30 MANAGEMENT
April 2017
Top trends that will shape the APAC pay-TV landscape in 2017
by jean-luc jezouin
n Moving from analogue to digital : In order to provide enhanced services to customers and meet regulatory requirements on analogue switch-off , pay-TV providers across the region are expected to continue the move to digital broadcasting .
This will be seen across countries such as Singapore , Indonesia , Thailand , Vietnam and the Philippines as they work towards switching off analogue broadcasting entirely . Customers will benefit from more programming options and higher quality images and sound .
n Greater collaboration between pay-TV and OTT provider : The evolving consumer appetite for more on-demand and multiscreen viewing is transforming the TV market . Asia-Pacific ’ s OTT video industry is developing rapidly , with around 100 million people subscribing to online video services in 2015 .
As such , pay-TV providers will have to further embrace all things OTT , including enhancing their core TV service with OTT partner offerings or integrating OTT into their hardware and infrastructure . The increased OTT investments will broaden content options , resulting in happier subscribers , who will have more viewing choices .
n TV User Experience ( UX ): Modern consumers are looking
Bluefish444 video cards now compatible with Marsis Playout Automation
Marsis Playout Automation , a hybrid multi-channel 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD )/ HD / SD / IP automation solution offered by Avmeda , is now compatible with Bluefish444 ’ s uncompressed 4K / 2K / HD / SD / SDI cards .
Specifically , Bluefish 444 and Avmeda have collaborated to qualify Bluefish444 ’ s Epoch video I / O card range , including Epoch | Neutron , Epoch | 4K Neutron , Epoch | 4K Supernova , Epoch | 4K Supernova S + and Epoch | Supernova CG , with Marsis Playout Automation , to create a “ powerful platform ” for broadcasters .
Utilising a modular structure and multi-server distributed architecture , Marsis Playout Automation offers “ great reliability and scalability ” for use in master control rooms , production , virtual sets , cloud-based and disaster recovery applications .
Craige Mott , man aging director of Bluefish444 , said : “ Marsis Playout is a quality product bridging the baseband and IP playout workflow via remote access anywhere . The Epoch range offers the Avmeda customer base the multi-channel playout they need , together with the Bluefish444 quality , stability and reliability guarantee .”
For Avmeda , its pick of Bluefish444 began when they were looking for a high-quality and reliable video card , particularly for high-end customers who felt that
for a seamless , easy-to-use TV experience combining linear and on-demand viewing across all screens . Pay-TV providers will have to rise to the challenge to remain competitive . This includes providing a better integration of the technology ecosystem into a rich UX that delivers the same services on all screens .
n More flexibility with personalisation of pay-TV packages and pricing offers : Contract obligations for large channel bundles are losing traction , and one-size-fits-all business models are no longer going to cut it .
By leveraging OTT , pay-TV providers are adjusting their business models with new offers , including skinny bundles and a-la-carte options . This also includes more app-based services , standalone OTT and TV Everywhere offerings to connect consumers to the content they love .
n Taking a broader view on content protection : The growing trend of streaming premium live TV channels and 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) content over the Internet is forcing pay-TV operators and content owners to revisit their content security policies . Simply securing content distribution over managed networks is not enough anymore . Controlling piracy with a holistic approach is the new normal .
For service providers , this will mean expanding beyond protecting distributed content over any network to incorporating cyber-security media services and forensic watermarking into their portfolio . This will be a necessity to meet content owner requirements and sustain revenues .
n Local and regional programming : While the market for global content remains strong , quality local and regional content will become increasingly important for providers and will serve as a key differentiator in an increasingly competitive market .
Asia-Pacific is characterised by very high levels of cultural and linguistic diversity , with many consumers having a strong preference for content in a local language . As such , providers will be tasked with building a strategy that incorporates both local and global content in order to cater to the diverse customer base in Asia-Pacific .
Consumer habits will continue to evolve with rapid advances in technology . In an increasingly fragmented market across Asia-Pacific , innovation driven by consumer needs will be a key tool in the arsenal of pay-TV operators , both big and small . Operators who can offer their customers greater choice and value will flourish in 2017 and beyond .
Jean-Luc Jezouin is SVP and Regional General Manager , Asia-Pacific , Nagra .
A new partnership sees Bluefish444 video cards made compatible with the Marsis Playout Automation solution from Avmeda .
some of the cheaper alternatives were not good enough , revealed Hakan Volkan , sales director of Avmeda .
“ Since we brought in Bluefish444 cards , we ’ ve noticed an immediate increase in picture quality , and the cards are very stable with little issue ,” he concluded .
Among other Lynx Technik products and solutions , Ideal Systems will be distributing the greenMachine across the MEA region as part of a new agreement between the two companies .
Ideal Systems to distribute Lynx Technik solutions in MEA
Germany ’ s Lynx Technik , a provider of modular interfaces for broadcast and professional A / V signal processing applications , has entered into a distribution agreement with systems integrator Ideal Systems for MEA ( Middle East and Africa ).
As part of the agreement , Ideal Systems will represent Lynx Technik ’ s greenMachine , yellobrik , Testor lite and Series 5000 solutions from its Dubai office for sales , service and support .
Winfried Deckelmann , CEO of Lynx Technik , explained : “ The Middle East is a promising growth market for us and with Ideal System ’ s reach and experience across the region , we look forward to strengthening our presence and providing solutions together to address broadcasters ’ challenges .”
At last month ’ s CABSAT 2017 ,
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■ Benchmark Broadcast helps RTV Bangladesh migrate to HD , file-based workflow
Round-the-clock satellite TV channel RTV Bangladesh has chosen systems integrator ( SI ) Benchmark Broadcast for the integration and commissioning of an ongoing HD migration and automation project .
The system being installed by Benchmark Broadcast includes the following features and capabilities : a fully HD-capable platform , a file-based workflow supporting HD formats , automation of channel playout , central storage for HD with archival and retrieve capabilities , as well as a multi-path video converter and frame sync for external feeds .
The video format conversion and frame synchronisation capabilities of the system , according to Benchmark Broadcast , allows RTV Bangladesh to receive external feeds of different formats and handle them for production .
A Nevion 3G router provides backup cross-points , while Pebble Beach automation integrates various devices in the master control room , and aids in content preparation , from ingest to archival .
Archive and restore , based on LTO6 tape storage , are managed
Lynx Technik made its largest Middle East event appearance to date . Together with Ideal Systems , the company highlighted the new yellobrik 12G-SDI fibre converters , which provide “ error-free transmission ” and receiving of 12G ( 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz ), 6G , 3G and 1.5G signals with full uncompressed video quality .
CABSAT 2017 also provided a MEA launch-pad for Lynx Technik ’ s greenMachine , a 100 % app-driven broadcast and A / V appliance .
According to Lynx Technik , greenMachine provides “ true infrastructure efficiency ” and a futureproof investment , whereby users can configure and customise a greenMachine system for the functionality needed by downloading apps from the LynxTechnik greenStore .
with the Xendata HSM server .
When completed , RTV Bangla desh ’ s new facilities will improve video quality and eliminate tape-based workflows , achieve faster media access and provide an environment capable of new distribution and acquisition formats , said Benchmark Broadcast .
Swapan Dhar , DGM , broadcast operations and engineering , RTV Bangladesh , added : “ We wanted to get an experienced SI who can work with our current set-up and migrate a running channel based on our priorities .”