We’re back with episode 11 of the In the Hub podcast! In this episode, Neil speaks to Roger Thornton – Copy Cruncher at IABM, Chairman on the Exhibition Committee at IBC and long-time Marketing and PR professional in our industry. Roger recalls how he got started in broadcasting and media, gives his advice on communicating effectively as a company during COVID-19 and whether all publicity really is good publicity.
How to assure quality of experience in today’s streaming landscape
When video is distributed over the open internet, there are many factors that can impact end users’ QoE, such as ISP networks, access technology, wi-fi networks, and the CDN. This complex landscape, further complicated by the increasing scale and fragmentation of both devices and networks, makes it harder for humans to monitor and tackle QoE issues before they become known to the viewer. With all this in mind, there’s a clear need to automate QoE monitoring and service assurance.
In this presentation, Edgeware’s Johan Bolin demonstrates the role of automation regarding real-time video QoE monitoring and service assurance and the ways it can improve how teams operate and video services perform in the current streaming climate. Learn how this can be done here: https://bit.ly/378IkLk
Media Workspaces During COVID-19 and Beyond
The COVID-19 global pandemic has forced nearly every company to reassess their media workspaces as they plan their employee’s return to the office and meet stringent new safety guidelines. While many can continue to leverage telework technology, there remain several in the media industry whose work practices are tied to a specialized, physical environment. Sustaining these “place-based functions” in both work-from-home and return-to-office situations creates a material challenge for any organization. We have learned by working with our clients in such situations that the workplace will be significantly altered for some time to come. And, despite the unfortunate condition created by this global crisis, some of these changes may improve performance and productivity. Here are some key points on what we’ve seen:
1. Telework is Real:
Several categories of staff may never return to a ‘traditional’ office environment, based on the successful adoption of telework. Cloud enterprise applications, web conferencing, and a reliable broadband connection allow a mobile phone and a laptop computer to sufficiently mimic the office environment for many administrative, financial and back office support roles. This will reduce the quantity of people in one space at a time, especially in an open office environment where it is difficult to social distance during the workday.
How it affects the workplace:
We envision that roles needing dedicated offices or meeting spaces may be retained to a degree and that an open office plan may be partly (or entirely) replaced with either schedulable ‘hotel offices’ or even the return of cubicles.
2. Don’t Attempt to Contain the Creative:
Creative teams quickly adopted web conferencing tools to communicate, but there are many times when getting in the same space to collaborate, ideate and be creative require an interpersonal human dynamic that even the best web conferencing and online collaboration tools cannot satisfy.
How it affects the workplace:
To meet the need for this in-person interaction, we are forecasting a change in these spaces from open bench-type plans with small conference rooms, to larger technology-powered “collaboration rooms” where people can be creative but maintain their distance. This way, project or production teams can come together a couple days a week for those key sessions and otherwise work remotely.
3. High Tech is Affordable:
The need for dedicated, ultra-high-end technical spaces will remain for those needing to attain the Gold Standard finish on specific kinds of productions. For example, theatrical audio mix, Foley stages, and color grading, require very specific architectural spaces and high cost technologies. This is impractical, and sometimes even impossible, to replicate in small satellite operations or in the home. But many creative professionals can do a significant portion of their work using software, multi-core computers and high-quality video monitors while at home. The sophistication of the work that can be performed is further extended when leveraging cloud compute options or low latency virtualization platforms that can tether an operator to the physical systems back in the office. And the solutions for a substantial amount of this work to be done remotely is finally affordable.
How it affects the workplace:
We predict two conditions in this area: The first is the continuance of in-facility, ultra-high-end technical environments for many creative professionals to perform critical quality work. And secondly, an increase in mid-level home studio environments for when you don’t need ‘the big room.’ When companies run the financial models for the cost of physical space leaseholds and capital improvements against the deployment of applications and commoditized hardware at home, the result may be surprising.
There is no doubt that facility architects are reviewing and re-envisioning how the office environment can evolve to meet ever changing health and safety requirements for all types of organizations in the media industry. From the types of spaces needed, to their critical adjacencies. From presence detection to environmental treatments. Everything is getting a look.
While the physical spaces will be altered for those employees returning to the office environment, for those remaining remote for the longer term, special business considerations must be given to the security of sensitive company and personal data, as well as the content itself. Fortunately, Diversified’s Emerging Technology & Solutions practice partners with numerous technology manufacturers and service providers who enable these controls.
Join us for our next installment of our Media Workspaces series where we dive deeper into some of these solutions.
On-Air, From Anywhere
Increasing Productivity and Flexibility Through Newsroom Automation
The COVID-19 pandemic with its shelter in place orders and social distancing mandates has transformed the flexibility to effectively work remote from a luxury into an operational necessity . Large meetings are now taking place virtually from dining room tables and the morning commute to the office has gone from 45 minutes to just 45 steps—including that pitstop for your morning coffee. Just as boardrooms have moved into the dining room, newsroom operations are also finding their new home outside of the broadcast facility. However, leading technology manufacturers are helping media operations make this transition without skipping a beat.
Sony’s ELC (Enhanced Live Control) Automation System is designed to meet the growing demands of broadcasters for newsroom automation to enhance operational efficiency and newsroom productivity from any location. Faced with the common challenge facing many of today’s industries of needing to deliver more with less, broadcasters are leveraging newsroom automation to increase their production capabilities and overall programming without increasing their costs.
Solutions like Sony’s ELC supports new efficiencies for media operations via enhanced remote capabilities that include full control room operation with as few as a single operator—from any location. For example, let’s say a station in Miami and a station in Denver are both equipped with ELC systems, and a hurricane or even a COVID-19 case forces the evacuation of the Miami facility. These two sites could easily establish a trust connection that would enable the Denver location to have temporary remote control and in order to maintain on-air production.
In addition to these emergency type situations, the ELC also supports a centralized control hub model to improve staff utilization and support a remote workforce. Whether working in a centralized facility or even their home, remote directors can newscast programs for multiple stations from anywhere in the country, bringing more shows and high-level talent to each of the network’s markets.
While solutions that met the immediate need for a remote workforce have certainly taken off in 2020, constantly changing conditions are still pushing an evolution of technology to deliver an enhanced ability to be connected while apart. Solutions like this that promote a hybrid environment and offer a seamless remote and on-site connection will continue to provide lasting value.
Contact us to learn more about Sony’s ELC Remote Automation System >
Temperature Check Kiosks as a First Line of Safety Defense
Thought leaders discuss the capabilities of Diversified’s VitalSign and its role in helping protect what’s important—people’s safety
As businesses continue to slowly reopen amid the ongoing pandemic, safety is naturally a top priority to protect employees as well as customers. Jay Leedy, director of business development at Diversified, and Paul Harris, CEO/CTO of Aurora Multimedia Corp, join Daniel Litwin, ProAV Podcast host, to discuss how VitalSign temperature check kiosks offers a different kind of safety enhancing solution.
Powered by Aurora, Diversified’s Vitalsign is a contactless temperature check kiosk that also scans for masks, can log data for future reference and offers remote monitoring capabilities. With a customizable interface, the system can be tailored to meet each client’s specific needs and screening process requirements.
“Our customers have really gravitated towards the idea that this device can serve a purpose in their facilities long-term rather than just as temperature check kiosks,” says Leedy. “VitalSign is also a solution for light weight digital signage serving the need for corporate communications and situational awareness.”
New Technology in the Live Production IP Landscape
New Technology in the Live Production IP Landscape
Over the past few decades, information technology capabilities have expanded to revolutionize and deliver efficiency in every industry. However, the video content creation industry has been relatively slow to embrace and adopt IT transformation. This is because the massive amount of data in video content tends to prevent smooth transfer via Ethernet connections. But now the latest technological developments have answered this challenge, enabling the adoption of IP-based video and audio streams for use even in live production environments which demand real-time operation without delay.
Watch “New Technology in the Live Production IP Landscape” and learn how IP solutions are making live production more agile, flexible and cost effective. With subject matter expertise from Diversified and Sony!
During this in-depth webinar on Sony’s IP-enabled solutions, you will learn:
- How IP technology is enabling virtualized production environments
- An overview of cutting-edge tools designed for SDI and IP environments
- A walkthrough of next-generation workflows being driven by IP
See examples of our live production work >
The Inner Workings of Live Production Control Automation
Learn how to increase the efficiency and consistency of your broadcasts through event-based control of newsroom devices. During this in-depth webinar, you will learn:
- The NRCS centric operational philosophy for creating, scheduling, and editing live events.
- The benefits of drag-and-drop operations for event scheduling and cue editing.
- How resource management features warn operators of potential impending conflicts including; camera shot, play-out channel, or switcher resource management.
- How to secure on-air operations using a single on-air playlist interface for taking cues and monitoring the playlist events during the live production.
- How playlist viewers can confirm the playlist sequence in real-time.
With subject matter expertise from Diversified and Sony!
See examples of our live production work >
The Future Trends of News Production
The newsroom of 2020 is a very different beast from that of 2010s. Especially in the current climate. Rapid and disruptive changes are happening, so how do we understand the future of newsrooms in such a dynamic time?
Most importantly, let’s consider how newsrooms have evolved from those of the past. Broadcasters need to listen up when it comes to their technological need in order to future proof workflows. Non-linear working, file based systems, social media, citizen journalism, AI, the cloud, the ability to work remotely, have all been disruptors to the old standard.
As a systems vendor, we have had to adapt our approach to ensure we’re helping our customers stay ahead of the curve, and optimise our offering to ensure newsrooms are working in 2020, and beyond. As journalists are required to do more and more, with less budget, amongst other things, this means establishing proper professional tools to navigate the disruptive elements. This means ensuring broadcasters and journalists workflows are time and cost efficient, along with brand agnostic.
The modern newsroom is seen as being output agnostic – but the newsroom of the future will be that way from the ground up. In order to understand where newsrooms are going, we must understand where they began and how they’ve evolved, and how technology can assist in combating the disruptions, especially unforseen disruptions like COVID-19. Take a glimpse into the newsroom of the future and learn:
– How to navigate newsroom disruptors like nonlinear working, social media, citizen journalists, AI, cloud, and turn them into strengths instead
– Why output agnostic newsrooms are the way of the future
– How to do more in bringing a story to life, with less budget
– How to utilise remote capabilities to keep connected with coworkers around the world
– How to futureproof the newsroom
Discover how xR can engage your audiences like never before
disguise’s xR technology empowers the world’s leading brands, artists and production houses to bring to life compelling visual experiences in virtual production.
It allows designers to create immersive visual experiences using Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). Combining disguise’s 3D visualisation-based software and high-performance robust hardware, xR seamlessly orchestrates an array of technologies including LED, camera tracking and real-time content engines to extend a small studio space into an unlimited virtual world.
By using LED screens or projection surfaces in the space, xR allows presenters or actors to step in and be absorbed into a virtual environment where they can see the entire set and even computer generated objects added into it, giving directors the opportunity to capture raw emotion.
The capabilities of xR are utilised in ways far beyond initial blue sky thinking, powering nearly 100 groundbreaking productions since its launch earlier this year, from live music and film to corporate events and education.
Watch disguise CSO Tom Rockhill walk in and interact with an xR-enabled virtual environment from a small LED stage space in the disguise office. He can see real-time graphics playing off the LED panels surrounding him, including overlaid AR characters in the foreground. Tom will also showcase a previous broadcast application for Eurosport’s coverage of this year’s US Open, where disguise partners White Light used the xR workflow to deliver a virtual studio where the presenter could virtually interview Novak Djokovic whose live image was teleported into the Eurosport studio from a different studio location.
Find out more about the disguise xR solution: https://www.disguise.one/en/xr/the-solution/
Introducing SNS Cloud VPN: Convenient, Secure Remote Access to Your EVO Server
SNS VPN is here, and there, and everywhere.
Remote editing workflows are a necessity for today’s production and post-production environments. The need for rapidly deployable remote access solutions has never been greater. To help creative teams stay connected to their media from everywhere, we are excited to introduce our new cloud-hosted VPN service for EVO users: SNS VPN.
Your team can now access their media storage server from anywhere in the world, over a safe and secure connection with SNS VPN, the virtual private network exclusively for EVO.
Best of all: Your SNS VPN remote access service can be configured and ready to go in under an hour!
What is SNS VPN?
It’s the best way to access your media from outside the studio (or office, or school, or church, or wherever your EVO is physically located).
SNS VPN is a cloud-hosted virtual private network (VPN) purpose-built for EVO shared storage servers. It acts as a tunnel through the internet, providing a secure, encrypted connection to the private network where your EVO lives, from your public internet connection at home, or anywhere.
Whether you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot in the airport, doing some remote work on the weekend, or editing from home full-time, simply authenticate to your SNS VPN service from any internet connection and you can instantly and securely access your EVO server from anywhere in the world.
With the safe and secure VPN service by SNS, your team has continuous and on-demand remote access to your in-studio EVO server from any remote location, so they can access the important projects, media, and advanced workflows they normally use every day. It’s a simple and convenient remote editing solution for production teams working from home, editors on-the-go, and hybrid teams working across multiple locations.
Users can access EVO’s entire suite of workflow tools when connected to the media server remotely. Remote access to ShareBrowser media asset manager lets your team search, tag, comment, and preview EVO’s media files from anywhere. You can also automate backups and file transfers remotely with Slingshot, EVO’s automations engine and API. And most importantly, editors can retrieve their auto-generated proxy files for a simple remote editing workflow with Nomad, EVO’s remote editing utility. All of these software tools are included free with EVO and accessible remotely when connected via SNS VPN.
How Does it Work?
SNS VPN is a cloud-hosted solution, meaning it requires no additional hardware for you to deploy. To get started with your subscription, our support team will install a small plug-in app onto your EVO through a scheduled remote session. They’ll walk you through the basics, and by the end of the session, your EVO shared storage server will be fully configured for your team’s new and improved remote editing workflow. The whole process normally takes less than an hour!
From there, your SNS VPN cloud service can be managed by your administrator through a user-friendly admin dashboard. The dashboard includes convenient tools to manage which users can access the server remotely, usage statistics, and more. Our new SNS VPN service is also incredibly useful for production teams that hire freelance editors, as administrators can add and remove users’ remote privileges in real time or on an automated schedule, with ease.
For example, a freelance editor can use SNS VPN to edit a project for their employer one day, then be removed from the approved user pool the next when they no longer need access. There is no per-seat licensing, so you can share your SNS VPN subscription with as many users as necessary!
The most important thing about SNS VPN is that it’s remarkably easy to deploy and use, giving your team hassle-free remote access to the EVO workflow tools they rely on every day.
How Can I Get it?
We’re glad you asked! New and existing EVO customers can purchase SNS VPN through an authorized reseller or from SNS directly. Contact us for more information.
While other remote connection options can be tedious and difficult to set up, SNS VPN can be deployed quickly without major changes to your IT infrastructure and firewall—in most cases you won’t have any networking changes to make at all on your end. In fact, SNS VPN has many features designed to make your team’s transition to remote editing as easy as possible. With quick and easy setup, a safe and secure connection, and comprehensive administrative tools, SNS VPN is an ideal remote editing solution for all EVO users.
To improve your team’s work-from-anywhere capabilities, get SNS VPN today!