August 2014
www.tvbeurope.com
TVBEurope 59 Forum Channel in a Box
all the solutions are heading. However, it will not be based on a single ‘box’, but rather on clustering and virtualisation technologies. As with many things CiaB, the definitions of ‘channel’ and ‘box’ are likely to differ amongst solutions, so we will probably be discussing whether it is channel or channels on chip or chips. Gilbert: We continue to innovate with our hardware, and we have no doubt that the capabilities of integration will always move forward. For now, though, we are confident that our architecture is the right choice for our customers who want reliability, flexibility, capability and quality. Mehring: We don’t believe that this technology is the best way forward because it limits interaction for live programming, which is the main driver for linear television. Customers prefer software- based platforms such as ICE On Demand because these platforms let media companies deploy new services without the need to buy silicone chips: they can simply clone channels
and deploy new services on commodity IT equipment. Rose: At NAB, we moved much closer with Channel- on-a-Card. We launched GV STRATUS Playout, an industry-first cloud-enabled playout solution that utilises the new Densité SSP (solid state playout) card, enabling customers to simplify playout or move it to the edge reducing distribution costs. Shell: Some vendors are promising this, but it is our belief that the market does not want proprietary hardware going forward. Smith: In our view, the lack of interest for Channel-on-a- Chip is not because it wasn’t ‘achievable’, but because it goes against the direction that customers are taking as the industry transitions away from proprietary hardware towards a virtualised, software-based approach and the flexibility, elastic scalability and economic benefits that offers. A workflow built on a Channel-on-a-Chip would be limited in its ability to adapt to evolving standards and expand with new functionality.
Straight: It isn’t around the corner but it is something we are thinking about for certain applications. We have been playing around with things like Raspberry Pi, for example, in the lab. Weigner: If ‘chip’ means dedicated hardware or custom FPGAs, then the answer is no. Hardware is commodity and should be commodity. Zdravkoski: As I assumed in the last CiaB Forum, I cannot imagine Channel-on-a-Chip yet. Maybe the technology itself allows Channel-on-a-Chip sometime, but I am not sure if the customers’ requirements will, since we do not yet have any enquiries. However, I am convinced that we will see multi-channel in a blade server as a new standard in three to five years from now. We are already working on such a solution. It is our aim to equip the multi-channel in a blade server with capabilities for 32 or 64 completely independent channels, including ingest, graphics, playout and streaming, using just a single 4HE machine.
Do you have a brief case study that shows how CiaB technology has made a significant difference to a broadcaster’s operation?
Ash: We worked with the UK-based Travel Channel International (TCI) to expand and streamline parts of its worldwide operations. This involved the companies working together to achieve the required integration of EdgeBox remote playout servers from PlayBox Technology into TCI’s existing file-based workflow and Zeus traffic system. TCI has complex playout needs. The process needs to be dynamic, flexible and economic, and yet deliver a high quality, extremely reliable feed. The EdgeBox remote playout solution could fit into its operation and was robust and reliable enough to handle the channel. Four EdgeBox servers have been supplied for TCI to
Andy Warman, Harmonic
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