theibcdaily
IP: simple solution to contribution Opinion
Today’s Internet Protocal technology has all the capabilities broadcasters need for contribution networks argues Geir Bryn-Jensen, CEO, Nevion
Broadcasters, like those in many other industries, are under pressure to do more for less, both in terms of capital and human resources. IP’s ascendancy into the transport of professional-quality content continues primarily because IP networks are more flexible and cost-effective than systems built with traditional broadcast technology.
IP networks can carry any kind of content – video, audio or data – which makes it very versatile. IP is everywhere now, which means broadcasters can link any and all locations together, at any time. What’s more, IP connections are flexible, making them ideally suited to today’s live environment where set up and tear down of services on demand is required to meet constantly changing needs. And IP’s huge ecosystem means that IP solutions are available to meet virtually any conceivable broadcast
requirement, with more solutions emerging all the time. Most importantly, in addition
to IP’s cost effectiveness when compared to dedicated links that are often underused and therefore costly, IP-based links can be set up when and where needed, carrying any type of content, making them very attractive to broadcasters. Now, IP is increasingly being used to transport high-quality content in realtime between locations as part of the production process (IP contribution). Using IP for contribution requires an overlay of technology to overcome its inherent limitations. These challenges include variations in latency, the level of reliability (broadcasters can’t afford to lose a single frame of video), and the management of IP networks, which seems so much more complex than traditional baseband networks. The good news is that these limitations have now been
overcome, and specialists like Nevion are making IP fit for broadcasting. Consider the case of one of the UK’s largest commercial television networks looking to update its
contribution network between 12 main locations and nearly 30 regional facilities. With a goal of improving its distribution of quality content and achieving cost efficiencies, it implemented a solution based on an existing next- generation core network connected to the broadcaster sites by 10Gigabit Ethernet links, backed by Nevion’s video compression, transport and monitoring solutions. VideoIPath, Nevion’s media network management system, puts the broadcaster in control of its contribution network. As a result, the broadcaster can now share SD and HD-SDI video signals safely and in realtime between any of their locations, with latencies of just a few milliseconds — compared to
about 600ms with their previous system. Most importantly, with VideoIPath, non-specialist broadcast operators can set up connections between any locations virtually instantly, without expert help. For this and other
broadcasters like it, the ability to set up connections between locations on demand combined with resilience and very low latency has the potential to revolutionize production workflows. Virtually any remote
location can become an extension of in-studio or on- campus production, and expertise can be tapped into wherever it’s needed. This is exciting news for
broadcasters as they seek to evolve in the face of tough competition. Not only flexible, bandwidth efficient and less costly, IP is ideal for broadcasting’s future, which is sure to include second screens and expanded realtime services. 1.B71
Luma Tech Super35 lenses Broadcasters must become agile GearCam By David Fox
Luma Tech has extended its series of Super35mm Illumina S35 PL-mount lenses at both ends, adding its widest-angle 14mm and its longest 135mm lenses.
The Illumina S35 14mm is a T1.8 model, with a close focus of 25cm, and weighs 1.6kg, while the 2.3kg 135mm S35 lens has a T1.8 aperture and 150cm minimum object distance. The other five lenses in the range (18, 15, 35, 50 and 85mm) all have T1.3 apertures. All the lenses use Lomo optics and are claimed to offer high resolution and contrast, with “a forgiving creaminess”. Their European distributor, GearCam, is also showing Lomo’s new optical test bench for cinematographic optics: the Lumacon. Equipped with proprietary sensor components and software, it uses the peak contrast principle to pinpoint
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optimum back focus, focus distance scale settings and true light-transmission (T-stop) performance of lenses. The image of a knife-edge reference object is used to generate performance curves, which the software then interprets, automatically locating the point of peak image quality. As well as maintenance and repair, it is useful for in-depth analysis and comparison of optical resolution and assembly quality, and is claimed to be “the most powerful instrument for optical quality assessment ever offered at such an affordable price- point.” 11.B65
IBM By Adrian Pennington
A forgiving creaminess: Luma Tech’s new Illumina S35 14mm PL-mount lens
The rapid adoption of smart devices and the growth in network bandwidth and social media are creating exciting opportunities for media and entertainment (M&E) companies. Yet, increasingly empowered consumers are demanding the content they want, on the device they choose at the location and time that fits their schedule. This new ‘connected’ marketplace requires that M&E firms deliver compelling experiences that meet each consumer’s unique need. “To succeed in this new connected consumer era, broadcasters must become more agile,” said Steven L. Canepa, general manager, global M&E industry, IBM. “They must understand their audience in greater detail, develop efficient frameworks that can deliver customised
Canepa: “Be prepared to deliver innovation at the moment of consumption”
experiences, and be prepared to deliver innovation at the moment of consumption.” He continues: “Traditional audience measurement techniques must evolve to include realtime collection and analysis of social media and transaction data to truly understand consumer behaviours and preferences. Harnessing the vast amounts of structured and unstructured data can provide
powerful insights which can inform business decisions and create enhanced revenue streams. The financial benefits of targeted advertising and more efficient and effective marketing campaigns can only be achieved through these data- driven approaches.” Personalised media is the new imperative, IBM believes. Solutions that integrate cloud, analytics, mobile and social – in a secure manner – are the answer.
“Linking distribution with analytics in a cloud environment allows M&E companies to clearly understand the behaviour of connected customers and deliver increased value. The scale and flexibility provided by these new approaches can provide a digital delivery system that enables more than just speed and infrastructure savings. It makes new innovative business models possible.” MS22
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