Asia-Pacific Broadcasting (APB) Systems Integration 2015 | Page 16

IPA Intermedia on track to address
broadcast technology trends
Joining systems integrator IPA Intermedia as chief technology
offi cer in January 2015, Poon Ka Hing brings with him more
than 28 years of experience in the broadcast industry. Here, Poon
takes a look at the direction Asia’s broadcast industry is heading
towards, and discusses how IPA Intermedia is addressing emerging
technology trends.
Can you elaborate on the recent pro-
jects undertaken by IPA Intermedia for
the Thai Public Broadcasting Service
(TPBS) and Indonesia’s NetMedia, and
how was IPA able to meet the needs of
these organisations?
Poon Ka Hing: IPA Intermedia was en-
gaged by BEC Th ailand to serve TPBS as
a project manager.
Th e full-scale project provided by IPA
included solutions from ingest, news-
room, production and BMS traffi c system
to playout system.
For instance, we installed a MAM
solution from SGL, a Quantum LTO Tape
Library system, and for newsroom and
programming, we built 10 non-linear
editing rooms and two dubbing rooms.
In 2013, we were also appointed
by NetMedia in Jakarta, Indonesia, to
Some of IPA Intermedia’s more prominent installation
projects included those carried out for Th ailand’s TPBS
(top) and Indonesia’s NetMedia (above).
14 / www.apb-news.com
manage its downscales system project.
We installed for NetMedia, library ingest
rooms, 17 non-linear editing rooms,
a MAM solution from SGL, Quantum
LTO Tape Library system, as well as a
newsroom production and automation
master control room. We also installed
a transcoding system based on Imagine
Communications’ SelenioNext transcod-
er, to allow NetMedia to deliver on-air
content to YouTube.
What do you think are some of the
main challenges facing Asia-Pacific
broadcasters and operators today, and
how is IPA Intermedia equipped to help
overcome these challenges?
Poon: We see most of the main broadcast-
ers in the region moving to adopt Digital
Video Broadcasting (DVB) standards for
digital television.
Th e main challenges associated with
this include having to add more encod-
ing and multiplexing capabilities at the
transmission point.
Once DVB is approved by national
regulators, more TV channel licences will
be granted, and more content will be re-
quired for on-air transmission. Hence, we
are also following these developments and
are now adding more studio, camera and
LED lighting solutions into our portfolio.
In your opinion, what are some of the
key technology trends that will impact
the Asia-Pacifi c region, specifi cally in
the next two to three years?
Poon: Basically, besides the adoption of
DVB, on-demand content will continue
to grow in prominence; this is where we
see more production houses of varying
sizes coming into the picture to produce
content for multiple platforms.
The trend towards online stream-
ing and over-the-top (OTT) services on
multiple connected mobile devices will ac-
celerate. We are already seeing the gradual
integration of telecommunications and
“The trend towards
online streaming
and over-the-top
(OTT) services on
multiple connected
mobile devices will
accelerate.”
— Poon Ka Hing,
Chief Technology OfÄ cer,
IPA Intermedia
broadcast, and the talk is also now about
4K/Ultra HD (UHD), which is heading
towards cinematic quality.
Why is it important to select the correct
technology partner, and what is the role
systems integrators play in preparing
broadcasters and operators to adapt to
an evolving media landscape?
Poon: As technology evolves, and the
long-term trend is towards cinematic
4K/UHD, it is important for all end-
users, as well as systems integrators, to
think ahead and be well prepared for
any change.
Also, existing broadcast systems
based on a baseband backbone infra-
stracture will eventually be redundant,
as the broadcast industry transitions to
IP-based systems.
As a trusted systems integrator and
technology partner, we also make it a pri-
ority to include aft er-sales services, and
we follow up closely with our customers
to ensure their needs, whether for today
or into the future, are met.
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