Imagine Communications – From concept to reality: a year in live HDR production

Imagine Communications – From concept to reality: a year in live HDR production

John Mailhot, CTO of Infrastructure, Imagine Communications

This time last year, there was a strong expectation that by 2024, live HDR production would be poised to take the broadcast industry by storm. This forecast has indeed materialized, with HDR production being used more and more, but with a twist. Within the industry, there has been a common tendency to conflate UHD and HDR — a presumption that live productions would predominately feature UHD with HDR. However, as the broadcast community delves deeper into consumer preferences and factors that drive consumer behavior, it has become evident that HDR stands out as the driver of consumer sentiment.

HDR’s differentiating value

HDR’s impact on picture quality is quite remarkable, easily noticeable to even the most casual of viewers. In contrast, the differential value of UHD resolution isn’t immediately apparent. Even tech-savvy consumers may find themselves checking the stream information to ascertain whether the content is indeed UHD. Furthermore, the costs associated with producing and distributing UHD resolution content continue to be cost-prohibitive for all but the largest events.

As more and more consumers acquire displays that support HDR — and become accustomed to its visual superiority in their digital viewing experiences — the demand for broadcasters to adopt HDR in their live productions continues to increase, a trend that hasn’t been observed with UHD. Consequently, over the last year, we’ve seen that real productions of scale are being delivered in 1080p with HDR, with the industry coalescing on the use of hybrid log-gamma (HLG) for live event production, along with branded perceptual quantizer (PQ) variations for content distribution.

The rise of the single-master HDR workflow

Even though there’s an increasing demand for HDR among viewers, the vast bulk of the audience is still reached through SDR distribution. As a result, an essential element in HDR production is the ability to produce both HDR and SDR versions with high quality using a single-master workflow. In the past, the absence of such workflows presented a significant obstacle to the widespread adoption of live HDR productions. This scenario started to shift a few years ago, when NBCUniversal pioneered and freely published their single-master workflow for high-profile events.

Over the last year, most broadcasters have implemented variations on this single-master workflow, concentrating on tightly specifying the SDR conversion. As a result, today the majority of large- and medium-sized broadcasters have at least experimented with workflows that support HDR, while simultaneously ensuring that the SDR distribution remains visually excellent. Now they are honing these workflows to cater to events of varying sizes and extending their HDR distribution capability to a wider range of viewers.

Distribution is still limited

Despite broadcasters largely overcoming production hurdles, the delivery of HDR content continues to pose challenges. As we saw last year, streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV+ still hold a notable advantage because of their “over-the-top” model. Their edge stems from their capacity to separately stream either HDR or SDR signals to any given viewer (over the internet) efficiently. These streaming services are also equipped to offer a variety of VOD-based HDR content, giving viewers a wide selection to choose from.

In contrast, for cable and satellite services, delivering HDR content to audiences necessitates the use of specialized set-top boxes. And for over-the-air systems, while technologies like ATSC 3.0 and DVB-T2 are capable of supporting 1080p resolution and HDR, they are still in trial phases for these capabilities.

Real-world HDR production is here

Anticipating growth in delivering HDR content, there has been significant investment in producing 1080p HDR, with an increasing number of productions embracing this technology. In the past year, a number of high-profile events took the plunge, such as Amazon Prime Video rolling out HDR streaming for Thursday Night Football. And recently, CBS Sports broadcasted Super Bowl LVIII in both 1080p HDR and 4K HDR via Paramount+, covering not only the game, but also the pregame, halftime, and postgame programming.

Looking ahead, the 2024 Paris Summer Games are expected to mark a significant milestone in live HDR broadcasting, with several world broadcasters planning to incorporate HDR productions to varying extents. France Télévisions, for instance, is gearing up for the games with plans to launch a 4K broadcast service that will showcase original UHD programming with HDR support.

Imagine’s widely deployed Selenio Network Processor (SNP) supports SDR/HDR (HLG, PQ, S-Log3) conversion and offers an HDR-capable production multiviewer personality

In summary

Over the last few years, HDR technology has transitioned from the conceptual stages to practical implementation. What was once a highly anticipated trend in the industry is now becoming a reality, with various industry players not just testing HDR, but effectively incorporating it into their live productions. Its adoption has necessitated a focus on operational efficiency and an understanding of the nuances of quality assurance and delivery. This foundational work in HDR has set the stage for its use in the 2024 Paris Summer Games and more this year, where its suitability for the biggest of stages will be on full display.

 

farmerswife – Revolutionizing collaboration and productivity: the impact of Cirkus automation

farmerswife – Revolutionizing collaboration and productivity: the impact of Cirkus automation

Carla Molina Whyte, Marketing Executive, farmerswife

In today’s fast-paced digital world, where success relies on a combination of creativity and efficiency, project management tools have become essential for businesses and teams in all industries. Among these tools, Cirkus, the innovative project management solution and sister product of farmerswife, stands out for its ability to seamlessly blend creativity and automation. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into how Cirkus is transforming collaboration and productivity in the realm of project management, with a particular focus on its automation capabilities and how they enhance team efficiency and creativity.

The power of creativity in driving innovation

Creativity lies at the heart of every successful project, driving innovation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Cirkus understands the importance of nurturing creativity within teams and provides the features needed to support this endeavour.

One of the key aspects of Cirkus is its intuitive design, which allows team members to brainstorm ideas, organise tasks, and visualise project timelines effortlessly. The platform’s customizable project templates provide a solid foundation for project planning, allowing teams to tailor their workflows to suit their specific needs and objectives.

Cirkus also offers interactive task and dynamic scheduling options, enabling teams to adapt to changing priorities and allocate resources efficiently. Whether planning a marketing campaign, developing a new product, or coordinating an event, teams can leverage Cirkus to unleash their creative potential and bring their ideas to fruition.

Automation: enabling teams to improve efficiency and productivity

In addition to fueling creativity, Cirkus taps into the power of automation to streamline project management processes and boost team productivity. By automating repetitive projects and tasks, Cirkus empowers teams to dedicate their time and energy to more meaningful work and creative endeavors.

Cirkus Automation provides a comprehensive range of features that automate various aspects of project management, including task assignments, deadline reminders, and progress tracking. With customizable workflows and triggers, teams can ensure that projects stay on track and milestones are met without the need for constant manual intervention.

Cirkus’s integrated Request portal offers customizable forms to gather requirements from both internal and external customers, seamlessly passing them on to the teams and resources responsible for delivering them.

Moreover, Cirkus seamlessly integrates via Zapier with other tools and cloud-based applications, further enhancing its automation capabilities. This enables seamless information flow between different platforms, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of information silos.

The collaborative advantage: uniting teams for success

Effective collaboration is essential for the success of any project, particularly in today’s increasingly remote and distributed work environments. Cirkus facilitates collaboration by providing a range of features and tools that enable teams to communicate, share ideas, and work together seamlessly.

Real-time communication is a cornerstone of Cirkus, with built-in chat functionality and collaborative commenting features that allow team members to communicate effortlessly within the platform. Whether discussing project updates, sharing feedback, or brainstorming ideas, teams can collaborate in real-time, regardless of their location or time zone.

Furthermore, Cirkus offers robust file-sharing capabilities, allowing teams to upload and share documents, images, and other project assets directly within the platform. This centralization of project-related files eliminates the need for cumbersome email threads and ensures that all team members have access to the latest information and resources.

Monitoring progress and driving performance

​​Cirkus empowers teams by providing valuable insights that enable project monitoring, identification of bottlenecks, and informed decision-making. With its time reporting feature, project managers can effortlessly keep track of task, project, and booking durations, comparing them against planned timelines. Additionally, they have the ability to export this time data and utilization information as a CSV file that can be seamlessly integrated with other tools. This comprehensive overview of project status and resource allocation empowers managers to optimize workflows and drive better outcomes.

With these insights, managers can now uncover patterns, identify areas for improvement, and take targeted actions to elevate team performance. Whether it’s fine-tuning resource allocations, reassigning tasks, or offering additional guidance and training, Cirkus empowers managers to proactively enhance team efficiency and propel project success.

Empowering teams for success

To truly transform project management, Cirkus seamlessly integrates creativity and automation, leading to heightened collaboration and productivity. Its user-friendly platform encourages teams to break free from conventional thinking, fosters seamless teamwork, and streamlines workflows. By harnessing the power of Cirkus, teams can optimize their efforts and achieve unparalleled success in today’s rapidly changing business landscape.

With the latest addition of public request features, Cirkus elevates collaboration to new heights. These enhancements simplify the submission process for both internal and external clients, enabling them to provide detailed project specifications directly through Cirkus. This not only ensures clarity but also fosters a cohesive collaboration environment by centralizing all project-related information within the platform.

Cirkus remains dedicated to redefining collaboration and productivity through continuous innovation and the introduction of features tailored to the evolving demands of modern businesses and teams. With Cirkus as their ally, teams can work smarter, not harder, and reach new heights of success in today’s dynamic business world.

 

The development of a new broadcast-grade 8K EFP camera and its application at the international winter games

The development of a new broadcast-grade 8K EFP camera and its application at the international winter games

Mr. SHI Liang, Mrs. DING Xueling, Mr. ZHOU Yi

(1. Academy of Broadcasting Science, NRTA, Beijing 100086, China; 2. China Media Group, Beijing 100045, China; 3. China Association of Press of Technicians, Beijing 100037, China)

 

Abstract: This paper introduces the technical framework and design scheme of the newly developed 8K ultra-high-definition camera system, and focuses on the analysis of its core technical advantages, as well as identifying 10 technical highlights and six technical indicators achieved. It also analyzes the system’s practical application at the international winter games. The new broadcast-grade 8K EFP camera fills the gap of domestic 8K image vision and camera products in the field of broadcast, film and television, which is conducive to improving the current situation of backward front-end equipment for video recording and editing in our country, and is expected to promote the development of the entire ultra-high-definition video industry chain.

Keywords: 8K EFP, studio camera, Ultra HD video production and broadcast, international winter games

Ⅰ. Status and Problems of 8K UHD Camera Market

1.1 8K UHD and its industry chain

Ultra-High Definition (UHD) video is a new intergenerational evolution of video technology following analog, standard definition and high definition, paralleling 5G and artificial intelligence as an important development direction of the latest generation of information technology. 8K UHD has a resolution of 7680×4320 pixels, with the number of pixels in a single frame 16 times higher than high definition, and with 4320 lines, gives a theoretical horizontal clarity four times higher than high definition. 8K UHD video significantly improves video quality and sound effects in all respects, providing viewers with an immersive viewing experience. More intuitively, the video is presented more clearly on display screen of the same size as an equivalent 4KUHD video screen, with better image quality and richer visual details.

The overall industry chain of UHD video can be divided into four levels: core components, equipment layer, service layer, and application layer. The core components mainly include photosensitive devices, storage chips, codec chips, image chips, processor chips, and display panels. The equipment layer includes video production and broadcasting equipment, network transmission equipment, and terminal presentation equipment. The service layer includes content services, integration services, and distribution services, etc. The application layer includes fields such as broadcasting and television, education and entertainment, security monitoring, medical and health care, etc. UHD cameras belong to the forefront of the equipment layer and are also the most important video production and broadcasting equipment.

1.2 Characteristics and Capabilities of 8K Camera Systems

The 8K camera is the starting point of the UHD video industry, the capability of which directly determines the quality of the source video of the 8K UHD video chain. Currently, 8K cameras are mainly divided into professional broadcast grade and non-broadcast grade cameras. 8K professional broadcast-grade cameras require extremely powerful hardware processing capabilities, as well as high heat dissipation requirements during data processing, large photoreceptor elements, etc. Simultaneously, 8K cameras need to provide good support for high dynamic range, wide color gamut, etc., to maximize the quality of recording and reproduction of the scene. For in-camera recording, it is necessary to provide richer and more effective information for post-production and storage. The bit rate of recorded video files can reach several gigabytes, requiring extremely high I/O performance for real-time recording. The importance of broadcast-grade production scenes is important, as they require high stability and reliability of equipment and related systems, which are difficult for non-professional broadcast-grade equipment to reach (CCID, 2021).

Ⅱ. Technology architecture and design scheme of the 8K UHD camera system

The 8K UHD camera system is the pinnacle of technology in the global camera manufacturing industry, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductor photosensitive technology, integrated electronic circuit technology, precision machining technology, large-scale software system control, intelligent control and optical transmission technology. An 8K UHD camera system consists of nearly 200,000 components; the difficulty of innovation is self-evident.

2.1 Technical architecture

A domestic 8K broadcast-grade camera mainly consists of an optical lens, photoelectric conversion system, image signal processing (ISP) unit, input and output units and accessories. Among them, the photoelectric conversion system and ISP unit are the critical components of the camera, as shown in the following figure:

Fig. 1 Technical architecture of the 8K UHD camera

(1) Customized 8K CMOS chip for photoelectric conversion. The chip has a resolution of over 65 million pixels, with low readout noise, high dynamic range, excellent shutter efficiency and angular response. Compared to a traditional CCD chip, CMOS also has the characteristics of fast imaging speed, simple device structure, small size, low power consumption, high cost-effectiveness and easy control.

(2) The image signal processing unit is independently developed based on deep research. The ISP of a broadcast-grade camera involves dozens of TV standards. Without long-term experience in broadcasting technology, it is difficult to achieve complete coverage of all standards. The newly produced 8K UHD system is based on the in-depth understanding of professional user requirements and usage habits in the broadcasting and television industry, and is fully independently developed software.

(3) Other main technical links: ①Serial-parallel conversion, which converts the scanned serial signal into a parallel signal that can be recognized by the computer. They also reduce the processing pressure on the IC chip caused by instantaneous large amounts of data, ultra-high speed processing, and transmission; ②Shaping, adding signal indexes and numbering information (such as ID, signal source, signal attributes, etc.), converts numerical values into addresses for subsequent image signal processing; ③Serial digital interface for long-distance transmission of image signals and audio and video signals (Zhou Yi, 2020).

 

2.2 Design scheme

A broadcast-grade 8K EFP camera mainly consists of a photosensitive and photoelectric conversion system, signal and image processing system, signal packaging transmission and uncompressed photoelectric transmission system, and CCU station (decoding, processing, signal output interface system).

(1) Photosensitive and photoelectric conversion system

The 8K camera has a customized CMOS photoreceptor chip with microprism design. Industry experience shows that prismatic multi-chip sensors will have better image quality. Therefore, the 8K camera sensor adopts micro-prism spectroscopy technology, which takes into account the high resolution and high quality of the image, improving the accuracy of image spectroscopy and color reproduction. This technology that improves image color restoration without using rendering is a characteristic of this camera.

(2) Signal and image processing system

Camera image processing is the most important part of the whole system. The biggest feature of the 8K camera system is the use of a four real-time parallel processing calculation scheme. In this section, the processing of high dynamics, color gamut, color matrix, wavelength division, etc. of the camera is completed.

(3) Signal packing transmission and uncompressed optoelectronic transmission system

In this system, the self-developed micro dense wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology is utilized to achieve 8K lossless and uncompressed signal transmission.

(4) CCU: decoding, processing and signal output interface system

As the main signal port of the system, the CCU completes the functions of decoding, optoelectronic conversion and signal recovery of each signal in this section, which is one of the most important parts of the whole EFP system. The following figure shows the front and rear CCU panel design. :

Fig. 2 CCU design diagram

Ⅲ. Technical advantages, characteristics and performance indicators

3.1 Core technological advantages

(1) Advantages of image acquisition technology

Earlier 8K camera systems used prism technology, which requires three monochrome CMOS chips to recognize red, green and blue light respectively. Then, the three monochrome lights are combined to achieve an 8K-level of 90 million pixels. Enlargement of the image may result in blurred edges, so the shooting effect in dark environments is very unsatisfactory. Due to the fact that all three filters must be aligned to the same point, repeated calibration is required. It requires extremely high mechanical processing technology, thus resulting in slow production speed and high cost of the camera.

The newly produced 8K camera system adopts point-of-view (POV) technology, which is an innovation based on a Bayer color filter array to meet the higher color acquisition needs of the broadcasting and television industry. Unlike a Bayer filter array which scans pixels and calculates pixel values through interpolation, POV stores and restores all color information to minimize chromaticity loss. The images captured by the 8K cameras have higher resolution, brighter and richer colors, less noise, and no distortion or blurred edges. Moreover, the shooting effect in dark environments far exceeds that of other 8K cameras.

(2) Advantages of image signal processing

Image signal processing is used to process the output data of image sensors, including over 70 functions such as automatic white balance, color correction, gamma correction, noise removal, color space conversion, edge enhancement, color and contrast enhancement. The hardware part of image signal processing mainly consists of DSP+FPGA, implemented through a large amount of software. 160 mapping tables are used in the calculation process to ensure efficiency. The core algorithm based on the logic and mapping relationship of series mapping tables is a key technical barrier that has been overcome.

 

3.2 Ten Technical Highlights

(1) The first camera integration structure with internal modular design (including a full set of IC of FPGA)

The advantage of modular design lies in its flexibility, which is the trend of future development. The biggest advantage of modular design is that the plug-in modules can be quickly disassembled and assembled. And they can be replaced according to customer needs, making maintenance more convenient and power consumption easier to control. Modularity will become a prerequisite for future lightweight/miniaturized cameras.

(2) Three self-developed real-time image processing and color processing IP cores

Three IP cores solve the problem of combining core software and hardware. All the color IP cores are self-developed. One of the three IP cores is JP2000, one is dedicated to data integration and specification, and the other is ISP (Image Signal Processing). ISP processing mainly includes white balance, gamma processing, spiking, PQ processing, color broadening and color processing, etc. Such advanced Image Processing is at the heart of the success of the 8K camera system and one of the key achievements in delivering it.. Each manufacturer has its own unique algorithms, which is one of the important barriers for international giants to stay ahead of the game.

(3) Self-developed full set of AI image processing system software

AI image processing systems can significantly enhance the user experience. For example, by learning the usage habits of photographers, they can automatically make judgments and adjustments to the commonly used functions of the keypad, making it convenient for photographers. Meanwhile, the habits of different photographers and users will be intelligently stored in specific user areas. The functions that users use more will be summarized and refined at the bottom level, and presented on the keypad to enhance the user experience.

(4) The first CCU lossless transmission equipment based on a dense wave division system

The CCU (camera control unit) is used to control the images captured by the camera head and transmit them to the next stage for live broadcast. The linear power supply of the CCU achieves a stray wave and ripple of less than 1 millivolt. It ensures that the CCU equipment will not be interrupted or disconnected during live broadcasting when the instantaneous current of the linear power supply is very high, thus improving the high reliability of the CCU.

(5) Development of ultra-compact dense-wave combiners and splitters (up to 64 channels)

The ultra-compact dense wave combiner and splitter solve the transmission problem when large capacity, high speed and multiple services are transmitted simultaneously. The dense wave splitter system can achieve a maximum of 64 parallel channels, allowing the camera to process more data within a limited bandwidth. And the size of the combiner and splitter is only about 50mm.

(6) Innovative production of a transmission system based on dense wavelength division

The advantage of a dense wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system is that it is a method of transmitting multiple wavelengths of optical signals that carry different information by multiplexing them into a single optical fiber. Compared to traditional WDM, the adjacent wavelengths are more narrowly spaced. Therefore, it can realize ultra-large capacity, ultra-long-distance transmission, transparent transmission of data and save optical fiber resources. The dense WDM allows for more data to be processed on a limited bandwidth.

(7) New on-board camera control panel (including remote control unit OCP)

The new 8K camera adopts ink screen with lower power consumption as the display screen. Ink screen is one of the display products with low power consumption, excellent performance and high reliability. Even if there is an operational error or power failure, the information on the screen still exists. At present, the software and display inside the ink screen are all self-developed, capable of local refresh, with a refresh speed of over 0.3 seconds/time. Combined with the intelligent definition and recommendation of the user interface, it can improve the user experience and smoothness of operation.

(8) The first adapter ring that can be adapted to various camera lens mounts

Advantages of self-designed lens mount: ①Good stability. The screws used in broadcast-grade cameras prevent micron-level shaking, otherwise the flange distance of the camera will change, resulting in blurred images. Therefore, there are strict requirements for the design of the adapter. Our 8K broadcast-grade camera lens mount, customized by the manufacturer in Shanghai, is designed independently, and micron-level shaking does not occur; ②Wide adaptability range and versatile application scenarios. Our 8K broadcast-grade camera lens mount supports EF mount, PL mount and B4 mount, etc.

(9) Design and manufacture of aviation aluminum housings and broadcast-grade dedicated EFP and ENG housings

The 8K EFP camera currently uses an aviation aluminum housing – the first one in China to use aviation aluminum – in line with the trend of future development of EFP camera housings.

(10) Development of high-power, ultra-low noise linear power supply system

Compared with other brands of switching power supply, the developed linear power supply system has the advantages of less electromagnetic interference, low ripple coefficient; higher voltage regulation rate, strong transient current follow-up ability; simple design, low maintenance cost, and good lightning strike resistance.

3.3 Realization of the six major performance indicators

(1) High definition: 7680 × 4320, 8192 × 4320 (for film projector)

(2) High frame rate: 50p, 60p, 59.94p

(3) High Dynamic: SDR: 11; HDR: HLG- 1000/PQ

(4) Wide Color Gamut: BT.2020 & REC.709

(5) High signal-to-noise ratio: over 65dB

(6) Gain: analog/digital dual gain (to solve the different gain characteristics of the bright and dark field)

 

 Ⅳ. Applications of the broadcast-grade 8K EFP cameras at international winter games

After many rounds of tests, the State Key Laboratory of China Media Group (CMG) has identified the UDCAM-9000 8K EFP camera as the only domestic product whose four key technical indicators (high definition, high frame rate, high dynamic range, wide color gamut) all meet the 8K technical specifications of CMG. In February 2022, the broadcast-grade 8K EFP camera was formally applied to the international winter games after subjective evaluation and objective testing by the State Key Laboratory of UHD Audiovisual in CMG.

The “Ice Ribbon” is the competition venue for speed skating. The system operated for 15 days from February 5th to 19th, broadcasting all the events of Avenue Speed Skating. A total of six 8K EFP cameras were used in the 8K public signal production site for speed skating, among which the No.5 and No.6 cameras used the 8K UHD broadcast-grade EFP cameras. The 8K cameras and imported 8K cameras were used together for the program production at the competition venue, which perfectly accomplished the 8K live broadcasting task and presented detailed and beautiful images . The international winter games was the first to use 8K technology to broadcast the opening ceremony live in its history. It was also the first 8K EFP camera system that was independently developed and produced by a Chinese enterprise in the 8K UHD broadcasting system.

 Ⅴ. Conclusion

Certain breakthroughs have been made in the research and industrialization of 8K key technology products. A series of major events have driven the explosive growth of 8K UHD camera system and recording and editing equipment. For example, the “Spring Festival Gala in 2021 and 2022” of CMG has fully experimented with 8K recording and live broadcasting (cinema line broadcasting), Qatar Football World Cup in 2022, etc. With the support of 5G networks and AI, 8K will cover more areas of consumers’ work and life. As an important branch of high-end manufacturing in China, the newly developed 8K EFP camera system has filled the gap in the current 8K image vision, broadcasting film and television camera products in China. Through research and development, we have mastered a batch of technical patents for 8K UHD cameras and shooting equipment. The next step is to promote the marketization and industrialization of the products. By effectively promoting and driving the production of optical lenses, optical precision processing, CMOS chips, lens mount design and production, high-end monitors, precision industrial design and processing, related software development and a series of high-end industry, it helps drive the upgrading and modernization of China’s creative industries.

 

Cartoni’s cutting-edge advancements in camera support solutions

Cartoni’s cutting-edge advancements in camera support solutions

With the rapidly evolving technology, camera supports must stay in step with the market’s evolution. Traditional tripods with fluid action heads – one of the pillars in shooting – will gradually give way to a diverse array of supports, handheld gimbals, drones, additional axes, remote control, etc.

For decades Cartoni has been at the forefront of understanding and adapting to the needs of camera operators. Today, its impressive range of fluid heads and tripods includes various support alternatives to meet the new demands.

As image capture faces new challenges with increasingly sophisticated equipment, innovative tools are required to integrate with the workflow. While advancements are witnessed in data transmission, editing, and lighting, the evolution of camera support technology is equally diversified.

The pandemic and social distancing necessity accelerated the use of remote-controlled heads as PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras, contributing to the enhanced performance of the latest cameras 4K and over. Simultaneously, the growing popularity of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) required position tracking in nearly every shooting scenario.

In response to these challenges, Cartoni has introduced a dedicated line of PTZ S support solutions, designed to facilitate the installation of PTZ with professional cameras in studios, newsrooms, sports, houses of worship and more. This range includes specialized PTZ stands, ensuring extreme stability while blending in the set design, as well as levelling accessories and quick-release plates for fast set-ups. A standout product is the Lifto 25, a motorized remote-controlled elevation unit that introduces an additional axis to the Pan, Tilt, and Zoom functions. Specifically designed for easy integration with Lifto 25 & PTZ cameras, operations can be performed by the new PTZ controller or conveyed to a footswitch or any game pad via USB to remotely control up to 5 Lifto 25 & PTZ simultaneously. The controller integrates with leading brands’ consoles such as Panasonic, Sony, and Canon, just to name a few.

For applications in Virtual Production, Cartoni has equipped its high-end professional support heads lines with high-resolution optical encoders. These encoders provide precise angular movement data, facilitating the smooth integration of position overlays onto virtual backgrounds or characters/objects within the shot.

The unique integration of position optical encoders directly onto the rotation shafts of all Cartoni professional heads ensures an impressive accuracy of 4 million counts per turn, surpassing by far the requirements of virtual engine composition. When combined with other tracking devices, such as infrared reflection or surface detection, this ultra-precise reading elevates overall tracking precision, providing essential accuracy to image composition.

As of 2023, all Cartoni professional heads are available with optional position encoders, comprising a series of eleven different camera supports, including a Jib and the nodal Lambda 25 fluid head. The position tracking data can be easily collected directly from the encoder and streamed through a Cartoni VR Box or any other data collector and processor. Using an open protocol, this data interfaces with any virtual engine.

Cartoni remains committed to all shooting technologies, streamlining workflows, and providing data for processing and editing various layers of images. The company’s constant research aims at creating faster, intuitive, user-friendly, reliable, comfortable, and well serviced tools for camera operators. Better working conditions ultimately lead to greater artistic expression.

The interactive nature of Cartoni equipment, coupled with the powerful contributions of electronics and AI, is poised to simplify production speed, and enhance quality. Cartoni imagines a future characterized by collaboration, where manufacturers foster dialogue and create pathways for multidisciplinary solutions, as opposed to mono-brand concepts by enclosing protocols.

About Cartoni

Cartoni is recognized worldwide as a leader in film & broadcast camera support. It is the only professional support company that designs, engineers, manufactures and assembles in Italy through its base in Rome. The company applies special attention to energy saving and environmental conservation and is the only company that offers an unparalleled free, 5-year warranty on all fluid heads and pedestals.  Since 1935, Cartoni has maintained its preeminent position by delivering superior technology and offering support products for a range of cameras from compact digital devices to large studio cameras. Its products include fluid heads, encoded & nodal heads, tripods, and pedestals.

Broadpeak – Protecting our planet: how optimization strategies are key to sustainable video streaming

Broadpeak – Protecting our planet: how optimization strategies are key to sustainable video streaming

Elodie Levrel, Corporate Marketing and Communications Director, Broadpeak

The environmental impact of the digital industry, and the equipment it uses around the world, has emerged as a pressing concern, contributing around 3.8% of global Green House Gas (GHG) emissions according to GreenIT.fr. Within this digital spectrum, video streaming — although currently a smaller portion of the digital industry’s footprint — is rapidly expanding. Sandvine’s 2023 Global Internet Phenomena Report found that data usage from video sites increased by 24% in 2022, and video accounted for a staggering 65% of all internet traffic last year. This trend is not slowing down, meaning there is potential for an even larger carbon footprint on the horizon.

The urgency to address this is underscored by the need to protect the planet by adopting more sustainable business and technology practices. As awareness of climate change intensifies, the media industry must respond accordingly, and appeal to the consumer demand for more video content in an environmentally friendly way. The challenge video service providers face is meeting an increasing demand for video streaming across the world without causing an increase in hardware equipment, which would exacerbate the industry’s environmental footprint. This is where the importance of optimization and energy-efficient strategies becomes paramount.

What to do? Tools, data, and collaboration

Data centers, the backbone of video streaming services, consume an excessive amount of water and produce significant greenhouse gases, contributing to the urgency of addressing their environmental impact. As the demand for more high-quality video — such as high-definition and 4K — increases, so does the expansion of data centers, and the subsequent risk they pose to our climate. It is imperative for the media industry to recognize the environmental costs associated with this, and to take decisive action toward minimizing their impact.

To reduce their environmental footprint, video service providers should aim to stabilize their equipment usage while simultaneously boosting overall capacity. Collaboration is essential for energy-efficient streaming, and achieving this balance requires a concerted effort from all those involved in the distribution of streaming services — including internet service providers (ISPs), content providers, streaming platforms, and technology vendors — to invest in efficiency and optimization technologies.

Optimization has emerged as one of the keys to achieving a more sustainable balance in the streaming ecosystem. By developing tools and practices that simplify and scale their interactions, these entities can work together to create a more sustainable streaming ecosystem. Several technologies offer promising solutions for enhancing data delivery, thereby reducing the need for additional hardware and mitigating the environmental impact of data centers.

Edge caching optimizes streaming systems by serving content from nearby servers, reducing network congestion and traffic. This approach enhances streaming quality, alleviates delivery chain congestion, and lowers energy consumption at the network core.

Similarly, elastic and dynamic CDNs enhance energy efficiency by activating cache servers only when needed and sharing resources with other applications. These CDNs efficiently manage server workloads, resulting in energy savings while adapting to fluctuating network demands.

 Moreover, video service providers face a unique opportunity to improve sustainability during live events, such as sports, which are increasingly consumed via OTT platforms. These events generate massive traffic peaks, traditionally dealt with by the deployment of additional equipment for short periods. Reducing these peaks is critical to limiting the need for extra hardware and, consequently, reducing the environmental impact.

Multicast ABR technology scales video streaming over the network by delivering a single stream independent of viewer numbers. Particularly effective for live sports streams, this technology smooths traffic peaks and offers a more sustainable solution for high-demand events, minimizing the need to deploy more infrastructure.

Nevertheless, despite ISPs focusing on optimizing their internal video services over the years, these improvements typically do not extend to external traffic, especially from popular streaming platforms. Enabling content providers to utilize these optimizations within their own networks could present an opportunity to reduce network infrastructure costs, ultimately decreasing the network’s carbon footprint.

Open Caching, a system developed by the Streaming Video Technology Alliance (SVTA), integrates content caching across CDNs, ISPs, and content providers. By enabling local cache retrieval of video content, this system reduces network traffic, improves streaming quality, and eliminates redundant third-party CDN caches in ISP networks.

Another strategy video service providers can implement is acquiring increased and precise measurements from the operational field. By leveraging data, they can identify areas of excessive energy use and assess energy savings.

Conclusion

The time for action is now, and the path forward is clear: optimization is key to a sustainable future in video streaming, and some solutions for optimization are already available today. By investing in efficiency and optimization technologies, and integrating sustainability into the deployment and growth strategies of video streaming services, the media industry could actively contribute to the global effort to combat climate change. Moreover, by obtaining accurate and standardized measurements from the field, the industry could identify opportunities for energy savings and further system optimizations. A data-driven approach, combined with efforts to reduce traffic peaks during live events, can meaningfully contribute to the reduction of the industry’s environmental footprint, while also helping meet the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly services.

Bridge Technologies – The essence(s) of monitoring

Bridge Technologies – The essence(s) of monitoring

Simen K. Frostad, Chairman of Bridge Technologies

There is a human instinct to distil things down into neat packages. Even the biggest questions that face us are posed in the singular; what is the meaning of life? We aren’t happy when people suggest there might be multiple meanings; operating either in isolation or in parallel. We want a coherent, simple, distilled, unifying and singular response. It’s what makes Douglas Adams’ pithy responses of ‘42’ so wonderful; it satisfies all of our desires in terms of what we want from the answer to life, the universe and everything (except of course the really crucial one: meaning).

Which is why, in response to the question: ‘what is the essence of monitoring’ it would be disingenuous to pretend that there is any singular essence. Some of key principles that underpin monitoring – or more accurately, effective monitoring –  run in parallel with each other; a set of multiple pillars rather than a singular base. But others change according to context; what makes for good monitoring in one situation may not in another. (Of course, you could call that itself an essential pillar of effective monitoring: it needs to be flexible, adaptable and context-specific – but more on that below).

So, whilst a singular ‘essence’ of monitoring is beyond our grasp, with 20 years of monitoring experience behind us, we can at least manage five key principles for effective monitoring:

 Monitoring is not just about error detection

You don’t watch the weather report in order to find out if it’s raining outside right now; you watch it to plan what to wear later. Monitoring is not (just) about finding out about what went wrong, it’s about stopping it from going wrong in the first place. By monitoring trends and out-of-parameter occurrences, data is generated to inform predictive diagnosis, which ultimately ensures that your audience remains blissfully ignorant to the fact that there was ever the potential for a problem.

But monitoring doesn’t just help avoid mistakes, it also informs active improvement – suggesting points where network efficiency and delivery could be improved. And this isn’t just on an operational basis, but an organizational one too: reporting from monitoring probes can inform engineering and strategic C-suite decision making alike, or it can be handed to stakeholders – such as advertisers – to provide accountability.

And at Bridge we’ve gone one step further in turning monitoring from a passive error-detection solution into an active, value-adding tool. With the VB440 we’ve taken the complex data delivered by the probe and turned it into actionable information that can be used in production studios – remote, distributed or on-site – by a range of creatives and network engineers alike, simultaneously and in real time. Network data is turned into visual previews, waveforms, vector colometry, LUFs and gonio metres, timing path displays and any number of other production tools, ready to be used by audio technicians, camera painters, producers and engineers.

There is no singular, holy grail approach

This pertains heavily to the point raised in the introduction about monitoring needing to be flexible and context-orientated. The broadcast industry has seen a significant move away from hardware solutions, with both software and cloud-based platforms becoming de rigueur  for a variety of tasks and workflows. And rightly so; there is a host of advantages to using software-based tools.

But, those advantages don’t always apply in every situation, or to every use case. There are many reasons, some might say 330, why you might want your monitoring solution to operate on its own appliance, or on an embedded basis. Each network configuration is different, and at Bridge we provide the expertise needed to advise on the best solution, and the flexible deployment options – appliance, embedded, software and cloud – needed to achieve it.

 There’s no time like the present (except for the past)

‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now’.  – Chinese Proverb.

Something that we’ve been working hard to communicate is the message ‘build it in, don’t bolt it on’. Monitoring should be a key consideration for network strategy right from the start, and broadcasters who keep monitoring at the forefront of their minds whilst developing a network strategy and operations plan will see far more effective results from their systems.

But of course foresight is a luxury not everybody has. Not everybody can develop a greenfield site or wipe the slate clean and build a network from the ground up. Even for legacy systems, investing in monitoring today can significantly improve the performance of a network – not just in terms of error resolution, but error prevention, efficiency and performance improvement, and enhanced strategic performance across the board.

 Functioning comes before functionalities

A tool with lots of bells and whistles is all well and good, until it doesn’t work. Piling on functionalities without providing a secure, stable and reliable base is not just counter-productive in the long run, it’s downright bad business practice: frustrated customers mean lost revenue and a huge expenditure of resources to correct what should have been right from the start. Companies developing monitoring solutions – indeed engineers and programmers in general – have a responsibility to work to develop the core of their systems in a way that sets an effective base for ongoing development; ensuring stability, reliability and sustainability of operation no matter how many functionality upgrades may follow in the future.

The problem is – even though it’s more efficient and effective in the long run – it can feel time-consuming, laborious and decidedly unglamorous. Ultimately though, doing things right first time brings its own rewards.

Monitoring is for everybody, not just engineers

Another responsibility product developers have is to ensure the usability of their product, and not only for network engineers. Monitoring is a complex undertaking at the technological level, but it shouldn’t have to be at the personnel level. That’s why we design our tools to ‘make the complex simple’. We deliver network metrics in a way that is at-a-glance intuitive – often using graphs and visualizations, and we supplement them with meaningful, contextual information that facilitates in-the-moment decision making, even by non-engineers, without confusion or delay.

By applying these five principles, both monitoring solution developers and their customers can approach monitoring in a way that truly maximizes its potential and delivers measurable benefit to the entire broadcast chain, from end-to-end. That’s the essence of the issue, ultimately.

Brainstorm – The flexibility of virtual production

Brainstorm – The flexibility of virtual production

Miguel Churruca, marketing and communications director, Brainstorm

Virtual production is already a mature technology that not only allows for high-quality results, but also reduces costs and contributes to increase the industry’s sustainability. The introduction of advanced rendering technologies such as game engines or real-time ray tracing significantly boosted the quality of the real-time renderings, allowing content creators of any size and kind to produce photo realistic content, meaning high-end results no longer restricted for high-budget filmmakers, but available to a wider range of creators.

Now, an increasingly higher number of users can take advantage of this technology, from producers to content creators and from production crews to audiences. This democratization of virtual production is also the result of a wider and, in some cases, more affordable range of solutions to choose from, and when budget is less of an excuse for excellent results, the creator’s creativity is even more important to make a difference. Brainstorm, with decades of experience in virtual sets, real-time 3D graphics and film pre-visualization, understood the benefits of virtual technology from day one, and now its product range and expertise cover all aspects of virtual production, from high-end filmmaking to corporate presentations.

Talking of virtual production, and while many understand it is referred to using large LED volumes, the reality is that virtual content can be produced with smaller LED videowalls or even chroma sets of any size and shape. The latest is a widely known and proven technology that has lately been eclipsed by LEDs, however it is more than useful when thinking on going virtual. So, the only reason of choosing LED-based virtual production or chroma sets will be the production requirements, or the available budget. And, although large LED volumes or chroma cycloramas are always welcome while in production, both allow for using smaller and more compact setups, by using set extension techniques when using LEDs or by simply taking advantage of the possibilities of 3D virtual sets with chroma studios. This means that larger sizes and resources are welcome, but also that they are not essential for achieving excellent results, which demonstrates the flexibility virtual production provides when it comes to studio setups.

It is when shooting indoors when the flexibility of virtual production technology is more obvious, as it allows content creators to unleash their creativity with locations, environments, or timing. Directors can “go” to any location without boundaries, from made-up locations to real ones in which it is impossible to shoot, such as forbidden inaccessible locations, protected environments, or places in which placing a crew is just impossible. Using virtual production, directors, DOPs and art directors can get the scene right as they want it, and for as much time as required. It is possible to shoot a car scene without closing an entire city for hours, shoot a sunset scene for a whole day, with the light, clouds and ambient as we may dream of, or bring a remote location to stage instead of sending a complete crew and actors to the other side of the world. Extensive usage of this technology may even allow for chronologic, rather than scene-based, shooting.

Specialist production houses like MR Factory pioneered real-time virtual production using chroma sets and achieving results that are indistinguishable from reality. As an exercise, they took a short film shot in different real situations and emulated it with real-time chroma sets, with the results that can be seen in the pictures.

Virtual technology allows for saving costs also in post-production. Now that we can produce the perfect scene indoors, the obvious consequence is the savings on actors’ time, travel costs and logistics, because we actually bring the scene to the set, rather than bring the whole crew to the real location. This does not exclude real locations when required, but, again, we have the flexibility of choosing the best scenario depending on budget and other requirements. And when there is no choice, like when the location is inaccessible, we’re not allowed to shoot there, or it is just not real, virtual production is there to save the day. Also, using chroma keying in combination with tracked cameras, recording the real-time chroma keying and tracking information in simultaneous layers certainly saves post-production time and ensures a more accurate composition and VFX integration, while making better use of artists’ time. And, when such effects are not required, virtual production directly provides a valid, accurate and approved output as if it was shot with props and real locations.

So, virtual production can produce excellent results with larger or smaller setups, different workflows – LED volumes or chroma sets – and can be used by content creators of any kind and with productions of a range of budgets and requirements. As a side effect, virtual production also contributes to the industry’s sustainability, by reducing the carbon footprint with the reduced travel costs, construction or less computer power and requirements for post-production. And by bringing its decades-long experience in the field, Brainstorm’s product range for virtual production, headed by InfinitySet, brings a plethora of possibilities for content creators and producers, no matter if we are talking about film, high-end drama productions, sitcoms, news, sports or entertainment shows.

Is Aximmetry the ultimate choice for virtual TV Productions in 2024?

Is Aximmetry the ultimate choice for virtual TV Productions in 2024?

Originating as a VJ software for one-man shows, now a highly developed tool for complex TV productions, Aximmetry is becoming a household name in the broadcast industry. Over the years, the team purposefully molded the software into a universal, efficient, and affordable tool to fit the needs of broadcast professionals.

Today, Aximmetry integrates seamlessly with other broadcast systems and technologies, such as newsroom computer systems (NRCS) via MOS protocol, high-end camera tracking systems, and video servers, thus enabling broadcasters to create dynamic and immersive content efficiently. Additionally, its seamless and always up-to-date integration with the latest Unreal Engine versions (currently on 5.3) ensures that content creators can always access the newest graphics tools.

Finding available talent for projects is not a problem. Aximmetry’s open licensing model helped to build a 45 K-strong global community and naturally, a large group of experts emerged from it over the years. The software is used and taught in close to 100 educational institutions around the world. It is an obvious choice for emerging talent because content creators do not have to make any initial investment to learn Aximmetry. Thanks to the freely available demo licenses, free online documentation, and free forum support anybody can have access to Aximmetry’s ecosystem. The software’s accessibility is further enhanced by its availability in five languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese.

In addition to the community, Aximmetry’s global reseller partner network can deliver the security required for large local projects. At the same time, those clients who wish for direct support from Aximmetry HQ can choose from flexible support plans delivered by the core team. Aximmetry Technicians are well versed in supporting large-scale projects such as the PSL (Pakistan Super League Cricket) opening ceremony with viewership running into the millions.

Over the years, Aximmetry has demonstrated its value to a diverse clientele, including such as BellMedia, Canadian media conglomerate; Axel Springer Bild publishing group; NEP Sweden; and prominent Brazilian broadcast networks SBT, TV Anhanguera, TV Amazonas, affiliates of TV Globo, and ESPN Disney.

No doubt, the team has to keep up because the workflows of top-tier clients necessitate a plethora of features to cater to the latest requirements in broadcast:

  • Multimachine features to synchronize the running of multiple machines using a single control interface and the distribution of a higher number of camera inputs among several computers.
  • SQL databases, graphic elements, and tools specialized for weather reports, importing meteorology data from multiple formats to be able to visualize data real-time
  • Easy to use XR feature set that delivers with precision
  • Easy-to-grasp user interface that allows for easy visual programming even when it needs to support complex projects such as gameshow logic
  • Award-winning chroma keying which delivers perfect results even when using a moving camera and large green screens
  • Possibility of multiple video transfer standards such as SMTPE2110, SDI, and NDI
  • Support for various control interfaces such as HTTP API, OSC, MIDI, DMX, GPIO, COM, Visca, and more to make Aximmetry suitable for any workflow imaginable.

The Aximmetry Broadcast license can deliver all of these features and many more at a price unmatched in the market today listed at https://aximmetry.com/products. The flexible licensing policy is ideal for the fast-changing business requirements of the industry. Aximmetry software licenses can be bought and maintained on a lifetime basis or acquired on a subscription plan when clients need to scale up for projects in the Aximmetry Webshop.

Finally the biggest innovation of 2024 by Aximmetry is its new Aximmetry Eye mobile application. In the ever-evolving landscape of virtual production, Aximmetry continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Aximmetry Eye is a groundbreaking free tool that transcends conventional norms by seamlessly integrating the power of mobile technology into the core of virtual content creation. It streams camera feed into Aximmetry Virtual Production Platform; provides position and direction data for talent, object, or camera tracking; and converts mobile phones into a real-time preview monitor. Aximmetry Eye isn’t just a standalone product; it’s a catalyst for seamless integration into a client’s existing virtual production workflow. Its compatibility with the Aximmetry Virtual Production Platform ensures a smooth transition, allowing users to easily incorporate Aximmetry Eye into their creative toolkit. In a professional studio it offers versatile utility for quick prototyping and shot planning. Additionally, it can enhance the workflow as an object tracking tool. It’s the missing piece that completes the puzzle, unlocking a world of possibilities for virtual productions.

Appear – Lights, camera, green action: how the media industry can embrace sustainability

Appear – Lights, camera, green action: how the media industry can embrace sustainability

Matthew Williams-Neale, VP Marketing, Appear

The media and entertainment industry, while a powerful force in shaping cultural narratives, also carries a hefty environmental footprint. From the colossal energy consumption of data centers to the environmental costs of physical production, the industry’s impact on the planet cannot be ignored. However, a growing tide of awareness is pushing media companies to embrace sustainability and minimize their environmental impact.

The spotlight is on sustainability

This shift towards a greener future is driven by several factors. Firstly, consumer consciousness regarding environmental issues has reached new heights. Audiences are increasingly making choices based on a company’s commitment to sustainability. Studies indicate a growing preference for brands that actively incorporate eco-friendly practices.

Secondly, the industry itself faces the consequences of climate change. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events disrupt filming schedules, damage equipment, and pose logistical challenges. Embracing sustainable practices becomes not just an ethical responsibility but also a matter of safeguarding business continuity.

For this reason, many leading broadcasters, including Sky and the BBC, are proactively adopting more sustainable practices. Sky, notably the first broadcaster targeting net-zero carbon by 2030, is pioneering carbon-neutral production, signaling a decisive shift toward environmental responsibility. In parallel, the BBC is progressing towards its own net-zero goal, cognizant of the significant emissions from broadcasting and production, and underscoring technology’s critical role in driving sustainable practices. Following these examples, other organizations are now embedding sustainability criteria into their procurement policies, declining partnerships with technology firms lacking in eco-friendly commitments. This focus on sustainability has rapidly shifted from an issue of moral superiority to being a vital part of business survival.

Appear is proud to commit to ensuring our products and their operation create the lowest impact possible on the environment. Our X Platform, a high-capacity solution for high-speed video networking, enhanced IP security and advanced compression, continually outperforms comparable competitor products in terms of CO2 emissions, packaging, energy usage, and space efficiency – proven through a major study conducted by one of our biggest customers, a large European telco.

But sustainability is not always about choosing the most sustainable product and patting yourself on the back. New operational mindsets and workflows can be adopted that offer considerable cost and efficiency savings. At NAB Show, we’re sharing how we have deployed SRT-powered primary distribution solutions to enable a major LATAM broadcaster to centralize its Master Control Room (MCR) and playout operations, reducing playout and functionality from over 13 sites across Brazil to a single site using SRT. This case study shows that investing in sustainable products is one part of the solution, but using less products overall through innovative workflows represents another big step towards a greener future.

Overcoming obstacles

Addressing this challenge requires a multi-pronged approach. A crucial step lies in adopting energy-efficient technologies throughout the media production chain. This involves investing in equipment with lower energy consumption ratings and exploring renewable energy sources to power data centers and production facilities.

Furthermore, implementing sustainable production practices is essential. This encompasses a holistic approach that considers the environmental impact of every stage of content creation. Sets can be constructed using recycled materials, props sourced from sustainable sources, and digital tools utilized to minimize the need for physical sets whenever possible.

In live contribution, Appear has designed its X20 Platform to allow for reusability at different events. To increase the functional versatility of the X20 Platform, Appear has designed its modules to have software defined functionality. This means that when a sporting event is over, a broadcaster can, for instance, change decoder modules to encoders, or vice versa, making it much more flexible to use the X Platform on future projects.

Uniting the industry’s green approach

Collaboration across the industry holds immense potential in accelerating the transition towards a sustainable future. Standardization of equipment and procedures ensures compatibility and facilitates the widespread adoption of sustainable practices. Industry associations can play a vital role in fostering collaboration by establishing best practices, conducting research on sustainable solutions, and creating platforms for knowledge sharing.

The journey towards a sustainable media industry necessitates a significant cultural shift. Educating and empowering staff at all levels is paramount. Workshops and training programs can equip personnel with the knowledge and skills required to implement sustainable practices effectively.

Embracing sustainability also requires a willingness to innovate. Investing in research and development of eco-friendly solutions specific to the industry’s needs paves the way for a more sustainable future. Exploring alternative materials, developing energy-efficient production techniques, and fostering partnerships with green technology companies are crucial steps in this direction. Organizations like the Greening of Streaming are doing great work holding media tech companies to account and offering an environment for open dialogue and discussion around realizing a sustainable future.

Finding the right resources

The transition towards a sustainable media landscape comes with its own set of challenges. Initial investments in new technologies and revamping production processes require significant financial resources. Additionally, established workflows may need to be adapted, requiring flexibility and a willingness to embrace change.

However, the long-term benefits outweigh the initial hurdles. By adopting sustainable practices, media companies can significantly reduce their environmental footprint, contributing to a healthier planet for future generations. Furthermore, a commitment to sustainability can enhance brand reputation, attracting environmentally conscious customers and fostering positive public perception.

The media industry has a unique opportunity to leverage its vast reach and influence to champion the cause of environmental sustainability. By prioritizing energy efficiency, implementing sustainable production practices, fostering industry-wide collaboration, and embracing innovation, media companies can pave the way for a greener future. This collective effort not only safeguards the environment but also ensures the long-term viability of the industry itself.