QD Broadcast Technology – Cloud and AI’s impact on Sports Broadcast

Zhu Jianping, CEO, QD Broadcast Technology

In recent years, with the rapid development of AI and cloud technology, my company and I have faced the impact of new technologies on the sports broadcasting industry, tried to apply cloud and AI to our business, and achieved good results. I will now share our practical experience in utilizing AI and cloud tech to enhance production efficiency and operational capabilities.

QD’s core products and services include event broadcasting and operations services, offering a one-stop solution for event copyright owners and rights-holding broadcasters, including live production on-site, centralized production services, and SaaS-based smart broadcasting platforms with AI and cloud technology. We offer event operation services to copyright owners and organizers, including HB services and smart venue operations, and provide interactive, personalized, high-quality audio-video and data services for spectators. Our key application technologies include video/audio processing, transmission, encoding and transcoding, ultra-high definition, VR/AR, AI, and cloud technology.

The heart of the sports broadcasting industry has always been radio and television technology, including analog to digital, from HD to UHD, and from stereo to 3D sound. With the swift advancement of new technologies like AI and cloud, industry professionals are pressed to update their knowledge, master new techniques. The route of QD is same. Beginning with radio and television, integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI and cloud, swiftly translating them into practical applications, and delivering cost-effective services to its clients.

QD developed a production center designed for sports events, located in Beijing, with 24-hour operation, producing six world feeds remotely. The transmission has end-to-end processing capabilities, equipped with MCR and PQC, to meet the needs of world feeds scheduling and monitoring. The core system follows the broadcasting standards and provides services for different types of RHBs such as TV stations and new medias. At the sports event site, TVLB, a company controlled by QD, has multiple UHD OB Vans built for sports event production, with experience in Tokyo Summer Olympics and Beijing Winter Olympics. It has become China’s earliest technology team to adopt 4K HDR UHD production.

QD’s service covers major sports events such as the Olympic Games and the National Games, as well as major league events such as the NBA, MLB, BWF, ATP, CSL, and CBA. The number of events exceeds 5,500 per year.

Facing the challenge of competition, QD has developed a “Smart Broadcast Platform” aimed at providing high-quality products, services, and overall solutions for industry customers. The platform is targeted at customers related to sports event broadcasting, giving them the ability to use smart broadcast technology for sports events, explore the value of event copyrights, and enhance the ability to operate content. Service forms include smart broadcast services for large-scale sports events, cloud production services, and remote production services.

Here, through several cases, I will share QD’s application practices in AI and cloud technology. The 2023 ITTF Mixed Team World Cup was held for the first time in Chengdu, China. QD provided high-quality and comprehensive services for this event. For example, the table one’s world feed needs to be embedded with English commentary. Because the commentators could not be present on site, QD’s cloud service successfully solved this problem. This remote commentary product controls the delay between commentary audio and Clean feed video within 1 second through low-latency transmission protocols, reducing the pressure on the production system to handle delays. Commentators in Singapore watch the Clean Feed and provide real-time commentary. Commentators in different locations can access the cloud commentary seat through a browser using a PC. The commentator audio is transmitted back to the production center or OB Van through a very low-latency transmission method. The production system embeds the commentator audio with clean feed signals and distributes them.

In the recently concluded 2024 Macao ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup, QD served as the HB, providing English commentary services for the RHBs. Each match was jointly completed by two English commentators. Four English commentators were located in the EdgeMedia studio in Singapore. This reduces the travel and accommodation expenses of commentators. In addition, QD also provides world feeds distribution services by cloud.

Using its AI application, QD integrates its expertise in sports event broadcasting into Sports venues for public fitness activities, fulfilling low-cost automation and intelligence. Cameras are set up in the playground to stream live to the smart broadcasting platform.

The AI processing service can identify events such as goals, attacks, and shots and provide the events data associated with their occurrence. Using this event data, the platform integrates with the live production system to automate the production of short video-clips without manual work. Users can access multi-camera live feeds and short video clips via apps. QD’s smart broadcast service has been successfully implemented at Changsha Football park, offering services such as multi-angle live camera feeds, replays, short clips, and event data.

Through the integration of cloud and AI technology, QD has experienced an average annual growth of over 35% in broadcast services. With business growth, QD has effectively managed its operating costs. The annual operating expenses have decreased by 40%, and operational efficiency has improved by 19%. Cloud & AI technology is the driver for cost reduction and operational enhancement.

We look forward to discussing with our RHBs, developers, event operators and other colleagues ways to explore the driving force of innovative technology on the sports event broadcasting industry and work together to create new commercial applications.

Thank you.

Kiloview – A technical dialogue with an AVoIP Expert, sharing their insights on NDI 6.0

The announcement of NDI 6: “The next step in IP connectivity”

The recent announcement of NDI 6 has been highly anticipated in the AV over IP industry. NDI technology maintains a significant leadership position with its software-driven video transmission concept, tailored for IP networks and internet applications. These advancements provide unique advantages over other IP technologies. With the latest developments, we see notable progress in supporting HDR video encoding and decoding capabilities, as well as cross-internet applications. Tools like NDI Bridge introduced in NDI 5 had limitations that NDI 6 has now addressed, making it an exciting development for the entire industry.

Key features of NDI 6: Native HDR support and enhanced NDI Bridge Utility

HDR significantly enhances the visual experience. While HDR is not new in the video industry and is supported by various audio/video devices, integrating it into NDI posed several technical challenges due to the need for video conversion during encoding compression. A major challenge was the lack of support for 10-bit or 12-bit encoding in previous NDI implementations. NDI 6 resolves this issue and includes the capability to transmit HDR metadata alongside NDI network transmission, thereby significantly improving HDR support to meet the demands of various industries for high-quality video and image content.

NDI Bridge, present since NDI 5, was initially limited to computer-based tools, requiring at least two computers for cross-internet NDI transmission. This method, while effective, relied solely on software and was primarily available for Windows systems. With NDI 6, NDI Bridge Utility has been standardized as an internal component of the NDI SDK, ensuring that all products/devices using the NDI SDK can provide NDI Bridge Utility functionality. This development facilitates seamless internet connectivity between all NDI devices, promoting communication and collaboration across the audio/video industries.

The challenge of moving from 8-bit to 10-bit+

The major challenge is technical limitations such as transmission and storage bandwidth. Assuming when we use 8-bit color depth, it means we have 2 to the power of 8 (bit), which gives us 256 color levels. These 256 levels now allow for 256 steps in color transition. However, this limited number of levels can only represent a restricted range of colors. When it comes to presenting very delicate details, it may lead to certain issues. Additionally, when we talk about HDR, we have to consider brightness and color, which involves the concept of the gamma curve. To put it simply, 8-bit color depth struggles to represent a high dynamic range effectively.

Now, let’s consider 10+ bit performance. Technically, we know that video compression requires capturing & storing images first, and then using CPU or FPGA processing to compress the images. Although it might seem that increasing from 8-bit to 10-bit is just a 25% increase, when it comes to storage, this additional data significantly impacts memory usage. Since memory is structured in 8-bit bytes, storing 10-bit data means that we may need an additional byte. This results in a substantial increase in memory access bandwidth, which, in turn, places a much higher demand on the processing power of the CPU or FPGA. Therefore, overcoming the performance leap from 8-bit to 10-bit is not an easy technical hurdle. This is why, up until now, the industry has mostly stuck with 8-bit processing for IP-based networks.

Leading the way: Kiloview’s forward-thinking approach

Kiloview’s N series (N50/N60) was designed with the aim of supporting HDR and achieving better image quality by supporting 10-bit or 12-bit encoding and color spaces like YUV 4:2:2 or even YUV 4:4:4. By starting the design and development process early, Kiloview ensured that its products were ready by the time NDI 6 was released. The hardware does not require any modifications to support NDI 6, thanks to this forward-thinking approach initiated at least two years ago. Kiloview carefully selected chips with processing power and bandwidth capabilities to meet the requirements, especially for implementing SpeedHQ, which relies on FPGA-based processing. For instance, products like N50/N60 series inherently possess 10-bit encoding and decoding capabilities for H.264 and H.265 compression and decompression.

Future prospects for NDI technology & Kiloview’s development

NDI’s greatest strength is its software-driven video concept. Compared to other AV over IP technologies, NDI stands out due to its unique, forward-thinking, software-based approach. While other AV over IP technologies heavily rely on hardware support, NDI’s software-driven methodology allows for encoding and decoding entirely via software, even on mobile and embedded devices. With NDI 6 expanding the concept of the internet, the future of NDI technology is full of possibilities and will undoubtedly lead the way in technological advancements.

NDI’s future expansion into more industries such as medical analysis, digital signage, conference rooms and auditoriums is promising, where tier-1 image quality is required for specific use. However, it still carries a certain level of specialization. Many users have provided feedback indicating that dealing with network-related issues or IP technology can be challenging once devices are connected to network switches, as the data transmission occurs within an invisible and intangible network.

Kiloview is committed to addressing these challenges. In the future, we envision our users being able to plug and play when using products, such as encoders, decoders, matrices, and other systems within the NDI ecosystem, without needing to master extensive networking knowledge. Upon connecting to the network, users will be able to view each device’s status, data flow direction, network anomalies, and device loads through a simple and intuitive graphical interface. Kiloview will provide dedicated control software to assist users in resolving these issues, enabling them to monitor and manage devices through a graphical interface without requiring an understanding of complex network technologies.

Caton – Beyond the Cloud: Intelligent IP Broadcasting

Michael Yang, SVP, Caton Technology

Introduction

The content delivery landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Audience demand for high-quality content explodes while traditional IP methods struggle to keep pace. They face limitations in scalability, flexibility, and reliance on the unpredictable nature of the public internet.

The good news is that a revolutionary approach is emerging, driven by the exciting convergence of cutting-edge technologies. This approach leverages distributed cloud architecture and the power of Artificial Intelligence to completely reshape content transmission. In this article, we will delve into this future of intelligent IP broadcasting and explore how it empowers broadcasters not only to overcome these challenges but also to deliver exceptional experiences for their audiences.

The evolving landscape of IP content delivery

Traditionally, broadcasters relied on a variety of delivery methods, each with its drawbacks:

Satellites: While offering broad coverage, satellites suffer from high latency and weather disruptions. Additionally, their high costs and limited bandwidth hinder high-definition content delivery. A 2023 Euroconsult report predicts a decline in satellite revenues due to these limitations¹.
Leased lines and MPLS: These options offer reliability but come with a hefty price tag and limited scalability. They also introduce a single point of failure, making them vulnerable to disruptions. Further solidifying this shift, a recent Gartner Magic Quadrant report published in October 2023 highlights the growing prominence of Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) solutions. This trend underscores the limitations of traditional leased lines and MPLS networks, paving the way for more agile and cost-effective approaches like Intelligent IP Broadcasting².
Public Internet: The public internet is cost-effective but notoriously unreliable. Frequent outages, congestion, and security vulnerabilities make it a risky choice for critical content delivery. A 2023 ThousandEyes report found over 300 major ISP outages occur weekly, emphasizing the public internet’s unpredictability³.

The rise of Intelligent IP Broadcasting

These limitations pave the way for a new era of IP broadcasting, driven by:

Distributed cloud architecture: This approach utilizes a network of globally distributed points of presence (PoPs) that overlay the public internet. These PoPs intelligently manage traffic, ensuring low latency and optimal routing for seamless delivery. A 2023 white paper by Forrester Research predicts that distributed cloud adoption will reach 50% of global enterprises by 2027, highlighting its growing importance⁴.
AI-Powered smart routing: Imagine a complex web of roads with constantly changing traffic conditions. Traditional IP delivery methods treat these roads like static routes, leading to inefficiencies and delays. AI-powered smart routing transforms this approach by dynamically choosing the optimal paths for content delivery in real-time.

Distributed cloud architecture

The brains behind Intelligent Delivery: AI-Powered smart routing

Here’s how AI-powered smart routing works:

Real-time network analysis: The AI engine constantly collects data on internet traffic patterns, network congestion levels, and available bandwidth on different routes. Tools like network monitoring systems and big data platforms feed this information into the AI, providing a real-time picture of the global internet landscape.
Algorithmic route selection: Sophisticated algorithms process this vast amount of data. They factor in latency, bandwidth availability, potential bottlenecks, and historical performance data to identify the most efficient routes for each content transmission. This ensures content avoids congested areas and takes advantage of underutilized pathways.

Dynamic route adaptation: Unlike static routes, AI-powered smart routing is constantly adapting. The AI continuously monitors network conditions and proactively adjusts routes in real-time. If congestion arises on a previously optimal path, the AI swiftly reroutes the content to a less congested alternative. This dynamic approach ensures consistent performance and minimizes the risk of delays or disruptions.

AI-powered smart routing

Network performance monitoring and diagnostics (NPMD): Beyond routing

Having AI choose the most efficient routes is crucial, but true peace of mind comes from network visibility. This is where Network Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics (NPMD) comes into play. Traditional monitoring tools offer a limited view, often reactive rather than proactive. Intelligent IP broadcasting demands a more sophisticated approach, exemplified by specialized NPMD solutions tailored for Broadcasters and Media Owners.

Benefits of Intelligent IP Broadcasting

By embracing intelligent IP Broadcasting solutions powered by distributed cloud architecture, AI, and advanced NPMD, broadcasters unlock a multitude of benefits:

Unmatched reliability: AI-powered smart routing and proactive problem identification with NPMD ensure consistent and reliable content delivery.
Reduced costs: Leveraging the public internet infrastructure as an overlay allows for cost-effective delivery compared to traditional options.
Global reach: Distributed cloud architecture facilitates content delivery to international audiences at a lower cost, expanding market reach.
Flexibility and scalability: The system adapts to changing content demands and easily scales to accommodate future growth.

Conclusion

The future of content delivery is intelligent. Broadcasters can unlock a new era of possibilities by embracing intelligent IP broadcasting solutions powered by AI, distributed cloud architecture, and advanced Network Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics (NPMD). Imagine delivering exceptional experiences to global audiences with unmatched reliability at a fraction of the traditional cost. This intelligent approach goes beyond efficient routing; it provides broadcasters real-time network visibility and proactive problem identification. This translates to true peace of mind, knowing your content will reach its destination seamlessly every time. Intelligent IP broadcasting is not just about technology; it’s about empowering broadcasters to redefine how content reaches audiences and ignites deeper connections.

References:

1, https://digital-platform.euroconsult-ec.com/product/space-economy-report/

2,:https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/analysis/gartner-magic-quadrant-reveals-sd-wan-leaders-plus-sase-and-genai-trends/2023/10/)

3, https://status.thousandeyes.com/

4, https://www.forrester.com/blogs/category/cloud-computing/

Brightcove – Embracing UltraHD: The next phase of visual and auditory experience

Yuriy Reznik, Vice President of Research, Brightcove

As technology advances, the demand for higher quality visual and auditory experiences grows. Ultra-High Definition (UltraHD) formats, which significantly exceed the quality of traditional High Definition (HD), are becoming increasingly common across various devices. However, despite the progress, the industry still faces challenges in ensuring these formats effectively reach all users.

What is UltraHD?

UltraHD marks a significant improvement in media quality. Visually, it offers higher resolutions (4K with 2160 lines versus HD 1080 or 720 lines), faster frame rates (up to 120fps compared to HD’s 29.97 or 59.94fps), a wider variety of colors (BT.2020 vs BT.709), higher dynamic range (HDR vs SDR), and higher reliability in visual representation (10- or 12-bit color depth vs 8-bit in HD). This results in clearer, more life-like images with more vibrant colors and greater detail.

When it comes to audio, UltraHD uses next-generation audio codecs, which transmit not only traditional channels but also “audio objects.” These objects enable more precise spatial audio rendering and richer immersive audio experience. Features such as dialog enhancements, multi-language options, and extensive metadata also improve the audio experience.

The evolution of UltraHD

The journey of UltraHD began in the early 2010s as advancements in technology were accelerating at a rapid pace. The ITU-T’s BT.2020 specification, which offered a wider color spectrum, emerged in 2012, followed by the HEVC video codec in 2013. By 2014, the first HDR video specifications were developed. The formation of the UltraHD Forum in 2015 also played a crucial role, offering guidelines for content preparation, encoding and post-production workflows.

Today, UltraHD is widely implemented, with around 250 TV channels and OTT services delivering content in this format – and major media companies like Sky, BBC, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video are leading the charge. User-generated content on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook now also appears in UltraHD formats. The widespread adoption of this technology has set a new standard for media consumption, making UltraHD the expected quality for new content.

UltraHD across different devices

For devices to support UltraHD formats, they require upgrades in hardware, operating system software, and applications. TV sets were the first to make the switch, with most Smart TVs now capable of supporting UltraHD. This early adoption is why these devices are often referred to as UltraHD TVs. Despite a slow start, mobile devices soon followed, accelerated by Apple’s adoption of HEVC and HDR formats into iPhones and iPads, which significantly boosted the availability and consumption of UltraHD content on mobile platforms.

Despite the early uptake for TVs and mobile devices, PCs and laptops lagged behind due to their multi-purpose nature. Video watching is just one of the many functions these devices perform, so the need to upgrade to UltraHD was less urgent. It wasn’t until the early 2020s that HDR-supported displays for consumer PCs became common. Windows 11’s support for HDR and updates in web browsers now enable UltraHD playback on these devices, marking significant progress. Today, high-end gaming laptops as well as regular productivity-category laptops are increasingly built with HDR-capable screens and playback, allowing a broader audience to experience UltraHD content.

Opportunities and challenges

The growth of UltraHD support across a wide range of devices opens up a host of new opportunities. UltraHD content offers more realistic, vibrant, and engaging experiences, comparable to a top-class cinema. The demand for higher-quality content can increase premium pricing and viewer engagement across numerous industries. For example in advertising, brands can benefit from better visual and audio quality to create more immersive adverts and ultimately increase viewer retention and response rates.

However, some challenges still remain. Ad insertion in UltraHD content requires careful consideration to avoid visually unpleasant and distracting transitions due to much higher dynamic range realizable by video and ad creative content. For example, transitioning from a dark scene in the main content to a brightly lit advert can be visually unpleasant – likened to being blinded by car headlights. Ensuring smooth transitions and maintaining a consistent visual experience across ads is essential to avoid disrupting the viewer’s experience.

Device fragmentation also creates a challenge, as not all devices can support HDR and UltraHD formats consistently. While OTT systems can manage multi-format streaming, there is still work to be done when it comes to broadcast and mixed delivery methods. This fragmentation means that content providers must prepare multiple versions of their content to accommodate different device formats, resulting in higher costs of content distribution.

What’s next for UltraHD?

As the industry continues to evolve, the broader adoption of UltraHD across all devices is inevitable. This shift offers numerous opportunities for richer media experiences but also requires coordinated efforts to overcome the challenges of widespread UltraHD adoption.

By working together, industry-wide organizations such as UltraHD Forum, Streaming Video Technology Alliance, and UltraHD Alliance can ensure that the benefits of UltraHD reach everyone, transforming how we experience digital media. Ensuring that all devices and platforms can deliver consistent, high-quality UltraHD content will be the key to unlocking the potential of UltraHD and providing viewers with the best possible experiences.

Akta – Revolutionizing video monetization: the power of automation in ad insertion

In the dynamic landscape of online streaming, the battle for eyeballs and advertising revenue is fiercer than ever. As viewers continue to shift towards digital platforms, content providers face the challenge of not just delivering engaging content but also monetizing it effectively. In this realm, automation is emerging as a game-changer, particularly in the realm of ad insertion.

One of the pivotal technologies driving this revolution is SCTE-35 markers. These markers, embedded within broadcast content, serve as signposts for ad insertion opportunities. And at the forefront of harnessing the potential of SCTE-35 markers is Akta, a leading innovator in video monetization solutions.

Akta’s prowess lies in its ability to interpret these markers seamlessly, leveraging them to interact with clients’ ad networks and retrieve individualized ads for each viewer. This level of automation ensures that every viewer receives tailored ad content, maximizing engagement and ultimately driving up CPMs and ad rates.

But what if a media company’s content lacks these SCTE-35 markers? Here’s where Akta’s technology truly shines. Through the power of AI, it can analyze video content, detecting specific elements such as scene changes, audio shifts, or even black frames to create ad insertion points on the fly. This empowers content creators to monetize their offerings effectively, regardless of whether they’re working with broadcast-standard content or not.

The implications of this automation are profound. It’s not just about streamlining ad insertion processes; it’s about unlocking new revenue streams for video providers and broadcasters. By ensuring that ads are not just inserted but strategically placed for maximum impact, Akta’s technology transforms passive viewers into actively engaged consumers, driving higher returns for content creators and advertisers alike.

Moreover, this technology doesn’t just benefit the big players. Smaller media companies and independent content creators can now compete on a level playing field, armed with the tools to monetize their content effectively. This democratization of monetization pathways opens up new opportunities for diverse voices and niche content to thrive in the digital ecosystem.

As emerging technologies continue to evolve, the future of video monetization looks increasingly bright. Automation, powered by intelligent algorithms and AI, is paving the way for a more efficient, targeted, and ultimately lucrative advertising ecosystem. And as content providers embrace these innovations, they’re not just adapting to change; they’re driving it, shaping the future of digital entertainment and advertising in the process.

MEDIA & BROADCAST TECHNOLOGY: ST ENGINEERING IDIRECT’S CONTRIBUTION AND VISION

Bart De Moor, Senior Manager, Product Marketing ST Engineering iDirect

The media and broadcast industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by technological advancements that enable unprecedented efficiency and quality in content production and distribution. As a new member of IABM, ST Engineering iDirect is keen to contribute to this evolution, offering insights into how satellite technology can address the challenges faced in today’s media landscape.

The modern media and broadcast landscape is marked by the need for high efficiency and versatility. The evolution of broadcast technology has introduced DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X standards, which significantly enhance transmission efficiency. These advancements enable broadcast units to function as single transport stream modulators, demodulators or modems, providing both flexibility and high performance.

Satellite news gathering (SNG) and outside broadcasting (OB), for example, have seen transformative changes with the advent of IP-enabled technologies. In an increasingly connected world, broadcasters require the capability to share breaking news and live sports events swiftly across multiple platforms.

The demand for instant access to high-quality video content is higher than ever, necessitating solutions that can handle various video formats and meet modern viewer expectations.

Advances in satellite technology

Hybrid satellite and terrestrial network infrastructures offer comprehensive solutions for the contribution and distribution of content in multiple live and file formats. These integrated networks connect broadcasters and media service providers globally, leading to smarter operations, reduced operational expenditure and a timely response to evolving market needs.

This mix of technologies ensures comprehensive coverage for live events and newsgathering, providing the flexibility and reliability required in today’s fast-paced media environment.

ST Engineering iDirect’s award winning MxDMA MRC return channel technology combines the benefits of MF-TDMA (ideal for bursty traffic and higher contention services) and the spectrum efficiency of SCPC. MxDMA MRC scales in MHz independent of the number of terminals so customers may be served with a single return link for the majority of their use cases, minimizing operational complexity and maximizing statistic multiplexing:

On-demand variable bandwidth
Allocation
Seamless carrier resizing without
packet loss or additional jitter
No fragmentation of the space segment
Support of high bitrates

Meanwhile, the rise of OTT streaming services has significantly impacted the broadcast industry. The demand for high-quality video content continues to grow, placing immense pressure on broadband networks. Back in 2021, our teams, together with DVB members EasyBroadcast, EKT, Broadpeak and Quadrille, developed the first ecosystem that took the DVB-NIP standard and created a working demo and solution that is deployed today in South America. The DVB-NIP standard bridges the gap between broadband and broadcast networks, helping to pave the way for a truly converged media distribution solution. It uses the efficiency of broadcast networks for large-scale content distribution to modern IP devices fully integrating broadcast technologies with those used in broadband networks. The use of mABR (multicast Adaptive Bit Rate) can serve multiple markets and applications with formats like video (live, SVOD) but also files like push VOD and PDFs.

Video and IP distribution and contribution solutions

Our solutions for traditional and converged broadcast infrastructures (ASI) and IP-based workflows cover a whole range of satellite broadcast transmission applications from contribution to exchange and distribution. Both the amount of TV channels and higher quality of those (HD and imminent Ultra HD), create the need to distribute more data over satellite. In many regions of the world, the affordable satellite capacity is not available. Service Providers need platforms that are very efficient and use the most advanced transmission technologies.

Our large installed base in DTH (Direct-To-Home) proves that end-users and professional users benefit from its efficient technologies and mature product range. And our new MCX8000 multi-carrier satellite gateway is our latest award-winning product, providing a three-in-one future-proof solution with video and IP capabilities.

With the rising demand of OTT content, service providers are looking for new ways to distribute IP content with a bigger geographical reach, to offload their networks and connect underserved regions. Satellite can play a big role in this. The SKYflow ecosystem I mentioned earlier is a world’s first and is currently deployed in Peru where it provides free-to-air channels to residents in the country. Its diverse landscape is home to 34.5 million people, with a significant number of them living in poverty and lacking internet access. The digital divide was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, but had made the challenges the country was already experiencing much more difficult – lacking access to vital telemedicine services and e-learning materials.

Satellite can play a crucial role in helping to deliver connectivity for a range of landscapes, and the provision of the SKYflow ecosystem has enabled millions more across Peru to access those all-important services.

The latest shift in the industry involves blending all available IP networks, ensuring reliable connections by switching to satellite networks when terrestrial networks are insufficient or are not available.

This approach offers a robust solution for delivering high-quality video, regardless of location. Our offering answers broadcasters’ growing desire for greater performance, reliability and efficiency, as well as delivering a multi-service platform that is highly flexible and able to provide a myriad of applications used in the field today – going above and beyond what terrestrial networks can achieve.

Satellite tech: Broadcast evolution’s backbone

As the broadcast industry continues to evolve, the role of satellite technology remains crucial. By addressing current challenges and anticipating future needs, satellite solutions ensure that high-quality video content is accessible to audiences around the world.

ST Engineering iDirect is committed to contributing to this by demonstrating the enduring value of satellite technology and providing a trusted, reliable and effective approach to global connectivity.

More Screens – elevating multi-screen video delivery to new heights

We’re thrilled to announce that More Screens has joined IABM. As a new member, we are excited to share our journey, innovative products, and the unique value we bring to the table.

A Brief history of More Screens

More Screens is an established Research & Development company specializing in Multi-Screen Video Delivery solutions and services. With over 20 years of experience in the Video over IP business, our team is dedicated to setting new standards in partnering with our clients and providing them with innovative, integrated Multi-Screen Media solutions.

Our flagship product, the Multi-Screen Video Service Delivery Platform – Spectar+, is built on a robust technology platform that brings all operational tasks into a single centralized system. This integrated approach simplifies management, enhances reporting efficiency, and delivers more actionable results.

Our product: Spectar+

Spectar+ is designed to help customers build outstanding and profitable Video over IP platforms, suitable for any purpose and accessible on any device. Key features of our Spectar+ platform include:

Client Apps and Devices: Covers a wide range of platforms, including PC/Mac, Android AOSP, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS and more. This ensures seamless video delivery across all popular devices.
Customization and Rapid Deployment: Ready-to-customize end-user applications and rapid deployment capabilities make Spectar+ an efficient solution for diverse client needs.
Easy Integration: Integrates with existing 3rd party applications that are already being used by your business, quickly and easily.
APIs and SDKs: Offers high-level access to data through APIs and comprehensive SDKs, supported by extensive documentation.
Deployment Options: Flexible deployment options, including On-Premises and Cloud-Based SaaS, cater to various business requirements.
Analytics: Provides user behavior insights and customizable reports with filters for geolocation, user device, time interval, TV channel, and VOD asset.
Catalog Management: Efficiently manages assets like Linear TV, Radio, VOD, AOD, Catch-Up TV, and EPG.
CDN Management: Options for origin, edge, storage, and delivery zones ensure optimal content delivery.
STB Middleware: Features built-in launcher, device setup wizard, OTA updater, and more.
Customer Care Tools and OTA Module: Includes robust tools for help desk operations and over-the-air updates.
Multi-DRM: Supports various DRM technologies like Verimatrix, Microsoft PlayReady, Google Widevine, and Apple FairPlay.

Value to IABM members

As a member of IABM, More Screens aims to offer significant value to other members by providing comprehensive and innovative Multi-Screen Video Delivery solutions. Our platform is designed to support various business models, including Telecom, Cable, DTH operators, Broadcast Content Providers, and the HORECA sector.

Successful case studies

Our success stories include partnerships with prominent clients like T-com, Telecom Italia, Radio Television of Serbia, Radio Television Montenegro, Media Broadcast Satellite, Italian Senate, DigitAlb, Telekom Slovenije and more. These projects highlight our ability to deliver tailored solutions that drive customer satisfaction and business growth.

For example, our work with Hajduk Digital TV involved deploying our Spectar+ platform to enhance their digital TV service for their sports club, resulting in a more engaging viewer experience and streamlined operations. Similarly, our collaboration with RTS Planet, a public radio broadcaster, provided robust delivery solutions that improved their content distribution and viewer engagement metrics.

Final thoughts

More Screens is committed to pushing the boundaries of Multi-Screen Video Delivery. We look forward to collaborating with IABM members, sharing insights, and driving innovation within the broadcasting and media technology industry.

Ready to explore what More Screens can do for your organization? Visit our website to learn more about our solutions and how we can help you elevate your video delivery services.

GB Labs – Changing the landscape of modern shared media storage

Dominic Harland, CEO & CTO

GB Labs is a well-known provider of industry leading storage, focusing on media-based production storage, from traditional on-premise to innovative solutions, that are ideal for remote and hybrid working needs. The company was established over two decades ago on the premise that regular shared storage has multiple restrictions and complications that can make it expensive and problematic to use.

Modern day shared storage needs

Post pandemic, working patterns of the broadcasting industry changed beyond recognition.

Employing permanent home or remote workers, who may never actually go to an office, is the new norm and increasingly companies are also collaborating with freelancers and third parties for their media production needs. This outsourcing approach brings with it new challenges, such as how third parties gain access to specific files and media assets, securely, whilst also monitoring use?

GB Labs believes that traditional on-premise shared storage, which has always been about teams being ‘in the building’ or office, is not suitable where third party and freelancers are employed.

To address their needs, as well as those of in-house remote and hybrid teams, companies are looking for functionality that centrally manages storage, with the ability to provide fast secure storage to third parties.

This functionality needs to support fast and simple access for creatives to global shared storage, that can also be scaled up quickly as demand changes, all while keeping that “golden” content safe, secure and auditable, due to the nature of content concerns.

Here are some reasons why:

Faster workflows avoid the need to move data/hard drives around an office with potential loss of files and version confusion.

Working collaboratively worldwide and sharing work with colleagues in real-time, means that media teams can benefit from faster turnaround, saving time and money.

As no file duplication is required, integrity of data is maintained and hardware costs are cut, since no costly duplicate media is needed.

Compatibility means that separate operating systems can talk to each other and there are no complicated problems.

Assets are secured in a single point of truth making for simple backup, archive and MAM (Media Asset Management) strategies.

Global shared storage solutions

GB Labs believes that it’s not possible to manage your assets efficiently without global shared storage – it simply won’t work.

Customers want efficiency and flexibility to adapt to emerging technology, which allows them to retain their best editors, helps and provides elevated levels of security and encryption and does not compromise on speed.

Most importantly, they want technology that has the ability to work in harmony with existing and growing media workflows, whilst reducing costs of service.

GB Labs has developed new technology that solves these requirements and achieves something that is effective, convenient and simple to use, called Unify Hub. It optimizes media workflows for production and post-production houses, as well as every workflow that incorporates large media files.

In conjunction with GB Labs’ shared storage, Unify Hub provides a seamless solution for broadcasting and media teams, connecting all remote, on-premise and off-prem users to the central storage hub.

GB full media eco-system has the flexibility, scalability, speed and security for anyone working in the Media Tech industry. Its comprehensive and growing range of storage and archiving products are designed to serve its customers’ needs from ingest to archive and everything in between.

Solutions are scalable in both capacity and performance, with minimal downtime allowing you to ‘buy as you grow’, which helps to keep initial investments low.

GB Labs’ server solutions are shipped with their own operating system, CORE OS, which has been built from the ground up and optimized for media production. CORE OS enables Unify Hub and NebulaNAS, its soon (to be launched) cloud-based storage solution.

The current version is CORE.5, CORE.5 Lite and CORE.5 Cloud. CORE OS is designed to work on all sorts of different hardware.

GB Labs provides installation and front-line assistance by its in-house team of support engineers and offers a range of support packages to support business needs, including a remote engineer service and a cost-effective warranty of up to five years.

Unlike other manufacturers, all departments sit under one roof so that customers can make contact directly and support issues are dealt with extremely quickly and efficiently.

The future: always about the customer

GB Labs empowers creative workflows for some of the best-known names in the Media and Entertainment industry and has been much acclaimed for design and innovation, including pioneering spinning disk and SSD shared storage technology.

Its future lies in continuing to design, build and support advanced on-premise storage solutions, hybrid working solutions such as Unify Hub and cloud-based solutions, like NebulaNAS, to meet the demands of its customers, needing a shift in workflow. It will also continue to improve its connectivity to its CORE OS.

The future, it believes, is not just about offering a simple cloud or on-premise storage system but to offer the flexibility to move dynamically between the two.

Discover More about GB Labs: https://www.gblabs.com/

Net Insight – Putting media network security at the top of the IP agenda

David Edwards, Product Manager, Net Insight

IP is driving a new era of innovation and efficiency within the media industry, opening up more opportunities for growth and transformation. However, despite the potential of IP’s flexibility to adapt to configuration changes and scalability, there are also inherent challenges that media companies must navigate. As the industry transitions from traditional co-axial video interfaces to open IP-based workflows, network control and network robustness are critical priorities. Media companies need to ensure that their networks and high-value content are protected against both external and internal misconfiguration and stream routing issues.

Media companies can’t afford to compromise the integrity of their media networks, especially as that could lead to financial and reputational damage in the millions. New industry standards like SMPTE RP2129, developed by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), provide recommendations for ensuring robust media transport over IP networks and guidelines for stream protection, adaptation of streams over network boundaries, and network monitoring. SMPTE’s recommended practice emphasizes why media companies need to prepare today to level up their network control and configuration procedures – to ensure they harness the full flexibility of IP while removing risks that full IP flexibility presents.

Moving beyond closed media interfaces

Historically, media companies relied on closed interfaces like Serial Digital Interface (SDI) to transport uncompressed video feeds. The co-axial connectivity of SDI also provided minimal risk of cross-connecting to incompatible data-streams. SDI’s limitations have become apparent with the transition to all-IP workflows interfacing, such as ST 2110 and attempting to extend SDI’s handling of UHD-4K formats. The desire to deliver greater operational efficiencies and network flexibility has driven a shift away from SDI connectivity to address the dynamics of today’s media landscape. However, transitioning to an IP-native media network presents new challenges that can slow deployment responsiveness and introduce new operational risks.

The transmission of video, audio, and data over IP means content is crossing various domains, network links, and ports. In the IP-native world, the capability to connect any devices, anywhere in the world – whether they are compatible or not, introduces concerns about network stability and operational practices. However, adding new services may trigger risks. For example, mistakenly over-rating the network or introducing a new service with excessive jitter that could disrupt the core network and multiple services. These issues can lead to severe disruptions in content delivery.

It’s easy to imagine the repercussions of such configuration errors when it comes to the live broadcasting of high-value content. Media organizations investing millions in securing rights and setting up industry-leading live productions can’t afford to compromise the stability of their premium content and damage their revenues and reputation. It’s more important than ever to take control of the IP media traffic and the type of streams that go through these networks to safeguard against potential network or stream failures.

The path to media network security

While control and robustness are mission-critical capabilities for IP-based media networks, these media-specific issues are not well served by IT-centric technology. Solutions such as IT firewalls, which predominantly guard against security threats, do not adequately address the problems and protections that media networks encounter.

To overcome these challenges, media organizations can benefit from tailored solutions such as SMPTE RP2192, which can effectively segment and protect misconfigured connections or streams permeating across IP media networks and do so without introducing complexity or manual processes. Innovative solutions that enable IP media to pass through a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) media proxy offer a compelling alternative. This technology empowers system architects and network operations teams to implement rules-based and automated functionality, creating air-gaps between media networks tailored to individual needs that keep each and every media flow separated. The creation of actively managed sub-networks within organizations allows for dynamic and responsive operations across national and international domains. Therefore, it enhances the robustness and reliability of connecting across untrusted media network boundaries preventing outages and preserving the integrity of established media flows.

These solutions terminate media flows at the network boundary and re-establish them with valid properties on the destination network without disrupting other active IP media flows. By doing so, they enhance the resiliency of the overall media network by preventing new streams or configurations from disrupting other stream connectivity. This innovative blueprint provides a robust, orchestratable framework that ensures the protection of high-value content within a media network and across boundaries to partner networks. In addition, it enables comprehensive monitoring and assurance of IP media payloads with ETR 101/290 P1 performance metrics. Media companies can have peace of mind that they can harness unparalleled visibility and control over their media traffic without risking the quality and stability of the video signals transported.

Equally, new media network security solutions drive significant business efficiencies. With automated protection to minimize service outages, safely enabling the IP promise of greater network agility and operational efficiency, network operators can launch new services more rapidly and become more cost-efficient in their operations.

Revolutionizing media network security in the IP era

IP connectivity is driving unprecedented innovation, monetization, and operational efficiencies. Media companies that have the right technological foundations that enable security, flexibility, and resiliency while meeting the stringent demands of seamless, high-quality IP video transmission will have an advantage to enable them to thrive.

As media companies continue to navigate the complexities of the IP landscape, now is the right time to embrace network security solutions that prioritize control and flexibility. Innovation in media network security enables organizations to confidently manage and segment media networks, reducing risks and fostering a more secure operational environment that creates the opportunity to increase operational efficiency.

Friend MTS – What Mohammed Ali can teach us about blocking and its role in fighting piracy

Robin Boldon, Head of Product, Friend MTS

With nearly a decade of experience under its belt since pioneering the use of server blocking technology in 2017, Friend MTS is keen to address many misconceptions about blocking currently doing the rounds, generated by media coverage of international blocking-related incidents.

Legendary boxer Mohammed Ali packed not only a powerful punch but also delivered some knock-out punchlines. His infamous “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.” encapsulates how Ali achieved the perfect balance of being light and fast on his feet in order to deliver nuanced, accurate hits to stun his opponents in the ring.

Getting the balance right is one of the key issues to consider when stopping access to illegal content by blocking pirate sources. Several recent examples of blocking around the world have been courting controversy and debate about the effectiveness and consequences of blocking technologies. One of the main criticisms levelled against such services is their heavy handedness and lack of accuracy which has impacted not just their effectiveness but also led to the phenomenon of overblocking – in other words access to legitimate services has been blocked.

With nearly a decade of experience under our belt deploying blocking successfully and safely with big-name broadcasters, content producers, and sports rights owners, we’re keen to strike a blow to some of the misconceptions about blocking that these incidents have triggered.

Delivering a knock-out blow to piracy

For Ali, success was much more than a well-placed wallop. “Not only do I knock ‘em out, I pick the round. I’m the boldest, the prettiest, the most superior, most scientific, most skilfullest fighter in the ring today.”

Likewise, done properly, blocking hits pirate opponents very hard indeed. Once an organization has determined that content is being stolen, blocking is a highly effective and impactful way to safeguard and secure content owners’ and rights holders’ revenues by cutting off access to illegal streams.

But the devil is in the detail. Blocking is hugely complex and multi-layered. It is not just a technical tool but a legal one too. Given the labyrinthine nature of the internet, carrying out any act of targeted, specific traffic blocking is tremendously complex.

Heavy-handedness leads to overblocking

Overblocking can block access to legitimate CDNs and impact ‘good traffic’. For example, an IP address belonging to CDN Cloudflare found itself on the wrong side of blocking capabilities in Italy and prevented innocent traffic from reaching the ODW Prison Volunteers Association and Elimobile, a telecoms company, among others.

As internet users lose access to websites that have nothing to do with piracy, this is understandably causing much anger and frustration. This fear of overblocking has led to distrust from legitimate companies about the burdensome requirements of such blocking techniques as well as concerns about privacy rights with the likes of AirVPN discontinuing its services in Italy.

Float like a butterfly: a blocking balancing act

The first step to deploying blocking successfully is to select the right blocking method for the job. This will vary depending on several factors including content type, and the location of licensed legitimate transmission. For example, Domain Blocking works to stop access to pirated content at a domain resolution level, whilst Dynamic Delivery Server Blocking restricts access to pirated content at the IP address level. Each solution has a raft of benefits that can help secure media and protect revenue.

Just as important, however, is establishing which targets should not be blocked. It’s critical that blocking is implemented on the back of best-in-class monitoring functions to provide forensically accurate lists of candidate sites to ensure that any blocking target won’t cause collateral damage on unrelated and legitimate services.

It is also crucial to recognize that sometimes blocking is not the right approach. For example, if a hosting provider demonstrates a willingness to proactively remove illegal content from their network in an appropriate time-frame, they should not be subject to blocking.

Sting like a bee: safe implementation

Deploying the right blocking, in the right way, at the right time for different types of customers operating in different territories, requires a broad and deep understanding of the piracy landscape to give informed insights, combined with a detailed knowledge of diverse and differing legal requirements.

Ensuring safe, robust blocking – and by definition avoiding any instances of overblocking – requires meticulously researched “allow lists” and “never block lists”, especially if the blocking system includes automation. It is critical to be aware of which hosting providers, domains, or services should never be subject to blocking, even if partially used to facilitate piracy.

Blocking should also only be applied for the appropriate time period. For example, when protecting a specific live sporting event, the block should be lifted as soon as it finishes.

Active and ongoing list of targets should be regularly reviewed as hosting providers reallocate IP addresses from pirate operators to unrelated and legitimate businesses; if this happens, the block must be lifted.

I’m not the greatest. I’m the double greatest.

With his lightning speed delivery and wit, Ali transformed the world of boxing and brought true star quality to the game.

Sometimes there was even a touch of humility: “There are no pleasures in a fight, but some of my fights have been a pleasure to win.”

Given the time-sensitive nature and global popularity of live sports, fighting live sports piracy requires speed but also accuracy to take down illegal streams.

Continuous, rigorous checking is needed to ensure over-blocking is avoided at all costs.

And we’re very proud of our unmatched record in removing illegal streams in less than four minutes of notification.

But, giving Ali the last word, rest assured we are working on rivalling Ali’s speed:

“I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark.”

QD Broadcast Technology – Cloud and AI’s impact on Sports Broadcast