theibcdaily Saturday 08.09.2012 113 Automation needs fresh thinking In Brief
Channel in a box or traditional automation? Tom Gittins, sales director, Pebble Beach Systems suggests a different approach
As an industry, we need to challenge the popular assumption that conventional broadcast automation can usefully be compared with channel in a box technology. It is true that the lines between the two are blurring. Automation as a concept refers to an overarching control layer which is agnostic, while dedicated channel in a box technology undoubtedly fulfils a real requirement, but cannot replace the need many broadcasters have for an independent control system. Furthermore, as excitement and interest in the channel in a box concept accelerates, it is important for the industry to avoid the assumption that all broadcasters have the same needs and that all channels are the same. The temptation to consider all linear television playout as a commodity purchase needs to be resisted until the specific requirements of each channel have been evaluated.
In many cases it is simply not
possible for broadcasters to be able to ensure that their content – video, audio, graphics, subtitling - is perfect every time before passing it forward for simple playout. And adopting a single vendor channel in a box solution that comfortably meets a broadcaster’s needs today inevitably means taking the risk that it may not do so tomorrow.Will it be possible to adapt the chosen channel in a box platform in future if its embedded control system is only able to handle a limited, fixed range of devices? With sales of discrete devices
still providing significant revenue streams for broadcast vendors, the issue of interfacing to best of breed devices is not going to go away, and most broadcasters are simply not in a position to plan projects without integrating specialist playout technology as well as legacy equipment that still has usable value.
Also worth examination is the operational cost associated with installing channel in a box
Opinion
Tom Gittins: ‘Specialist experience and expertise’
systems which lock the user into specific workflows, and which have to run alongside existing technologies whilst using separate user interfaces and underlying media management tools. Additional training requirements, opportunities for human error, conflicting media management
requests, and the increased load created on archives and the inflexibility of systems that force users to adopt specific graphics workflows are not trivial considerations. So, while channel in a box technology offers very real cost and space savings for many channel types – and Pebble Beach Systems is showing a new product in this space at this year’s IBC show - it is clear that the need for automation remains. It is equally clear that the number of specialist vendors who are developing new generation systems which offer users the freedom to choose the right channel delivery technology on a per case basis is shrinking. Vendors such as Pebble Beach Systems who remain committed to the automation market can bring their specialist experience and expertise to bear on new flagship products across the automation and channel in a box space, while legacy players, for whom automation is not a core product, move their attentions elsewhere. 8.B58
Filmakers see red CP Cases is showcasing its SatRack, ERack & Amazon Cases for broadcast professionals. The SatRack range of cases was developed with amplifier manufacturer SNG and were designed as a super- lightweight protective case which allows news crews to check-in the latest generation of satellite uplinks amplifiers as regular baggage with absolute confidence.
Customisation is a large part of its business for this sector, which either involves a complete design of any product from scratch, or in the case of London-based documentary filmmaker Dewald Aukema, a
customised foam interior on a standard Peli Case to protect his Red Epic camera.
The black-on-red foam interior also serves a practical purpose: the filmmaker quite literally sees red if any piece is missing. 10.A44