live news and sport feature
big data transport and production from far-flung locations can be the norm rather than the exception. A universally accessible cloud-based platform to manage, transport and distribute HD video content provides improvements across workflows, from transport and ingest all the way through electronic news gathering (ENG). Cloud infrastructures also eliminate the need for sophisticated IT infrastructures and costly hardware, especially in cases of short-duration events and periodic spikes in activity that can be difficult to predict.
UEFA turns to the cloud for Euro2012
UEFA recognised that the cloud could be instrumental in supporting its end- to-end supply of Euro2012 match video content to international broadcasters. A process that would speed availability of original content and empower those who needed access to view, select and receive specific content required selecting the right provider. Once in hand, UEFA was convinced that the outcome would be all gain and virtually no risk. In fact, a complex content delivery workflow was shrouded in an easily deployed and easily operated system. The process relied on integrated software from start to finish, including on-premise software deployments to power contribution, file-based workflow orchestration and overall management. Combining on-demand, cloud-based infrastructure with software solutions provided complete flexibility and massive scalability in handling publishing and delivery for the large volumes of data generated. To obtain the same result through a traditional system would have required significant investment in on- premise resources that were simply cost-prohibitive.
A seamless workflow
The process required a vendor who was able to deliver all parts of the content delivery chain - transport, workflow orchestration, storage and management - through the cloud. Ultimately, UEFA’s LIVEX On-Demand digital video service, which relied on the latest high-speed video transport technology, delivered over 3000 near- live in-match and post-match video clips, amounting to nearly 27 terabytes of full HD content to official partners around the world for broadcast to their subscribers.
In order to deliver video clips and associated metadata to broadcasters in time for them to incorporate the content into programming, UEFA needed to move HD video files from on-site media centres in Ukraine and Poland to UEFA’s International Broadcasting Center (IBC) in Warsaw for processing and on to broadcast partners around the world. Software enabling users to send files and directories directly to each others’ desktops with manual or automated transfers was installed at digital media lounges at each sports venue and a server at the central facility. This allowed ENG crews to send time- critical video content to the IBC at maximum speed using the high-speed transport technology. Once received, all content and associated metadata underwent a series of automated processing and publishing tasks centrally managed by an advanced workflow orchestration platform. The platform also handled all progress notifications and created and distributed real-time alerts to UEFA staff when necessary.
The final steps in making the content available to broadcast partners involved automatically transferring high-resolution content to cloud storage and publishing low-resolution proxy versions (thereby saving bandwidth) to an ordering portal and digitally delivering the final video product directly to the broadcaster. Using a server at the IBC, high- resolution content was transferred directly to Amazon S3 storage using high-speed data transfer through the cloud running on Amazon Web Services. Low-resolution proxy versions were sent concurrently for immediate publishing to the UEFA broadcaster dedicated portal, where broadcast partners were able to browse and select desired content. Once selected,
The UEFA solution illustrates the
possibilities and benefits of a cloud solution comprising a hybrid of enterprise and cloud components. Used together, they enabled high-quality content to be served and accessed extremely efficiently even at global distances.
the final content and associated metadata were delivered to broadcast partners around the globe, once again using high-speed transport running in the AWS cloud, with the option for automatic download straight to a computer at the partner’s facility. The high-speed transport protocol helped ensure that packet loss and network congestion didn’t impede transfer speed or predictability.
Finally, to ensure smooth operation for the entire system, UEFA staff, as well as the vendor support team, relied on a centralised, web-based management interface for real-time monitoring and management of all transfer activity and post-hoc reporting.
On the horizon
The UEFA solution illustrates the possibilities and benefits of a cloud solution comprising a hybrid of enterprise and cloud components. Used together, they enabled high- quality content to be served and accessed extremely efficiently even at global distances. And given the relatively short duration of high-profile sporting events like Euro2012, the use of the high-speed transport protocol in the AWS cloud offers a compelling, cost-effective archive and distribution mechanism for high value, time- sensitive content. The promise of the cloud has been delivered. Yet, just as it took time for content providers and broadcasters to overcome their fears over the safety, quality and control of IP/IT infrastructures, so too will it take time for large-scale cloud adoption. But the hurdles that shackled cloud adoption are gone. It’s a whole new world of high-speed data access in public and private cloud environments for highly efficient workflows that are not just possible but soon-to-be preferred.
www.ibeweb.com l november/december 2012 l ibe l 25
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