse, edit, playout, distribution, archive and

expertise to help media companies address these

and Amazon Prime, the choice of stunning content

resource management. At Hive’s (decentralised)

challenges successfully.

30 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

2016: a tippin

By Peter White, CEO, IABM and Lorenzo Zanni, IABM research analyst

I

t’s been some year, 2016. When we look back at it in a few years’ time it’s very possible that we’ll see it as a real tipping point in the

history of our industry. Here’s a dichotomy for you: according to IABM data from its most recent Industry Trends survey (July 2016), confidence among suppliers is low. Yet confidence among the end-user community – reported in our pre-IBC2016 End-User Survey – has never been stronger; our forthcoming End User Index shows why: US media companies increased revenues by 11 per cent and profits by 31 per cent over the last year, for example. All this in the face of rapidly changing viewing habits, the rise and rise of OTT, new technology and interoperability challenges, questions over UHD and the continuing rise of VR/AR; all against a background of political upheaval. An interesting year indeed.

What’s the state of the market?

Broadcast and media technology customers are going through a period of unprecedented change as content becomes available on multiple platforms. IABM research shows that broadcast and media technology suppliers’ revenue growth slowed significantly in 2016.

Revenues are under pressure as customers’ technology budgets shift to developing effective new media offerings to accommodate changing viewing habits.

The IABM IBC2016 End-User Survey supports

is key for suppliers to grow revenues in this

single source. Unsurprisingly then, they also rate

turbulent marketplace.

interoperability as being highly important; in

this trend with ‘multi-platform content delivery’

fact, behind only saving/making money, cost of ownership and support in their purchasing

users. As digital offerings have thinner margins

IP: interoperability roadblocks removed

compared to traditional broadcasting, their

We know from IABM surveys this year that the

priorities, and there has been a hold up in

monetisation remains a challenge for

majority of end-users prefer systems put together

agreeing common standards that many cite

end-users. Developing agile technology to

using ‘best of breed’ products from a number of

as a major reason for hold-backs in end-user

help media organisations address this issue

suppliers rather than a complete system from a

technology investment.

continuing to be the main priority for end-

priorities. IP is seen as a key enabler to all these

TVBEurope 31

ng point?

More pixels or better pixels?

The profusion of 4K/UHD sets on display at your local electrical store would lead you to believe that UHD has become a mainstream delivery format. This is clearly not the case except in specific markets such as Japan and South Korea.

Why so? UHD sets cost no more today, relatively speaking, than HD sets did a few years ago, but the infrastructure required to deliver UHD to consumers en masse would require a major investment from broadcasters, and the evidence is that most consumers are, to date, unwilling to pay a premium for UHD. While the idea of more

2016 will go down as the year when in facility IP

investment, which has reduced revenues in the

pixels is attractive, it’s better pixels that will sell; and

interoperability became a reality, thanks in no

shorter term. Innovation cycles today have to

by better pixels, we mean of course HDR. Early

small part to organisations such as AIMS, AMWA,

be much shorter, which means no one company

in 2016, the UHD Alliance delivered a spec and

AES, VSF, EBU and SMPTE (congratulations to

can do it, so collaboration is paramount.

branding for UHD Premium televisions so consumers

SMPTE on its 100-year anniversary this year).

know they are getting more than just extra pixels. It’s the bits and nits that ultimately make

fast nowadays that we can no longer wait for

Is this the year that traditional broadcasting died?

standards to be researched, established and

In short, no. Linear TV is far from dead, albeit

enhanced viewing experience delivered by HDR

ratified, so coming to an agreement up front

numbers are declining due in part to PVRs and

will break the impasse, but we will have to wait

is now the only way forward. Seeing so many

on-demand viewing. What we are beginning to

some years for most broadcasters to deliver it.

manufacturers’ systems working together

see is a move away from traditional cable and

successfully in the IABM and AIMS-sponsored

satellite models toward viewers taking advantage

Virtual reality check

Interoperability Zone at IBC2016 sent a clear

of hybrid approaches, mixing and matching OTT

Alongside widespread take-up in gaming and

signal to the whole industry that the will and the

services with traditional linear TV viewing.

simulation, VR has already started to find traction

The trouble is that our industry is moving so

in sports event coverage, and it was undoubtedly

way is there, and end-users can now start to transition to IP infrastructures confident that will they will not be going up a proprietary blind alley.

Collaborative development What’s also interesting about AIMS is that it not only has vendors but also end-users as members.

UHD compelling for consumers; the massively

“The new software-based environment has changed industry economics away from up-front investment, which has reduced revenues in the shorter term”

a hot topic at both NAB and IBC this year. How successfully VR can be applied as a storytelling medium, though, is something we’re going to have to wait a little longer to find out. Sport, after all, is not a story; it’s an event with multiple points of interest at any one time. As we stand today,

This reflects the major shift in the traditional

though, because it is not real time, VR is not yet a

vendor/end-user relationship that is happening

replacement for traditional live broadcasting, but

in our industry, and it really accelerated in 2016.

a complementary stream that offers extra viewer

Going fast are the days when a vendor rocks

Broadcasting no longer means just over-the-air;

engagement. The bottom line is that sports

up with a shiny new product and the end-user

OTT is now a solid delivery mechanism in many

rights holders still need to work out how to

says: “That’s just what I want. How much to

parts of the world with more to come. Viewership

make money with VR. In contrast to sports, a

buy it please?” More and more, vendors and

data from the 2016 Olympic Games showed

drama most definitely is a story, and how to

end-users are working collaboratively; in 2016 for

linear television viewing falling, with audiences –

embrace the possibilities of VR while leading

larger projects, proof of concept trials started to

particularly younger viewers – flocking to digital

your viewers through a storyline is a real creative

become the norm, which by their nature require

platforms; NBC reported more than a billion

challenge. The result may well be a different

a leap of faith by both parties. The end-user must

minutes of live streaming had been clocked

approach to drama; visionaries will pick up this

buy into the vendor’s development roadmap,

up by the fifth day of the Games, by which

new medium and find new ways of telling great

and the vendor must put in the investment to

time it had already overtaken the entire amount

stories with it.

make it happen on a collaborative basis.

of streaming for the London Games just four years before. Traditional broadcasters aren’t

Looking forward

The continuing move from capex to opex

taking the OTT invasion lying down. For example,

So, what does the future look like beyond the

Sky has a declared strategy of investing

tipping point? New technologies, new business

Alongside this change in the relationship

in emerging technology companies and

models, new players – and traditional broadcasters

between vendors and end-users is the continuing

early this year took a stake in programmatic

holding their corner. Avid’s Louis Hernandez

change from capex to opex for the latter, which

marketing analytics, data management and

summed it up nicely at IABM’s State of the Industry

is having a major impact on the former. IABM

media activation software company, DataXu.

conference at IBC this year: “There has been a

has been reporting a fall in revenues for most

In October, the proposed acquisition of Time

50 per cent increase in content consumption per

of the media technology equipment suppliers.

Warner by AT&T for $85 billion was announced;

capita in the last ten years. If we can figure out

The new software-based environment has

traditional end-users are taking the new media

how to create and deliver it better and more

changed industry economics away from up-front

threat to their businesses very seriously.

efficiently, this industry is a great place to be.”

32 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

Advertorial

An industry with a

By Andreas Hilmer, director of marketing and communications, Lawo

expensive and time-consuming mistakes of the past and guarantee customers and manufacturers future-proof investments.

With its long real-time IP experience in video and audio, Lawo can contribute comprehensive expertise covering the complete range of

A

fter the gradual convergence of

solutions for live production environments. Lawo

audio- and video-over-IP, it was not at

has always been aligned to open standards, be

all certain whether the industry would

it SMPTE 2022-6/-7 and TR-03 in video, AES3, MADI,

grasp this historic chance to build their roadmap

RAVENNA or AES67 in audio or Ember+ in control.

for IP products and solutions on common

Lawo strongly believes in these standardised,

ground. So when Grass Valley, Imagine and

open approaches in order to come to the

Lawo founded the Alliance for IP Media Solutions

best possible solutions with a solid and secure

(AIMS) a year ago, it seemed to be a bold

long-term perspective for our clients – and so

endeavour to oblige manufacturers to supply

the initiation and the support of the AIMS

products providing overall interoperability based

roadmap is nothing but a logical step on Lawo’s

on open standards for seamless integration into

strategic agenda.

media workflow environments. Other widespread

With the company’s product and solutions

proprietary standards had already been

portfolio already based on IP and open

established, with Evertz’s ASPEN or Sony’s NMI

standards for several years, and a long track

to name two. So, successfully reaching AIMS’s

record in both interoperability projects and

goal to unite all players in the broadcast sector

large-scale live broadcast applications, Lawo

was by no means certain, even though common

has proved that IP technology in the fields of

sense guided to this end. However, within a

networked broadcast audio, video, and control

relatively short period of time, all key players in

is ready for live production today.

the market committed themselves to the AIMS roadmap – Lawo amongst them, a company that has always been supporting solutions based on open standards.

After a year, the AIMS members, both manufacturers and broadcasters, can be proud:

“It is already obvious that the AIMS roadmap is not mere wishful thinking, but a working reality”

their efforts in actively promoting the adoption, standardisation, development and refinement of open protocols for media-over-IP, have turned out to be a historic and unique success, with

One of the most groundbreaking and

manufacturers observing the AIMS roadmap for

sustainable was the launch of V__matrix at

implementing open standards in their products

NAB 2016; a software-defined IP core routing

and solutions, and broadcasters and production

and processing platform based on data

companies accepting this paradigm shift.

centre principles of flexibility, fabric computing

The present success is based on the many

and COTS economics. Designed to provide

small steps that have been made up to this

a completely virtualised real-time production

point: thanks to the collaborative work already

infrastructure, V__matrix leverages multiple cores

performed in SMPTE, VSF, AES and AMWA, our

connected to a high-capacity COTS switch

entire workflows to be remapped in minutes

industry has built a solid basis for a sustainable

with redundant 10GE and 40GE connections

as requirements change from production to

transition to IP. AIMS’s support of open standards

to form a distributed IP routing and processing

production. Core processing blades are housed

and technical recommendations such as TR-03,

matrix with frame-accurate, clean switching –

in one, two or three RU frames, with physical

TR-04 and AES67 afford all of us an opportunity to

just like a legacy baseband matrix. Employing

connectivity to legacy SDI equipment provided

eliminate the fragmentation of implementations

generic high capacity core processing blades,

through optional V__matrix I/O cards with Lawo’s

that our industry has endured over the last 20

software-defined virtual modules can be loaded

VSM Broadcast Control and Monitoring system

years. It’s our big chance to avoid repeating

to create any required functionality, enabling

serving as the control layer. The system enables

TVBEurope 33

common roadmap

Part of the Lawo set-up at EURO 2016 the switching and routing of signals both in the

working reality. Picking just a few examples:

where IP-based video and audio stage boxes in

IP and SDI domains, and includes the Lawo SDN

besides projects like the VRT/EBU Sandbox

all stadiums and a fully IP-based 900x900 video

Control for video routing with frame-accurate

project, Lawo IP video technology plays a major

routing environment contributed to the flawless

clean switching in the IP domain, as well as

role in multiple real-world installations including

TV production, as well as the Olympic Games in

control and monitoring for existing legacy SDI

NEP Creative Technology’s cloud production,

Brazil, where the remote production set-ups of

infrastructure and third party IP equipment.

Belgium’s Proximus Football League and Dorna’s

Globosat, NBC, BBC, YLE and others were also

Today, it’s already obvious that the AIMS

set-up for MotoGP. It was also successfully utilised

based on Lawo technology and therefore on

roadmap is not mere wishful thinking, but a

in a large scale EURO 2016 production in France,

standards fully in line with the AIMS roadmap.

34 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

Can DVB shape a mod as it has the digital TV

By Peter MacAvock, chairman, DVB Steering Board

W

ith a new chairman comes a new approach. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? Aside from the stereotypes, the

DVB project today is quite different to what it was 23 years ago, and necessarily so. The challenge facing the broadcast industry today is meeting the demands of a revolution arguably more challenging than the digital transition: how to address broadcast networks and multiple devices.

To many, DVB was the inventor of digital television. Those of us in the industry in 19921993 know that DVB turned an interesting technology into a high quality set of technical specifications that facilitated the successful deployment of digital television. DVB was born from a European industry that had seen digital television demonstrated, recognised the impact it would have on their business, and needed a way of addressing a centralised push (with financial support) for an analogue HD system called MAC. DVB’s focus was on a set of voluntary specifications developed by consensus across all the stakeholders in the broadcasting sector.

The ‘voluntary’ bit was very important, because it expressed the wish to avoid a regulatory imposition of technical specifications. The ‘consensus’ was also critical because experience has shown us that it’s only by creating a win-win situation for all sectors of the industry that you can

pre-standardisation industry forum, which aimed

doing of late? Isn’t the digital transition largely

ensure success. These values hold true today.

to move rapidly to squarely address commercial

over? Clearly, major European markets have

But the broadcast industry has changed: the

requirements. These commercial issues were

transitioned to digital satellite and terrestrial

mighty European Consumer Electronics industry

notably absent from other SDOs like ETSI, ITU

television. The transition to digital cable is

is no more; dominant now are Korean and

and MPEG. Now, DVB is not alone, with many

completed in most developed markets,

Japanese brands. The public service broadcasters

other bodies producing specifications, some of

but not all.

are no longer R&D powerhouses with the

which aren’t even standardised in a recognised

notable exception of BBC, RAI and the German

SDO any more.

broadcasters. A more subtle difference is that DVB was a pioneer of a new type of organisation: a

So if DVB shaped the digital television industry – a grand achievement – what has it been

Outside of Europe is quite a different story. The economic sense of digital satellite television is overwhelming, but there are many countries still to launch DTT for example, despite adopting the

TVBEurope 35

dern media landscape V transition? and terrestrial. The former has been superseded

stating that they don’t wish to pay for distribution,

by DOCSIS and the latter by, well, mobile

expecting it to be cost-neutral at worst, and

telecommunications. But failure is the price one

ideally a revenue generator. Yet the same

pays for innovation, and you can’t hope to get it

broadcasters have to spend large sums of money

right every time, even in organisations that pride

for broadband distribution. The message from one

themselves on quality output like DVB.

senior strategist in a large pay-TV operator was:

Remember 3DTV? Plano-stereoscopic 3DTV

“Broadband is the future, you can’t change

is still popular in cinemas, where the viewing

that, and you can’t hold back the tide. Our

environment lends itself more to the technology.

business models and margins will change, but we

DVB was the leader in specifying 3DTV with its

can’t avoid it.”

different phases, in parallel to extensive promotion

DVB’s job is to facilitate this transition by

of the technology by the consumer electronics

providing the techniques to ensure that a

community. In short, for its time, DVB’s 3DTV work

content provider can deliver its content reliably

was very successful. The problem wasn’t the DVB

and as efficiently as possible to a range of

project, it was domestic 3DTV, as predicted by

devices sitting on a range of networks. This

some observers at the time.

stretches from innovations in content production,

So what’s next? Well, the broadcast industry

right through to minimising the number of player

that DVB serves is changing rapidly. While linear

options to be supported for each device. The

TV still represents the backbone of the broadcast

details of this work remain to be worked through

industry, those broadcast channels are no longer

of course, and we must admit that operators

the exclusive access networks for consuming

have never adopted DVB’s work on IPTV systems as a whole.

“While linear TV still represents the backbone of the broadcast industry, those broadcast channels are no longer the exclusive access networks for consuming media”

So DVB will reach out to the content industry and others to see how it can help define the requirements for minimising the pain of delivery on broadband networks.

What of HbbTV – a similar organisation to DVB standardising an open connected TV platform?

DVB has much to learn from HbbTV, and will continue to ensure the close contacts necessary to coordinate work programmes.

media. The advent of reliable fast broadband, and devices capable of playing long form

DVB will also put in place long-term roadmaps for the development of its core specifications.

DVB suite of standards. DVB has worked to update

high-quality media, means that those who don’t

the core physical layer distribution technologies,

control the remote control at home are tending to

revolutionary, but DVB is a very successful

with DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 being particularly

consume content across different networks to new

organisation at what it does. For it to continue

successful. DVB-C2, a great technology and

personalised devices. Nothing is new here. What is

to be successful it needs to rigorously apply its

much lauded at the time, has yet to be deployed,

perhaps a little new is that the business models for

core values to the new challenges facing the

because – frankly – some of those that requested

these new consumption scenarios don’t add up

broadcast industry. In some cases, not all the

it originally haven’t yet switched off their analogue

yet for the vast majority of the broadcast industry.

stakeholders will be present in DVB, requiring DVB

subscribers. Its day will come.

Some of DVB’s technologies have been less successful, like the DVB’s return channel for cable

None of the changes proposed are particularly

The BBC spends 15 per cent of its distribution

to work to attract the appropriate stakeholders,

budget to target three per cent of its audience.

or build the appropriate relationships with those

Some commercial broadcasters have policies

doing the essential work elsewhere.

36 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

A joined up approach to fundamental frameworks

By Brad Gilmer, executive director, Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA)

A

s many people are aware, 2016

Specification) provides a standardised way

Recommendations TR-03 and TR-04, which

of discovering senders and receivers on a

serve as the basis for SMPTE ST-2110. There

network, and connecting them together.

are many examples where co-operation

It also provides the ability for a receiver to

regarding these fundamental frameworks

consume a flow from a sender when they

will yield more open, interoperable systems

are connected back-to-back without an IP

for end-users.

router, as in the OB van scenario.

was a year of rapid progress. The

Unprecedented industry collaboration

agreement around the move toward an

JT-NM fundamental frameworks developed

open, standardised, professional video-

In addition to the publication of AMWA

collaboration, perhaps best highlighted at

over-IP environment. Starting with the

IS-04, 2016 saw the development and

the IBC Joint Interoperability Demonstration.

concepts presented by the Joint Taskforce

standardisation of four key fundamental

This demonstration served as a report to the

on Networked Media (JT-NM), the AMWA

frameworks identified in the JT-NM Reference

industry about the level of interoperability

has developed and published the proposed

Architecture v1.0. These frameworks are

achieved thus far. The IBC demonstration

specification, IS-04, as part of its Networked

identity, timing, discovery and registration,

was sponsored by many organisations that

Media Open Specifications (NMOS). IS-04

and connection management. It is the

have worked very closely during the year.

stands alongside, and complements, the

opinion of the JT-NM that professional media

The sponsors were the Audio Engineering

SMPTE Standard ST-2110 currently under

interoperability will be greatly enhanced

Society (AES), the AMWA, the EBU, the SMPTE

development. ST-2110 is set to become the

if various industry organisations adopt a

and the VSF. While these organisations

bedrock of IP-based professional media

common approach in these key areas.

contributed materially to the advancement

industry has reached significant

networks going forward.

What problem does IS-04 solve?

In a conventional SDI facility, we can connect a camera and a monitor to an SDI router. Using a router control panel, we can then route the camera to the monitor.

In an even more fundamental scenario, we could pull a camera out of an OB van, and connect the camera directly to a monitor so

of technology in 2016, it would not have

“2017 will be another important year in the implementation of professional media networks. It is likely that SMPTE ST-2110 will become an approved standard, and that there will be an interoperability demonstration at NAB”

that we could perform maintenance on that

been possible to bring their work to the IBC, and indeed, to get the work integrated into products, without the support of the Alliance for Media IP Solutions (AIMS) and the International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers (IABM).

What does the future hold?

2017 will be another important year in the implementation of professional media

camera. But let’s consider an IP environment.

It is a simple matter to connect a camera

2016 saw an unprecedented level of industry

networks. It is likely that SMPTE ST-2110 To that end, the AMWA has worked closely

will become an approved standard,

and a monitor to an IP router, assuming they

with our colleagues in the Video Services

and that there will be an interoperability

have RJ-45 connectors. But how do we tell

Forum (VSF), the European Broadcasting

demonstration at NAB.

the monitor to select the camera? In the

Union (EBU), and the Society of Motion

aforementioned OB van scenario, how do

Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE)

areas such as virtualisation and cloud-native

I connect an IP camera directly to an IP

to develop a joined-up approach to these

APIs in response to strong interest in these

monitor and view the result? ST-2110 tells us

fundamental frameworks. For example,

topics from its members. And perhaps most

how streams should be mapped onto the IP

the underlying best practice of using

importantly, I look forward to the introduction

network, but it does not describe discovery

Universal Resource Identifiers (URIs) for

of interoperable products based upon the

and registration or connection management.

identity, specified in the JT-NM RA, is used

open standards and specifications created

AMWA IS-04 (IS stands for Interface

in IS-04 and was baked into VSF Technical

by the AMWA and its partner organisations.

In 2017, AMWA will be looking into new

TVBEurope 37

Advertorial

Keeping up with the pace of change to our editing line up offering ultra-fast

By Tim Thorsteinson, CEO, Snell Advanced Media

editing, automated versioning and multi-platform publishing.

We’d also like to see more customers buying the complete SAM solution. We’ve seen this recently at NEP The Netherlands who pretty

Adapting to changing trends

much bought one of everything, from editing

Like all organisations in our industry, we’ve had

and production switchers to routers and

to adapt to changing customer models. With

modular infrastructure.

such a high proportion of media consumption

Our strategy for 2017 is to really strengthen our

now on-demand and geared toward handheld

product range by introducing yet more impactful

and tablet devices, we’ve had to move with the

products and entering new segments we’re not

times to enable our customers to compete in this

in today. As we look ahead to NAB, we’ll be

new world.

One of the issues media organisations have

launching a new low cost server, a new 4K server also had great successes in our playout business,

as well as an IP playout solution and complete

today is ensuring their systems are flexible

winning competitive deals against the major

master control solution. We’re going to make a

enough. Within this, the shift to IP has been

players in our industry.

big impact in Las Vegas.

especially important, such as managing hybrid workflows and the need to meet the

Preparing for the future

requirements of SDI and IP simultaneously.

For SAM, an important part of preparing for the future is investing in research and development.

What we’ve learned in 2016

Twenty per cent of revenue is going towards

2016 has been a very successful year for SAM.

R&D to ensure that we are constantly innovating,

We grew the business by 20 per cent, our

including hiring eight to ten new graduates per

product revenue is up 30 per cent year on year

year. We’re also investing heavily in expanding

and overall we’ve been profitable.

our sales force, especially in the Middle East and

Last year, like most, we learned that despite moving quickly to adapt to changes in the

the Americas.

“From a business perspective, I believe we’ll see further consolidation and in five years’ time, there will only be two or three major suppliers in the market segments we service and a few smaller companies delivering very bespoke solutions and products”

In the next year we are looking to generate

market, you can never move fast enough. It is

a third of revenue from entirely new products,

much harder to succeed in this market than it

which I feel is a healthy number for the business;

was 20 years ago.

ultimately the target is 50 per cent. From an

Further ahead, from a business perspective, I

organisational perspective, we are preparing for

believe we’ll see further consolidation and in five

portfolio over the last year, including introducing

the future by challenging ourselves to enhance

years’ time, there will only be two or three major

a competitive sports replay and highlights

performance, deliver new products and expand

suppliers in the market segments we service and

system and new editing line up that was vital to

into new vertical sectors.

a few smaller companies delivering very bespoke

We’ve significantly refreshed our product

succeed in this market.

Adding to this, we’ve broadened our switcher

One area we’re focused on is ensuring

solutions and products. Our job is to innovate

the company’s product portfolios are fully

and build relationships so that we can survive

line, added end-to-end IP capability and

synced. We’re already seeing success from

this change and continue to help our customers

introduced a new Multiviewer offering. We’ve

integrating our Momentum workflow technology

meet their challenges in the years ahead.

38 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

An honest appraisal of 2016

By Peter Sellar, associate director, broadcast, DTG

following in October. Also, in April, the Ultra HD

and in the UK; Now TV is gaining strength

Forum released new guidelines and we have

along with other providers who allow

seen a sustained interest from consumers about

monthly contracts.

which TVs would support Sky Q and UHD on uhdready.info.

The widespread adoption of HbbTV and

2

With demand for OTT on the rise we need to see improved broadband across the UK, and last year we saw calls for this increase,

016 was definitely a year of great

mandating HEVC for IP HD services (as outlined

with a more vocal government following the

change and amazing innovation across

in D-Book 9) opened the way for UHD content

appointment of Matt Hancock to minister of

the board in the UK. We’ve seen 4K/

to be more widely distributed and hopefully

state in July, responsible for digital policy at the

UHD launches, Freeview Play and Freesat

paves the way for broadcast to follow in the

department for culture, media and sport.

celebrating their success and Virgin simplifying

near future. The DVB’s publication of the latest

TV while witnessing dynamic growth in VoD,

specification of UHD (UHD-1 Phase 2) options

kept us engaged, as has the discussion about

catch-Up and hybrid TV.

for object and scene-based immersive audio

Channel 4 privatisation – in particular at this

profiles, and also offers exciting potential. It’s

year’s RTS London Conference. Brexit made

anniversaries, starting in January with the

good to see service providers such as Amazon,

its presence felt in June this year and despite

90th anniversary of the first demonstration of

BT, Netflix and Sky moving so fast; increasing

the theories about its real impact, we currently

television by John Logie Baird, and continuing

the number of channels made available for

know very little about what it will actually mean

with the 80th anniversary of the first high

broadcast in UHD is the essential next step.

for our industry. At the DTG, we undertook

The year saw significant UK television

definition television service broadcast from Alexandra Palace in November. At the DTG we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the D-Book with D-Book 9, which created a new standard in UK TV, helping pave the way for future innovation.

At CES, the UHD Alliance confirmed its 4K

Debates on BBC charter renewal have

research into what must be clarified, and until

“Brexit made its presence felt in June this year and despite the theories about its real impact, we currently know very little about what it will actually mean for our industry”

focus for the year and industry research then

we all have more information it really is a case of ‘watch this space’.

After discussion about whether VR was the next 3D early in the year, and stories about significant VR investment in March, IBC really set the scene and October 2016 became ‘VR month’ with launches from Google

told us that ‘western Europe was ready to

Daydream, Oculus Touch and PlayStation

embrace 4K’. That proved to be the case with

2016 also brought more debate about

VR. The DTG has been heavily involved in

the continuing popularity of our DTG Plugfests,

how viewers actually consume broadcast.

an industry initiative to help make new VR

the abundance of display devices on offer in

Traditional broadcast continues as the primary

experiences simple and interoperable for both

all price ranges, and the phenomenal growth

method of consumption, with viewing time

content producers and consumers, and this will

in 4K content; most recently with the BBC’s

hardly changed, but OTT continues to grow at

develop further next year.

Planet Earth II.

pace. AT&T buying Time Warner gives them a

In February, Sky delivered Sky Q, which

2016 has been a rollercoaster of a year.

huge amount of content to attract customers,

We’re expecting to see more market

Andrew Neil hailed as “the development that

and Netflix and Amazon continue to plough

consolidation following Samsung’s recent

concentrates consumer attention on UHD

money into their own productions, such as The

acquisition of Harman, and learned that no one

TV”. This was then followed in August with the

Crown and The Grand Tour. In the meantime,

owns the consumer. We’re looking forward to

UHD launch on the platform, with Sky Q apps

long-term subscriptions seem less popular

seeing how this impacts 2017.

TVBEurope 39

Advertorial

A landmark year for news

By Daniella Weigner, managing director, Cinegy

IP-based channel on air; call it news, event, special

Although numerous companies and researchers

interest, whatever you like. For our purposes, and

have developed software and hardware to create

because the demand is so great, we packaged

immersive experiences based on video game

our offering as Cinegy News, but many of its

technology or multi-camera 360-degree video,

capabilities are just as relevant to any of the

they have largely resulted in interesting, but short-

S

applications above.

lived ‘wow’ experiences.

it with millions, immediately – often without filter

ome would argue that irrelevant information stole a march on relevance in 2016, but that is itself, in a way, irrelevant.

It’s a bit of a cliché, but ‘newsroom’ can mean

The ImmersiaTV project intends to answer how

different things to different people. Sometimes it

immersive technologies become something

can just be a string of NLE suites along a corridor.

substantive and enduring; how technology can

Sometimes it consists of modern, purpose-built

be used to tell a story; and whether consumers

– has become the de facto expectation, even

offices and studio complexes. However, the reality

will actually care. Our view is that for VR or AR to

requirement in an on-demand world.

today is that a ‘newsroom’ can be whatever, and

actually be accepted, it will need to be in 4K, 8K or

wherever, you choose. Some of the latest ‘citizen

even 16K (which we can easily do already). But we

except to enable it to get to air as quickly and

journalist’ initiatives could already be broadly

shall wait and see if the rest of the world agrees.

efficiently as possible – which is why we developed

described as newsrooms, and they mostly exist

and re-launched Cinegy News this year. And

in the cloud.

Irrespective of the nature of the content, sharing

Cinegy has no horse in any content race –

But let’s get back to the reality of 2016. The transition to IP, whether in part or in total, is

as evidence of the need for news, the pace of

With the exception of the trained (and

Cinegy News’ deployment has taken even our

increasingly untrained) professionals who sift

of IP-based broadcasting and the trend is

breath away.

through the enlightened as well as the shadier

accelerating. Cinegy, I’m pleased to say,

aspects of our world’s nature, what can today

continues to be at the forefront of that transition.

of such a momentous year, is unrelenting. The best

be described as a newsroom, whatever its

For example, major Turkish broadcaster Do an TV

we can do is provide ways for the newsgatherers

manifestation, is steadily fading as a physical

fully transitioned to IP-based TV using our software,

and playout providers to do what they do to the

space. It’s more about the technology used

and throughout 2016 continued to flourish on the

best of their ability, which keeps them, and us, in

to gather and disseminate the news, and that

back of its new-found capabilities and flexibility.

business. There are no Pulitzer Prizes for second

technology increasingly requires next to no space

place in news and journalism.

of its own. In short, it’s ‘virtual’.

The demand for news, particularly in the context

Traditional content distribution methods have become – and this is no secret – antiquated and cumbersome, often crippling the ability of

And the word virtual offers me a nice segue into one of its companion terms, ‘reality’.

Virtual and its cousin, augmented, reality are

inevitable. Early adopters are already veterans

We also firmly believe in giving back to the industry in a way that helps everyone move forward, whether they like it or not. We introduced a free and entirely open suite of tools and utilities called ‘Cinegy Open Tools’ to help broadcasters

broadcasters to not only disperse immediate

competing for airtime. Whether the oxygen

that are converting to IP or attempting other

information, but to provide pop up channels for

of publicity will manifest itself into consumer

transitions common in the industry today. These free

news and events that, only very recently, would

acceptance has yet to be seen, but it’s an area

tools can be used to test, check, or benchmark

have been not only unheard of, but not required.

we are intensely interested in, not least to help

new solutions, products, or workflows.

That is no longer the case.

determine if the application of virtual reality is ‘real’

If the Greater Waxahachie Delta News Picayune wants to get a channel on air so an interested

in its potential as a life-enhancing prospect.

Earlier this year, Cinegy was pleased to be

We’re a caring, sharing bunch at Cinegy. And it’s because we care that we’re so dedicated to assisting broadcasters of any stripe to get news,

community can watch local candidate debates

asked to join ImmersiaTV, an EU consortium of

information, or entertainment on air cleanly,

take place, they no longer have to negotiate for

university technology incubators, research

efficiently, and cheaply.

airtime with a regional station that has no particular

institutes, and commercial entities that are

interest in the race for County Coroner. That

collaborating to research and develop the

who doesn’t – we have more than enough to

approach is, ahem, a dead end. However, what

future of home entertainment; including virtual

power the transition to a new era in broadcasting.

is now imminently and easily doable is to get an

and augmented reality.

So spread the news, preferably over IP!

If you accept that knowledge is power – and

40 TVBEurope

www.tvbeurope.com

2016: the year in review

Sustaining the industry’s green momentum

By Aaron Matthews, industry sustainability manager, Bafta

engage audiences with sustainable living.

managed more actively than ever before, I am

With measurement through albert, the carbon

hopeful that we can now turn our attention to

calculator is still at the project’s core, and in

content, our true climate change calling.

2016 albert began offering sustainability training

At the start of 2016, albert hosted a roundtable

weekly and free of charge. Now a key part of the

for the industry’s senior editorial leads to explore

project, throughout 2016 there have been almost

what green on screen might look like. Unlike

f 2016’s progress on sustainability in the

1,000 colleagues trained in carbon literacy.

smoking, seatbelts and saturated fats, it is

broadcasting sector was a story then it would

Producers, coordinators, technologists, gaffers

harder to articulate what an on-screen earthly

be told loudly and to a small but growing

and managing directors, the ‘carbon literati’ are

intervention might look like. However, in the short

number of people. It is an urgent and happy

an industry army of those who understand the

months we have been supporting the industry in

story and one that I am proud to tell. Not least

challenge and are working together to get the

that way, we have already seen stars in electrics

because of the unfaltering determination of

job done. They alone have turned 2016 into a

cars and our favourite soap characters having

those involved.

sustainability success.

a chat whilst composting food scraps. We have

I

It all got off to a rather good start in late 2015 when the United Nations’ international climate talks in Paris concluded with a landmark deal that has since been ratified into international law.

This signalled to communities, businesses and institutions the world over that the time for change was now. This timing was fortuitous as it coincided

a fantastic opportunity to use the popularity

“2016 has laid the some strong editorial and operational foundations. 2017 must be about up scaling and translating a handful of excellent examples into ‘business as usual’”

with the TV industry’s collaborative sustainability

albert started as a carbon calculator; an extra

planet back on the agenda. Cautionary tales of the perils of societal gluttony are not a new thing. They are in fact littered through history and weaved into the fabric of most of the world’s major religions. We must, however, learn to charm audiences into action, making sustainability feel

project, albert, being poised and ready to act.

But this hasn’t always been the case.

of the nation’s most-loved content to put the

sexy, aspirational and most crucially, normal.

But the job is far from done: there was much

2016 has laid the some strong editorial and

to be less excited about in 2016. Whilst the BBC

operational foundations. 2017 must be about

job for productions that promised no carbon

proudly boasts that monthly iPlayer requests

up scaling and translating a handful of excellent

savings but was embraced across the broadcast

continue to grow by two per cent, consider the

examples into ‘business as usual’. We won’t be

sector. In spite of the absence of a clear strategic

impact that this demand is putting on servers

able to do this by working in isolation, so if you’re

direction, the tool was introduced at each of

and the electricity that fuels them. The industry

wondering how to get involved with the transition,

the UK’s broadcasters, as everyone involved

cannot allow for its online footprint to continue

turn to your communities. I believe that a unified

understood that something desperately needed

growing in this way. Productions aren’t off the

industry plan will be the sole route to success.

to happen. This spirit and resolve continues to

hook either; to achieve that gleaming icy shot,

Such a plan will only succeed with the support

carry the project six years on, a project which

chartering aircrafts to transport snow melted by a

of the agencies, associations, academies and

now has a clear vision and action plan; to provide

changed climate is a pretty shortsighted thing to

institutions, the groups that bind us all together.

industry colleagues with the inspiration and

do. Still, with the carbon footprint of the industry’s

Turn to them and ask for more to be done.

opportunities to act on their carbon footprints and

technological architecture and productions

Together, we can do it.

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