By Simen K. Frostad
Every year, the broadcast industry descends en masse on the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam. Once again, IBC provided invaluable insight into what's going on - and where we're going.
One of the great things about the timing of IBC - in September - is the opportunity it provides to get a snapshot of the state of the industry towards the end of any given year -as well as a look forward to what we might see in the coming year and beyond.
IBC this year was particularly interesting, not least because several discussions with the foremost satellite companies revealed an interesting shift in how they see themselves. That shift was very much reflective - inevitably so - of the wider shift in the broadcast industry.
There was much discussion of the customer journey - the different points on the path towards wholly embracing IP that each organization is on, and the need for vendors to acknowledge that and provide situationally-appropriate solutions. Some organizations, for example, are still wedded to the on-premise paradigm while others have wholly embraced the cloud.
Wherever those organizations are, however, it was certainly clear that the age of monolithic data centers is long gone. IBC saw much talk, and not for the first time, of distributed intelligence and edge computing. That's inevitable: media distribution has become all but mission critical and, as such, potential points of failure.
Hybrid
If customer journey was something you heard repeatedly in Amsterdam, another frequently used word was hybrid . Everyone, it seemed, was talking about hybrid solutions. And: that was certainly true of those satellite companies.
According to a senior manager at one of these firms, his company is building an ecosystem exactly in line with the challenges he sees his customers experiencing. They were, he said, looking for a converged approach to the problem of using the appropriate connectivity technology for many disparate requirements: no single connectivity technology could be the best for every environment.
As such, his company - in common, it must be said, with others - was in the process of reinventing itself: satellite would still be at its heart, but that would be only one of the connectivity solutions it would be able to offer. As with so many other exhibitors, satellite operators are looking to become full service providers, providing complete end-to-end solutions.
______________________________________
In theory, 5G also represents a
challenge to satellite companies,
although the consensus at IBC 2019
was that such was not the case.
It would have been easy, based on these conversations, to conclude that satellite, as a way of getting content from point A to point B, was diminishing in importance.
Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth: in many environments and for many applications, satellite remains the only show in town. Increasingly, however, it has become part of a communications ecosystem and satellite companies are seeing how they can be uniquely placed to play successfully in that world.
While IP is inexorably changing the broadcast world - for the better - satellite companies continue to face their own unique challenges. At IBC, we saw significant interest in our VB273 Intelligent Redundancy Switch.
Originally developed in response to a major operator's request for a redundancy switching solution, it provides full dual path redundancy for satellite signals with autonomous operation and deep signal analysis on both signal paths for the ultimate in switching decision making. The solution is ideal for providing fast and robust redundancy switching for permanently installed satellite up-links or in outside broadcast systems.
Intelligence at the Edge
One of the characteristics of the VB273 for satellite companies is how - in line with what's happening throughout the industry - it moves intelligence to the network edge, distributing decision-making way beyond the confines of the data center.
In automatic mode, the VB273 system is fully independent and makes its own switching decisions based on the pre-set switching rules. In manual mode, the unit can be controlled from any overlying NMS system via the extensive XML-based Eii (External Integration Interface) or via SNMP triggers.
Previously, it was the case that simple, relatively crude ETR alarm analyzers and black box switching solutions were deployed, but these were a much less than perfect response to broadcasters' requirements: they were inflexible, and could even themselves cause problems and increase costs by generating false positives' or missing complex error conditions.
The Bridge VB273 system's analysis capabilities and decision engine make it more comprehensive and accurate, giving greater security as well as delivering the cost reductions that can be achieved through running a more intelligent solution that can be trusted to operate with a greater degree of autonomy.
By incorporating a full implementation of Bridge Technologies' advanced ETR290 analysis engine, the VB273 can use a greater range of criteria, and base decisions on a more nuanced and realistic assessment of the data. Error conditions are evaluated against a set of user-defined rules to determine the appropriate automated action in any operational scenario.
The ETR290 engine is an ETSI TR 101 290 alarm monitor and advanced analysis functionality feature for the series of devices. A device can be configured with up to eight individual ETR290 engines running in parallel on the Ethernet interface providing highly scalable monitoring and analysis.
Even More Sophisticated
Bridge Technologies has also developed Gold TS to provide capabilities that are even more sophisticated than those featured in the ETR290 engine.
Conditions such as failures of the conditional access sy
SatNews: Year in Review 2019
09/12/2019
Europe Stories
05/08/2020
ICVFX Delivers Australias First Full Service LED Virtual Production Solution
ICVFX Delivers Australias First Full Service LED Virtual Production Solution Sydney, Australia | August 5, 2020...
05/08/2020
Latest Samsung Galaxy devices now on Sky Mobile
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, Galaxy Note20 5G and Galaxy Tab S7 5G available to pre-order Save £360 on 25GB data plan with Unlimited Calls & Texts Sky M...
05/08/2020
ENTERTAINMENT ONE CELEBRATES 17 NOMINATIONS FOR THE 35TH STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS
BACKENTERTAINMENT ONE CELEBRATES 17 NOMINATIONS FOR THE 35TH STELLAR GOSPEL MUSI...
05/08/2020
DR. DRES TRAILBLAZING DEBUT ALBUM THE CHRONIC TO BE AVAILABLE GLOBALLY ACROSS ALL DIGITAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ON 4/20
BACKDR. DRES TRAILBLAZING DEBUT ALBUM THE CHRONIC TO BE AVAILABLE GLOBALLY ACROS...
05/08/2020
MONDO COZMO SHARES NEW MEDICINE VIA LAST GANG RECORDS
BACKMONDO COZMO SHARES NEW MEDICINE VIA LAST GANG RECORDSLATEST SINGLE UPSIDE DOWN ON CURRENT ROTATION SIRIUS ALT NATION THE MONDO COZMO RADIO SHOW, LATEST E...
05/08/2020
ENTERTAINMENT ONE WITH PARTNER ENTOTAL SIGN COMEDIAN STEVE TREVIO TO MANAGEMENT DEAL
BACKENTERTAINMENT ONE WITH PARTNER ENTOTAL SIGN COMEDIAN STEVE TREVI O TO MANAG...
05/08/2020
ACE FREHLEY ANNOUNCES ORIGINS VOL. 2 DETAILS, EXTENDS ALBUM DEAL WITH ENTERTAINMENT ONE
BACKACE FREHLEY ANNOUNCES ORIGINS VOL. 2 DETAILS, EXTENDS ALBUM DEAL WITH ENTERT...
05/08/2020
Black Soprano Family (Benny The Butcher, Rick Hyde & Heem) Release New Gangsta Grillz Mixtape
BACKBlack Soprano Family (Benny The Butcher, Rick Hyde & Heem) Release New Gangs...
05/08/2020
SES Selects SpaceX for Launch of New C-Band Satellites
Written on 05 Aug 2020 New C-Band satellites when launched in 2022 will enable delivery of 5G services as well as the uninterrupted delivery of digital televi...
05/08/2020
SES Selects United Launch Alliance to Launch Two C-Band Satellites to accelerate C-Band clearing
Written on 05 Aug 2020 U.S.-based United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket ...
05/08/2020
ITV's Regional News achieves albert certification
First UK newsroom to achieve certification By Jenny Priestley Published: August 5, 2020 First UK newsroom to achieve certification target=_blank title=Sh...
05/08/2020
Ikegami announces UHL-F4000 Separate-Optics Compact Multi-Role 4K HDR Camera
Ikegami announces UHL-F4000 Separate-Optics Compact Multi-Role 4K HDR Camera posted: 05/08/2020 Ikegami announces a new addition to its range of broadcast...
05/08/2020
PXW-FS7 II shoots 4K HDR inside world's largest cave
PXW-FS7 II shoots 4K HDR inside worlds largest cave posted: 05/08/2020 Our objective was to faithfully reproduce what we experienced the wide dynamic ran...
05/08/2020
PWL Gets Lucky with Wheel of Fortune
PWL Gets Lucky with Wheel of Fortune posted: 05/08/2020 The series was recorded in Studio 1 at Videohouse in Vilvoorde and aired on SBS's VIER channel...
05/08/2020
Sky Sports to debate how COVID-19 has impacted Women's Sport
Sky Sports has announced new debate show, Cancelled: Women's sport & the impact of COVID-19' airing on Thursday 12 August at 8pm. The show will look at...
05/08/2020
Fox Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2020 Financial Results
Fox Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2020 Financial Resul...
05/08/2020
The Homemade Music of Al Shak': From Soundtrack to Spotify Playlist
While homebound during the pandemic, people are often turning to television and movies as a form of escapism. But creator, writer, and composer Firas Abou Fakhe...
05/08/2020
ITV extends exclusive free to air racing until 2023
ITV extends exclusive free to air racing until 2023 ITV has today announced it will continue as the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster of British horse racing u...
05/08/2020
Soccer Aid for Unicef returns to Old Trafford this September
Soccer Aid for Unicef returns to Old Trafford this September Soccer Aid for Unicef has today announced that the world's biggest charity football match will...
05/08/2020
Grupo Express en Argentina habilita el servicio OTT de Now Express con DRM mltiple de NAGRA
NAGRA Multi-DRM asegurar los servicios de transmisi n en dispositivos para cons...
05/08/2020
Grupo Express in Argentina enables Now Express OTT service with multi-DRM from NAGRA
NAGRA Multi-DRM to secure streaming services on consumer devices in partnership ...
05/08/2020
Seongsan Methodist Church Enhances Services and Expands Possibilities with HARMAN Professional Audio and Control Systems
August 03, 2020 INCHEON, REPUBLIC OF KOREA - To provide patrons an enhanced wor...
04/08/2020
Nokia to set up robotics lab at Indian Institute of Science for research on socially relevant use cases based on 5G and emerging technologies
Nokia to set up robotics lab at Indian Institute of Science for research on soci...
04/08/2020
Nokia selected by Asia Pacific Telecom as sole 5G (NSA/SA) vendor
Nokia selected by Asia Pacific Telecom as sole 5G (NSA/SA) vendor Press Release Nokia selected by Asia Pacific Telecom as sole 5G (NSA/SA) vendor Exclusiv...
04/08/2020
DPA PROVIDES SUPERIOR DYNAMIC RANGE FOR H.E.R.
FOH and Monitor Engineers Call on d:facto 4018VL and 4099 CORE to Deliver Big, Warm Rhythmic Sound. LOS ANGELES In Hip Hop and R&B, it can be difficult to f...
04/08/2020
Craft Interview: Patrick Castonguay
As an accomplished A1 for almost 20 years now, Canada-based Patrick Castonguay loves the challenge of being creative with every live mix he produces. He's w...
04/08/2020
RT announces AIB as sponsor of ReIGNITE & The Business on RT Radio 1
RT Media Sales today announced AIB as the sponsor of ReIGNITE on RT Radio 1 commencing Saturday 1st August, 10am 11am. Presented by Aine Kerr ReIGNITE the ...
04/08/2020
RT partners with Comhaltas for a Virtual Fleadh in 2020
Many major events across the country have been cancelled this year. However that has not stopped Irish people everywhere from joining in to create virtual and o...
04/08/2020
Lagardre Travel Retail opens a new Aelia Duty Free shop at Cagliari airport
Lagard re Travel Retail opens a new Aelia Duty Free shop at Cagliari airport Lagard re Travel Retail is pleased to announce that a new Aelia Duty Free Shop ...
04/08/2020
2020-08-04
In partnership with Apple, Oprah Winfrey is unveiling the newest selection for Oprah's Book Club, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkers...
04/08/2020
PT SportSuite Delivers 3 Team Cricket Solidarity Cup Live Stream with AJA HELO
PT SportSuite Delivers 3 Team Cricket Solidarity Cup Live Stream with AJA HELO posted: 04/08/2020 Sports fans have eagerly awaited the return of sport throu...
04/08/2020
Robe Supports NeFestival in Ostrava
Robe Supports NeFestival in Ostrava posted: 04/08/2020 Colours of Ostrava is usually the largest multi-genre live music and performance festival in the Cz...
04/08/2020
#LetTheMusicPlay
#LetTheMusicPlay posted: 04/08/2020 Our industry is in need of urgent support! Almost 6 months ago we watched our busy work calendars empty & now our ware...
04/08/2020
126 SE Audiotechnik speakers at EV EDM Festival, Shanghai Happy Valley
126 SE Audiotechnik speakers at EV EDM Festival, Shanghai Happy Valley posted: 04/08/2020 SE Audiotechnik is exclusive PA partner for the EV EDM Festival ...
04/08/2020
Ross and ARET Deliver New 4K-UHD OB Van for Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Center
Ross and ARET Deliver New 4K-UHD OB Van for Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events C...
04/08/2020
#LightItInRed Supports #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Campaign
#LightItInRed Supports #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Campaign posted: 03/08/2020 UK-based grassroots campaign initiative #LightItInRed is part of the 11th Augus...
04/08/2020
CONCERT TOURING INDUSTRY UNITES TO LAUNCH COVID-19 WORKING GUIDANCE
CONCERT TOURING INDUSTRY UNITES TO LAUNCH COVID-19 WORKING GUIDANCE posted: 03/08/2020 Professionals from across the global concert touring industry have ...
04/08/2020
Green Hippo performs for Don Giovanni
Green Hippo performs for Don Giovanni posted: 04/08/2020 Don Giovanni at Stockholms Berwaldhallen Hippotizer Media Servers from Green Hippo, the specialist...
04/08/2020
Houserasten's Forest Showcase in Germany Showcases DJ Morten Heuer with Claypaky Mini-B LED Moving Lights from Cube Entertainment
Houserasten's Forest Showcase in Germany Showcases DJ Morten Heuer with Clay...
04/08/2020
Pick & Go: a new global food-to-go concept by Lagardre Travel Retail
Pick & Go: a new global food-to-go concept by Lagard re Travel Retail Lagard re Travel Retail introduces Pick & Go, a new global catering offer available to...
04/08/2020
Hit UK format Beat The Chasers comes to find Australia's smartest
Hit UK format Beat The Chasers comes to find Australia's smartest Seven today announced Beat The Chasers, a primetime special event series that supercharge...
04/08/2020
Paving the way for fossil-free commercial heavy transport
Today, transport is the second largest source of global CO2 emissions and currently contributes nearly a quarter of all global emissions. Within this, commercia...
04/08/2020
X-Rite i1Pro 3 Plus and i1iO Now Support Automated Transmission Profiling for Backlit Signage
X-Rite i1Pro 3 Plus and i1iO Now Support Automated Transmission Profiling for Ba...
03/08/2020
Sky Arts commissions new photography project with Rankin as the search begins today
In a brand new Sky Original series to mark the launch of Sky Arts as a free-to-a...
03/08/2020
Crazy Culinary Combos! The Nation's Favourite Food Fusions Revealed
3 August 2020 Pineapple on pizza, surf & turf and chocolate & chilli voted top quirky combinations Delicious or disgusting? - study lifts the lid on the most d...
03/08/2020
MUX22 helps GB4D build versatile streams for Grand Concert de Paris
MUX22 helps GB4D build versatile streams for Grand Concert de Paris posted: 03/08/2020 Once again BroaMan and Optocore network devices were deployed to ma...
03/08/2020
ITV Charts IP-based Future with Clear-Com
ITV Charts IP-based Future with Clear-Com posted: 03/08/2020 Broadcaster rolls out IP wireless intercom and communications system across entire operation ...
03/08/2020
"He Luting" Starting Up, SMT Magic Digital Studio Leads 8K Panoramic Sound Film Production
"He Luting" Starting Up, SMT Magic Digital Studio Leads 8K Panoramic Sound Film ...
03/08/2020
Littlewoods Film Studios secures 17 million funding commitment
£54 million regeneration project aims to transform the iconic Littlewoods Building into a new home for film and TV productions By Jenny Priestley Published: A...
