Vitec explains how to enhance broadcast workflows with video delivered over IP

As internet protocols and cloud resources play a larger role in broadcast video workflows, production pioneers are identifying the technologies and processes that must be implemented to streamline operations.

Eric Deniau, SVP of R&D at Vitec, offers his insights on the shifting trends and emerging challenges in the broadcast sector plus, the actions broadcasters should consider adapting to an increasingly competitive business landscape.

The broadcast sector is an industry in transition

The broadcast sector not only faces competition from other broadcasters but also increasing competition from streaming providers with lower operational costs – and simpler distribution mechanisms – through internet protocol-based infrastructure.

It is an important context because broadcasters operate in a very fragmented environment. Some have fully embraced emerging technologies – such as advanced compression standards, analytics, and automated workflows, but that’s not the majority.

New IP-based technologies

Integrating new workflows over years of legacy practices has tide effects that move the foundations

This hybrid environment creates a lot of complexity. Forward and backward compatibility is critical. It means that, as an industry, we must remain diligent in ensuring that workflows and standards continue to work for legacy operations while creating a bridge for broadcasters to get up and running on these new IP-based technologies and processes.

The implications are significant. Integrating new workflows over years of legacy practices has ripple effects that impact the very foundations of established industry practices.

Challenging legacy operations

Several technological developments over the past half-decade have led to an increased application and viability of high-quality internet protocol production and distribution processes.

Moreover, advanced compression standards have continued to create gains of about 50% in asset file-size efficiency every seven years. This combined with increased internal network capacity – with 10-gigabit networks now becoming the market standard – is democratising the distribution of compressed and uncompressed video feeds in large organisations across the board. This is good news for broadcasters, but it also reduces the barriers to entry for over-the-top providers.

Efficient routeing algorithms

Advances in low latency encoding/decoding and efficient routeing algorithms have reduced screen-to-screen latency to the frame level – even over standard IP networks. We have also seen the emergence of new protocols that allow the delivery of full broadcast-compatible data over IP networks (such as SMPTE2110). These further increase integration of production workflows with distribution mechanisms.

Digital nature of video over IP makes it prime content to be processed with AI-powered algorithms

By leveraging the same network for full broadcast-quality video with compressed low-resolution proxies for streamlined production operations, broadcasters have an opportunity to remove costs while accelerating time-to-value.

Finally, the digital nature of video over IP makes it prime content to be processed with artificial intelligence-powered algorithms, such as pattern matching. When AI is combined with metadata, it creates powerful management tools for storage, retrieval, editing, mixing, and all sorts of computer-based processing.

Advanced management software

Advanced management software executed on edge devices offers additional opportunities to introduce more efficient processes across the production and distribution lifecycle. It is prompting pioneers to revisit video, audio, caption, geo-localisation, and time code workflows.

This has laid the groundwork for the democratisation and specialisation of broadcast production where production managers will be able to achieve higher levels of output with lower efforts, while also developing more targeted content. In other words, it is not enough to simply apply the technologies. Broadcasters must revisit their processes to ensure optimal efficiency from a technical and financial perspective.

Navigating operational transition

Harnessing these new technology-enabled operations will require executives and IT pioneers

Harnessing these new technology-enabled operations will require executives and IT pioneers to adapt their current strategies. The first thing they will need to ensure is that their corporate IT networks are upgraded or even re-designed to handle the volume and complexity of new video applications and traffic flowing over corporate infrastructures.

They will also need to decide on interface strategies for managing interactions between corporate and external distribution networks. This represents a large shift in conventional practices because broadcast facilities have traditionally been siloed from corporate infrastructure.

New organisational competencies

Very careful attention must be paid to the design, development, and deployment of these next-generation converged corporate networks across the broadcast sector. The quality of their choices will impact the capabilities and interoperability of the entire production and distribution system. 

Broadcasters will have to ensure that new organisational competencies – supported by the technical talent that understands the new converged environment – are in place for sustained, future-proof success.