September 2012
www.tvbeurope.com
“Customers are not comfortable with the public cloud — we are taking that limitation away for them”
pay a few hundred euros a month,” Craig says. “You can build your own portal with a logo and picture, and then move content over a standard connection.” This new model, introduced
at NAB this year and a major focus of Signiant’s presence at IBC2012, also offers a store and forward service through a privately managed cloud. “This is what our customers told us they want. The same back end, heavy-duty enterprise automated stuff with the core software at each end. “But they are not comfortable with the public cloud, so we are taking that limitation away for them,” Craig says. “That is scalable: the same toolset can be used within a huge enterprise.” It is easy to view Signiant technology as the mechanical business of getting very large media files from point A to point B. That is the top-level view, but doing it in a way that is of value to broadcasters requires more. Security is a prime concern, not just in the use of private Signiant servers in the cloud and at user premises, but while the content is in transit. A unique secure socket layer (SSL) security model minimises the risk of hackers tacking into the media. Increasing the ease of use is also a central concern. The system has always had enterprise-wide monitoring and control, so a user can see how a transfer is going, what bandwidth is being used and when a successful move will be complete. Now the emphasis is on automating that file exchange. David Nortier is Signiant’s
general manager for the EMEA region, which he set up at the beginning of 2006. “We started out by doing a lot of work with the BBC,” he says. “We wanted to get a handle on what broadcasters needed to do. “More recently we have
been working with the Digital Production Partnership, the group of UK broadcasters which has come together to establish standards for programme delivery,” he continues. “What is clear is that broadcasters want automated delivery, with compliance checking before a file is sent.” What the DPP is saying is
that, given there is a defined standard for the presentation of file-based content to broadcasters, then you can check for that, and for any customer-specific requirements,
in the pre-flight check before the file is sent. If the file comes from a trusted source, then it can go straight into the broadcaster’s asset management. “We have extended our
workflow engine to create a DPP-compliant system, which we will be showing at IBC this year,” said Nortier. “We think that will encourage the post community to look at Signiant.” Craig takes up the workflow aspect of the technology. “With automated processing and compliance checking before delivery, broadcasters and their suppliers can build a distributed workflow that does not waste the bandwidth.
David Nortier: “We have “What is clear is
that broadcasters want automated delivery, with compliance
checking before a file is sent” David Nortier, Signiant
With
intelligence in the
system you can make the workflow better,” she
adds. “The aim is to get assets to
air. By prioritising the
delivery for content that is close to air, you can help
extended our workflow engine to create a DPP-compliant system, which we will be showing at IBC this year”
broadcasters achieve tight day and date deadlines. “At Signiant we talk about
‘powerfully simple file movements’,” Craig concludes. “We think this really is the right time for file-based delivery technology, the inflection point where it becomes mainstream. We think we hit the sweet spot with both the heavy lifting and the ease of use.”
TVBEurope 29
The Business Case NEWS INBRIEF
Wellen+Nöthen goes speed dating In order to offer customers a more innovative portfolio of broadcasting solutions in the future,
Wellen+Nöthen, and sister company Qvest Media, is adopting a new approach at this year’s IBC. In speed dating sessions, the company will offer manufacturers and service providers from the media and broadcasting sector the opportunity to introduce their products and services and to become a partner in the German-speaking and Middle East regions. The 60-minute sessions with purchasing, portfolio as well as sales managers are intended to provide information about products and services and also indicate synergies of a future partnership of the companies. IBC 3.B40
Hawkeye monitors dB Broadcast is introducing a DVB-T2 monitoring receiver module for its Hawkeye range. The Hawkeye B105 monitoring receiver provides additional RF and ASI monitoring facilities compared to the B104, and has a built in web interface allowing simple remote control and monitoring. A SNMP interface is provided for integration with Network Management Systems making it suitable for use at un-manned transmitter sites. IBC 10.A28
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84