April 2018
X-PLATFORM 33
Declaring 4K / UHD video as the foreseeable format of the future , Chris Wagner , executive vice-president , Neulion , said : “ 4K / UHD video provides a high quality , immersive experience that is unattainable with previous formats .”
As consumers continue to demand for higher quality and varied content , there will be a growing appetite for 4K / UHD , thus driving the industry to improve video quality and deliver premium content , predicts Ooyala ’ s Davis . However , he is quick to point out that the 4K / UHD viewing experience is heavily reliant on good connectivity . OTT providers who are planning to go 4K / UHD in Asia-Pacific have to bank on advancements such as 5G wireless services , which will eventually make for a more 4K / UHD-friendly video ecosystem .
“ The availability of quality 5G wireless services can bring about higher data speeds and video streaming quality to mobile devices and broadband , with lower latency ,” Davis explains . “ 5G providers also promise new delivery technologies such as fixed wireless , which is already being tested by top operators , and can potentially boost demand for more robust video content . Nonetheless , 5G is still being developed and is only a network of the future , and when it begins rolling out in 2020 , it will take time for adoption in developed markets .”
In the interim , where 5G is not available , Davis recommends media optimisation as the solution to ease the burden of streaming data-heavy 4K / UHD content . “ Media optimisation helps by performing smart analysis of video files to reduce bitrate on a frame-by-frame basis ,” he adds . “ This ensures that the original video quality is maintained . The video file is likely to look like the original , despite having a lower overall size and bitrate — so that the video can flow more seamlessly over congested networks .”
As audiences ’ expectations of visually sharper and brighter content continue to grow , OTT and videoon-demand ( VoD ) service providers will increasingly make 4K / UHD a part of their strategy in attracting and retaining eyeballs — although Netflix and Amazon will continue to take the lead in providing 4K / UHD content . “ In fact , these two OTT giants are not only going to invest heavily in producing original content but they will also be producing more of it in higher resolution ,” says Davis .
He also reiterates how high Internet speed will be a key component in delivering 4K / UHD content , and which streaming and OTT providers are heavily reliant on to ensure that their viewers enjoy an uninterrupted viewing experience .
“ As there is currently still a lack of high-quality broadband infrastructure across most markets in Asia- Pacific , it would be interesting to see how OTT competes against other delivery platforms such as satellite TV or VoD service providers in becoming the leading platform for 4K / UHD ,” Davis concludes .
Lawo helps Polish broadcasters go IP
IP-based products will define the future landscape of broadcast technology investment , said LP Systems , Lawo ’ s partner in Poland for audio production , radio and IP-based audio / video products .
Describing 2017 as a “ busy and successful ” year , LP Systems reported how Lawo equipment was installed at various broadcasters , and used as remote production gear at major international sports events in Poland .
These include Radio Opole , Radio PIK , TV Polsat , Radio dla Ciebie , Polish Television and the World Games 2017 , which was held in Wroclaw , and saw 3,500 athletes from 112 countries competing alongside 700 journalists from 50 countries reporting on the event .
Polish company ATM System was responsible for providing broadcast resources at the IBC ( International Broadcast Center ) and all remote event locations . With LP Systems appointed as main contractor for the remote production set-up , remote racks were installed at the various venues to collect video and audio feeds , and route them to the IBC where they were forwarded via SDI to the central router .
The solution involved a large quantity of Lawo equipment , including V __ remote4 units , A __ mic8 units , Arista7150S-24 switches , and a dual-server Virtual Studio Manager ( VSM ) System for overall control . A total of nine remote racks were used to serve 13 venues , linked to a local outside broadcast ( OB ) van .
These included two that were equipped with a pair each of V __ remote4s and A __ mic8s , two racks loaded with two V __ remote4 and an A __ mic8 , and five racks with V __ remote4 and A __ mic8 units .
Using a new IP-based remote production model , ATM System successfully produced and broadcasted 429 hours of live coverage from all
Using Lawo equipment , Polish company ATM System was able to deploy a new IPbased remote production model for its coverage of the 2017 World Games .
of the World Games venues on behalf of the International World Games Association .
LP Systems also helped to upgrade Radio Opole ’ s Radio Volkswagen Transporter OB vehicle , replacing a Lawo zirkon console with a 24-fader sapphire and VisTool graphical user interface ( GUI ) software .
A similar strategy was employed at Radio PIK Bydgoszcz , where the main on-air studio was upgraded with Lawo sapphire fader panels and central control section using the frame of a previously installed zirkon console , plus two Lawo KSC rack panels . Radio PIK ’ s remote studio in Torun was also modernised with the installation of an eight-fader Crystal console .
Taking advantage of the flexibility provided by the Lawo equipment — in terms of customising the functionality of the console and the use of sapphire and crystal modules in zirkon frames — LP Systems minimised the cost to the customer , while enabling Radio PIK to control the remote studio externally using RAVENNA .
A Lawo console was also installed in a new TV satellite newsgathering ( SNG ) vehicle for TV Polsat in Warsaw by LP Systems . The four-fader crystal console , said LP Systems , provided the TV Polsat with the flexibility for easy customisation , alongside a number of functions that are easy to configure .
Enhancing mobile viewing experience as Internet usage surges worldwide
An over-the-top ( OTT ) strategy can no longer be peripheral or supplemental ; instead , it must be an integral part of broadcasters ’ overall distribution strategy , suggested Mary Kay Evans , chief marketing officer , Verizon Digital Media Services .
She told APB : “ Just as consumers continue to move from the traditional TV set to the mobile screen , so too broadcasters must reach this smaller screen .”
Verizon recently released a Video Drives Internet Growth infographic , which highlights how the Internet is growing rapidly , driven primarily by video consumption on mobile devices . Verizon predicted that 82 % of all traffic will be video in 2021 , with over half of video content viewed on mobile .
“ That means there ’ s never a more critical time to reach viewers on the screens they are looking at most — their mobile devices ,” said Evans . “ And with the personalisation that a mobile device enables , broadcasters have an incredible opportunity to increase viewership and monetisation capabilities .”
And perhaps it should come as no surprise that Asia is leading this growing trend — as of 30 June
❝ There ’ s never a more critical time to reach viewers on the screens they are looking at most — their mobile devices .❞
— Mary Kay Evans , Chief
Marketing Officer , Verizon
Digital Media Services
2017 , there are more than 1.9 billion Internet users in the region , the highest recorded in the world .
Within Asia , Verizon currently has 15 points of presence ( PoPs ), with plans to add more in a region where “ you have to build for massive scale ”, Evans said , while describing the delivery of live events on mobile and connected devices at scale as both an “ incredible opportunity ” and a challenge .
She explained : “ Live events such as sports , award shows and social events attract millions of viewers and can be a great way for broadcasters to engage with consumers .
“ However , the challenge is that viewers all want the same premium content experience at the same time . That means zero buffering , zero errors and reduced latency . Ultimately , broadcasters rely on content delivery networks ( CDNs ) that can offer high quality for even
the largest viewing audiences . These CDNs must anticipate traffic growth and unexpected viewership spikes , all while still delivering an exceptional quality of experience .”
Verizon ’ s new infographic also identified how “ flawless video experiences ” begin with with a network built for media because , quite simply , there are no second chances when it comes to live streaming , Evans cautioned . “ Content owners must ensure that they have a CDN that can quickly scale to manage millions of concurrent users , all
A recent Verizon infographic , highlights how the Internet is growing rapidly , driven primarily by video consumption on mobile devices .
while providing a stream that is as good as , or better than , TV .”
And in order for a CDN to ensure the best quality experiences , it must be optimised for video delivery . “ In other words , video simply cannot be an add-on : architecture and scale matter ,” she added . “ Time to first byte is an essential metric in order to reduce latency . Throughput is also a good measure of a video experience . CDNs must have enough reserve capacity to sustain delivery and ensure the highest quality streams .”