live news & sport


The differences between the TV landscape today and that of just a few years ago is strong evidence of the pace at which our industry evolves. Increased consumer demand for content availability and high quality are changing the way broadcasters, service providers and operators need to work. The pressure is on, not only to keep pace with the market, but to look ahead and invest in the technology which is going to enable the next generation of television experiences. Fabio Murra, strategic product manager, solutions, solution area TV, Ericsson, reports.


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maintaining viewing figures. And live TV is a major part of it. Certain events must be watched live for the social gravitation they naturally generate. Whether a song contest, a sporting event or news coverage from a faraway place, these events are those ‘discussed in the office’ the morning after and - more and more - during the event itself through social networking websites (currently aptly being integrated in the concept of Social TV). However, such live TV coverage


poses unique challenges to broadcasters and service providers. How can they reliably deliver these events without a chance of a second take and with the flexibility necessary to support high definition, 3D television and 24/7 news broadcasting from a wide variety of locations?


Preparing for the future


As any broadcaster knows, it’s impossible to predict the future with


Live event TV: T


V services are increasingly offering an array of on- demand and time shifted options. Nonetheless, linear, broadcast content remains strategically important to


any degree of certainty. Faced by a fast changing environment it is of paramount importance to consider the flexibility and potential longevity of any new system investment. This is especially true in the segment known as digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), where the variety of event types and locations broadcasters must transmit from and the range of formats they need to broadcast in, requires DSNG technology that is powerful, versatile, reliable and efficient. Interoperability is key. In today’s


‘technology proliferation’ scenario, it is fundamental for these ‘right first time’ applications that the equipment deployed within trucks/vans ensures completion of the story regardless of the receive site the content is to be delivered to. This technology must also be ready


to deliver the television of tomorrow, as well as today. HD has already become established for coverage of major sporting events and will soon become the dominant, and most valuable, broadcasting format for all live contribution, including news. Capturing content in the highest resolution possible is important for many broadcasters, even those who don’t currently have dedicated HD


New thinking needs to be applied to ‘news gathering’ models in order to shape the solutions that will carry broadcasters through the next generation of television innovations.


‘news gathering’ models in order to shape the solutions that will carry broadcasters through the next generation of television innovations. These will include the proliferation of screens with an always ‘rising bar’ of resolutions and quality expectations, but also a wider availability of delivery networks, from satellite to fibre, microwave to IP delivery over cellular networks. Equipment flexibility is paramount to ensure adaptation and growth in this fast changing market.


Efficiency and versatility


In an area of the market as competitive as news and sports gathering, broadcasters are continuously facing the challenge of how to deliver high-quality video in the most cost efficient manner available. This is a particular issue for news broadcasters, who are under constant pressure to deliver the


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the efficiency & flexibility challenges


channels to the home, to ensure editing and archiving accounts for the programming needs of the future. And, although many still argue about the dominance that 3D TV will have in our homes, it is certainly a differentiator for many providers today, and sport is its most sought after content type. New thinking needs to be applied to


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