2 EDITORIAL

BroadcastAsia , the premier broadcast trade show in Asia , is making its 2016 appearance in Singapore on May 31 , with the theme “ Integrating Technologies , Experiencing Content ”.

Visitors to this year ’ s show can expect a raft of products and solutions offered by some of the leading broadcast technology manufacturers in the world , reflecting the wave of emerging technologies transforming the broadcast industry today . In particular , the debate and discussion on the integration of IP into existing broadcast infrastructures looks set to take centre stage .

Open interoperability in professional networked media today is essential , especially where the transition to IP is concerned , says the Joint Task Force on Networked Media ( JT-NM ), which has recently launched JT-NM Phase 3 that calls for the development of open standards and specifications for IP interoperability , as well as to identify the best way forward to enable universal , open interoperability .

JT-NM is sponsored by the EBU , SMPTE , VSF and AMWA , and whose work is aligned with organisations such as the recently formed Alliance for IP Media Solutions ( AIMS ). AIMS is an independent trade association whose key mandate is to approach the IP transition with the fundamental idea that network operability should be open and standards-based .

At APB , we have been closely monitoring the rise of IP for more than a year , and have been informed of the hundreds of IP proof-of-concept projects and case studies going on globally . While issues such as interoperability and open standards need to be addressed if the transition to IP is to be a smooth and successful one — and bearing in mind the specific constraints faced by different regions — we believe that the empirical evidence to-date points to IP as the next big thing for the broadcast industry to embrace .

And to provide a platform to enable broadcasters in Asia to come together and examine the pros and cons of integrating IP into broadcast operations , APB has decided that the theme of its ConneXxion Forum 2016 in Singapore on May 30 this year shall be “ Empowering Broadcasters to Embrace IP ”.

The forum ’ s keynote speaker is none other than the CTO of StarHub , Mock Pak Lum , who will share with fellow Asian broadcasters why and how StarHub is integrating IP into its new facility that is about to be completed soon .

Immediately after his presentation , Dr Amal Punchihewa , the technical director of ABU , and Stan Moote of IABM will enter into a dialogue with Mock on the challenges in adopting IP and what pitfalls to avoid — and what is the expected ROI .

In a region as diversified as Asia , the challenges in convincing broadcasters to embrace IP are very real . Beyond technological challenges , deeply entrenched mindsets also need to be addressed . For instance , it may be inevitable that “ die-hard engineers don ’ t want to change ”, as the IABM ’ s Moote pointed out .

Broadcast engineers need to learn about IT and IT engineers need to learn about broadcasting , he added , while stressing that there is no reason why broadcasters should hold back in embracing IP , because IP has been “ proven to work with SDI ”.

To date , there are indeed numerous proof-ofconcepts and successful Live-IP case studies — and on hand at the forum are experts from SAM and Nagra to share their latest SDI-to-IP solutions and how to secure and monetise content .

As consumers ’ viewing habits continue to evolve , and as SVoD “ disruptors ” such as Netflix and iflix continue to expand their sphere of influence , can Asian broadcasters afford to drag their heels in the IP transition , much as many of them are doing so in their transition to digital broadcasting ?

An increasingly competitive environment may well dictate that embracing IP is no longer an option , but rather , a requisite for survival .

SHAWN LIEW MANAGING EDITOR

May-June 2016 ( volume 33 issue 4 )

EDITORIAL managing editor Shawn Liew , shawn @ editecintl . com contributing editor Millette Manalo-Burgos , millette @ editecintl . com contributing editor ( technology ) Karl K Rossiter , karl @ editecintl . com reporter Josephine Tan

CORRESPONDENTS

■ India Shirish Nadkarni , shinads @ yahoo . co . uk

■ USA Mike Feazel , mfeazel @ gmail . com

PRODUCTION production editor Zuraini Ridzwan , zuraini @ editecintl . com junior sub-editor Genevieve Chan , genevieve @ editecintl . com senior multimedia designer Raymund Jaudian , raymund @ editecintl . com multimedia designer Waldomar Zuniga , waldomar @ editecintl . com ad / office administrator Irene Lok , irene @ editecintl . com accounts executive Tan Hui Min , huimin @ editecintl . com

MARKETING marketing & sales director Jason Lee , jason @ editecintl . com senior sales manager Jessie Tan , jessie @ editecintl . com

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PUBLISHING publisher / editorial director Andrew Yeo , andrew @ editecintl . com

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