January 2013 www.tvbeurope.com


TVBEurope 35 ForumChannel in a Box CiaB? Let’s take a closer look


What compromises must be accepted in exchange for advantages of a CiaB solution? Can CiaB products be trusted with bet-the-business channels? Mark Cousins, Sr global solutions manager, Production & Playout, Harmonic, searches for answers


SO-CALLED ‘CHANNEL in a Box’ solutions have increased in popularity over the past several years, due in no small part to the promise that they’ll simplify and speed deployment, improve reliability, and reduce both the capital and operating costs of broadcast television channels. Is the promise real? Must the broadcaster make


The CiaB dilemma Prior to availability of CiaB solutions, broadcasters typically selected playout chain components based on reliability, functionality, cost, power consumption, rack density, and ease of integration. CiaB presents a dilemma: the (single) manufacturer has determined all of these factors, and while they may not align with


performance hardware. Though this degree of performance is appropriate for some channels, it is wasteful and inefficient to require it for the vast majority of channels without 3D graphics. Typically, a better solution is to pre-render 3D graphics for those few channels that do. Automation is another common area of compromise.


Not all channels are created equal. CiaB solutions — regardless of supplier — cannot possibly serve every need


compromises to take advantage of this technology? Let’s have a closer look. First, just what is ‘Channel


in a Box?” There seem to be as many definitions as there are products. So that we’re speaking the same language, allow me to offer a definition: Channel in a Box (CiaB) describes the integration of channel chain functions including, at a minimum, stored clip (programmes or commercials) playout, video source selection, channel branding including logos and other graphics, and primary and secondary event control (automation). Many products go beyond these basics to offer subtitle/ caption insertion during playout, DVE or other graphics features, audio processing, support for mixed HD/SD programming with up/down/ cross-conversion, and HD/SD simulcast with separate branding for each. Whether CiaB products


literally offer these functions in a single ‘box’ or require multiple components that act as a single system (sometimes referred to, tongue-in-cheek, as ‘channel-in- a rack’), operators considering CiaB solutions must answer at least two very important questions. First, what compromises must be accepted in exchange for the advantages of a CiaB solution? And, second, can CiaB products be trusted with high-revenue, bet- the-business channels?


the broadcaster’s goals, some factor, such as cost, may overwhelm the others in priority and thus force the purchaser to accept the package. For example, some channels


require that 3D graphics be rendered in realtime, which means that rendering parameters are not predictable. This uncertainty requires expensive high-


With one notable exception, CiaB products on the market today force the operator to use the automation provided with the product. While acceptable in many situations, this can be highly disruptive for providers with existing infrastructure. (Harmonic’s ChannelPort product can be controlled by either onboard automation or


Mark Cousins: Though temptation is strong, implementing every possible function on a commodity rack-mount PC isn’t always the best solution


by traditional enterprise automation systems.) Broadcasters also must satisfy themselves that the CiaB solution offers at least the same reliability as its component counterpart. Has the vendor demonstrated operation under degraded circumstances, such as compromised redundancy? Does the product offer high- availability features that reduce


service interruptions? Is the manufacturer’s service organisation able to support SLA requirements? Finally, performance requires


close attention. Though the temptation is strong, implementing every possible function on a commodity rack-mount PC isn’t always the best solution. With many years of experience in this area, we at Harmonic have chosen to implement some channel playout functions in FPGA and/or DSP modules. Updateable by software, these components provide significantly increased performance at a fraction of the power consumption and rack space of traditional CPU implementations. Not all channels are created equal. CiaB solutions — regardless of supplier — cannot possibly serve every need. Because each supplier has tailored its product for a chosen market segment, employing a solution for a broadcast product that it doesn’t completely support will soon be recognised as an error, and possibly an expensive one. The broadcaster must be completely aware of the system’s capabilities and whether they can deliver the desired service level. As broadcasters evaluate features, reliability, and performance, the bottom line is this: choose the best tool for the job, considering all factors — not just a few.


Keep ahead in this Be a part of DVB World Make it a Date!


March 11 - 13 | Madrid 2013


www.dvbworld.org


For nearly 20 years, DVB and its standards have been at the forefront of digital TV. What technical and social developments can we expect in the near future and what will TV look like in another 20 years?


The DVB World conference, exhibition and networking event is the biggest annual gathering dedicated to DVB standards, DVB related services and technology.


The 2013 program promises to be better than ever and will feature key industry figures and renowned experts in their field. Program


topics will include: changes in media consumption technology and behavior; public and private broadcaster strategies; spectrum issues; OTT + CDN technology; LTE, mobile video; Second Screen technologies; Cloud TV; video coding and HEVC; UHDTV; 3DTV and of course updates on a multitude of DVB standards. More details can be found on the DVB World website.


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