It’s 2024 and I (wrongly) assumed that the ‘cloud’ was a well understood concept. That said, one of the top Google trends on the cloud is still surprisingly questions like “what is cloud computing?” and “the cloud”, and it shows that what I thought has long been common knowledge might still need some ‘clarification’.
In addition, I have had some ‘interesting’ conversations with some production companies and studios that also suggest that the cloud still is not well understood. Without mentioning any names, one of the funniest conversations I had recently was with a producer who informed me it was company “policy” not to use the internet or cloud, and yet the entire business was entirely dependent on cloud hosted SaaS services like Google Drive!? When I (politely) challenged this, they went on to explain how their files were on their computer, not in the ‘cloud’ (despite having shared links to these files with me via Google Drive and other cloud services). It was conversations like these that inspired me to write a course on the cloud for the IABM. Given that this is still happening, I thought it worth a super-simple summary of what the cloud is in this article.
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Cloud playout is nothing new – many broadcasters and service providers have already switched to the cloud for playout of content. A few media organizations were ahead of the game and switched playout to the cloud as long ago as 2016 (Discovery for one), and many others have since followed in their footsteps. Having said that, there’s still plenty of media companies and broadcasters who still operate playout from on-premises infrastructure. And there are also those that have chosen to go with a hybrid approach using cloud playout for some content delivery such as FAST while retaining traditional playout for content such as live news and sports broadcasting.
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In 2023, live broadcasts overwhelmingly topped the charts of the 100 most-viewed telecasts, with a clear preference for live sports, which claimed 56 of the highest rankings. Remarkably, the coverage of Oscars and the Grammys stood out as the leading entertainment broadcasts. The historical interest in live programming can be attributed to its unique offering of immediacy and the opportunity for real-time engagement. This format excels in delivering the excitement of witnessing events unfold in the moment, creating a compelling sense of participation and community among viewers. So it is no surprise that the live streaming sector is expected to experience a significant boom, with projections estimating its value to reach $3.21 billion by 2027.
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In the dynamic world of video streaming, media organizations are constantly seeking efficient and cost-effective solutions to manage their large-scale implementations. One of the key metrics that has to be met to validate any purchase decisions is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). And, like Maslov’s famous Hierarchy of Needs, TCO analysis must start with foundational requirements.
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Broadcasters and telecommunications companies are facing a seismic shift. The traditional powerhouses of Pay-TV services and over-the-air broadcast television are witnessing a change in viewing as consumers increasingly gravitate towards subscription and ad-supported streaming video. This progressively changes the balance of the importance between traditional and streaming services, even from the same provider. The shift demands a re-evaluation of media supply chains and infrastructures, leading many broadcasters to contemplate a move to the cloud.
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For 25 years innovators at nanocosmos have been pushing the boundaries of audio/video technology to connect and engage. Product and services provided have reached a significant milestone: on grounds laid in 1998, various innovations have been carefully layered to a Cloud Solution that enables connection and interaction with large audiences based on real-time. Especially with the spike in virtually broadcasted events it has become apparent that, next to the adaptability and reach, the following feature stands out: delivery of interactive experience anywhere in the world without giving up high quality.
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Josh Arensberg was elected Chair of the IABM Members’ Board in July this year. We asked him to share his vision for where he sees IABM – and our industry – heading.
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If you’ve been paying attention to the conversation around production rooms, “cloud” is everywhere, especially the benefits. But just because we talk about the benefits of going cloud, it doesn’t mean it’s a one-size-fits-all solution.
Different productions have different needs, from the size of what’s being captured to the size of the team working on it. Not only that but transitioning to cloud can sometimes entail changing from hardware to software and adapting to a new way of doing things.
To make a leap to cloud production and make it truly work for you, some considerations must be made.
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I think most people would agree that we have seen more change in the broadcast industry over the past couple of years than we have for a long time. The accelerated shift to the cloud, transition to more ad-funded services than ever before, coupled with an evolution in consumption trends, are all having an impact throughout the entire industry, changing the way content is produced, managed, and distributed.
This is also causing significant challenges and complexities specifically for playout for a number of reasons.
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Streaming might be our favorite pastime, but beneath the surface, it’s a colossal energy-guzzling process that’s taking a toll on our planet.
Today, the average consumer worldwide spends about 19 hours a week streaming video – but this can be much, much higher for some. And with a population of more than 742,200,000, Europeans could have streamed more than 735 billion hours – or 83 million years – of content in 2022 alone!
To put this into perspective, every hour of video streamed emits roughly 55g of CO2e. This would mean that Europeans streaming habits account to roughly 40.4 million metric tons of CO2e in just one year – the equivalent of driving 210 billion km, given the average gas-powered car emits 192g of CO2e per km.
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