Keith Wymbs
ALEXANDRIA, VA. Two decades ago, it was a struggle to get full-resolution standard-definition video to play smoothly on a computer. Today, a well-equipped modern PC bought at Costco can handle resolutions up to 4K without glitches, yielding inexpensive processing power that simply needs software to do whatever video task you require.
To get some idea of why your next infrastructure upgrade might be more about software than hardware, Broadcast Engineering Extra spoke to Keith Wymbs, chief marketing officer for Elemental Technologies.
Keith has 20 years' experience in the video, IPTV and telecommunications industries. As chief marketing officer at Elemental, Keith leads the development and implementation of the company's worldwide marketing strategy and oversees its marketing functions, ranging from product management to outbound communications.
Prior to joining Elemental, Keith led the marketing team of IPTV pioneer Tut Systems (acquired by Motorola), and the business development efforts of Viagate Technologies (acquired by Tut Systems).
BE Extra: What is software defined video and why should we take note of it?
Wymbs: Though fixed-function hardware may continue to provide high performance and good picture quality for specific applications such as standard definition TV over traditional networks, long product lifecycles mean the technology has a low likelihood of keeping pace with market changes. Software running on general purpose processors can now surpass task-specific video processing equipment in terms of both picture quality and performance, while simultaneously adapting to market change.
SDV is an infrastructure-agnostic approach to implementing flexible, scalable and easily upgradable video architectures. Unlike legacy solutions, this advancement allows video providers to deploy software across an optimal combination of dedicated and virtualized resources in both private and public data centers.
Software-defined video provides a new way for media enterprises to engage customers with innovative services such as timeshift and multiscreen TV; offer viewers better video experiences; and reduce capital expenditures. Broadcasters and pay TV operators rolling out premium streaming services can strengthen their competitive position and speed time to market by deploying software-defined video processing architectures as the core of their next-generation infrastructures.
BE Extra: Now that computers can handle HD easily without pricey dedicated graphics systems, it looks like many people are jumping on the 4K bandwagon. Will software defined video always be chasing the complexity of video?
Wymbs: SDV is the only approach that can help media enterprises reduce can handle the demands of an increasing complex video landscape!
Software defined video minimizes technology risk, while maximizing innovation speed and return on investment. For example, the flexibility unique to SDV solutions is vital to the continued expansion of services like 4K and UHD services. SDV solutions used to process MPEG-2 video can offer a more seamless migration path to H.264 and high-efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265) than dedicated hardware equipment.
Proven in major global live production events, including the Sochi Winter Olympics and 2014 World Cup, software-defined solutions can offer full frame rate 4K/HEVC video processing support.
BE Extra: What are a couple of powerful things that SDV can do today to make the lives of broadcasters easier?
Wymbs: The software-based approach to video processing enables media enterprises to lead and manage the transition to new video codecs such as high-efficiency video coding (HEVC/H.265), advanced audio codecs, advanced color spaces, increased color bit-depth, object-oriented audio specifications, forensic watermarking and new display formats such as 4K Ultra HD.
Video infrastructure complexities and expense are daunting for broadcasters deploying new multiscreen TV and OTT services. SDV mitigates that by unifying head-ends and workflows, while assuring broadcast-grade performance and reliability.
BE Extra: What about the future? As regulations and standards change, how easy is it to update an SDV product to maintain its function?
Computer graphics cards now have considerable processing power that can be harnessed for SDV applications.
Wymbs: A software-defined approach frees video providers from the constraints of dedicated equipment by allowing for the best architecture and processor combination to be used for a particular application, even if that application changes over time. Support for new services and video formats can be integrated seamlessly through simple software upgrades and API integration of third-party software, enabling video providers to immediately respond to changes in consumer demand.
Broadcasters and pay TV operators who choose software-defined video solutions don't have to wait for new custom video chips to be released to market, they can continually update and enhance their platform in line with increased consumer demand and technology advancements to create new revenue generating video services.
BE Extra: In the new world of video, content is watched on a variety of devices. How does SDV fit into that picture?
Wymbs: With SDV, live-to-VOD features such as nPVR and catch-up TV can be integrated at any time, allowing for even more flexibility and scalability. In dedicated hardware environments, trying to integrate third-party ad messaging or forensic watermarking capabilities means enabling communication with legacy video processing equipment. With its ability to support third-party integrations, a software platform allows all sorts of advanced features and capabilities to be fully integrated into a single unified system.
As the number of consumer viewing devices and video formats continue to multiply,
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
21/10/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
21/10/2025
September, the beginning of autumn, brought an expected revival to the TV market, largely due to the new fall TV schedules. The time spent in front of the TV sc...
21/10/2025
Broadcast Booms with 20% Uptick vs. August, Achieving Largest Monthly
Increase ...
21/10/2025
During September, streaming's share of TV viewing in Mexico settled at 24.5%, a marginal shift of -0.5 share points from the previous month.
Disclaimer: YU...
21/10/2025
RENNES, France BBright and GlobalM have conducted a technical trial validating Ultra HD interoperability across the entire contribution chain in the cloud, achi...
21/10/2025
Kokusai Denki Electric America will mark the U.S. debut of a new 4K camera at the 2025 NAB New York, Oct. 22-23. Now available, the Z-HD6500-S1 UHD/HD productio...
21/10/2025
Triveni Digital, a trusted leader in ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 service delivery, data broadcasting, and quality assurance solutions, will showcase its entire NEXTGEN TV ...
21/10/2025
Radio Azzurra FM, longest-running radio station in the province of Novara, northwest Italy, has invested in an DHD SX2 audio routing and mixing console for inte...
21/10/2025
Globecast, the leading provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, has announced the appointment of G Morgan as Executive Vice President of...
21/10/2025
Visual Data announces the appointment of Maz Al-Jumaili as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Localization, to advance client engagement, strategic partnerships, ...
21/10/2025
As Amazon's Prime Video prepares to launch its coverage of NBA basketball under a major new deal, Grup Mediapro has announced that it is working with the st...
21/10/2025
ATLANTA Good news for consumers using an Atlanta DTH receiver to watch ATSC 3.0: with a new software update, they will be able to blanket their homes with Wi-Fi...
21/10/2025
While recent news has been heavily focused on Hispanic migration into the U.S., The 2025 Hispanic Market Report from Claritas highlights the fact that this gr...
21/10/2025
MAIDENHEAD, UK RWS has hired Michael Wayne as its head of media and entertainment in Los Angeles where he will lead the company's media localization busines...
21/10/2025
Imagine Communications and Rohde & Schwarz today announced a definitive agreement under which Imagine will acquire Pixel Power Limited, a wholly owned subsidiar...
21/10/2025
Atlanta DTH (ADTH) today announced a major update that will expand the functionality of its NEXTGEN TV receiver by enabling gateway capabilities allowing viewer...
21/10/2025
Heartland Video Systems, Inc. (HVS), a premier video systems integration, consulting, and expert ATSC 3.0 implementation firm announces that it has partnered wi...
21/10/2025
QuickLink, the leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest integration solutions, today announced the appointment of Austin Hinton as it...
21/10/2025
nternet connectivity startup Miri Technologies Inc. will use this week's NAB Show New York as the launch pad for its latest ground-breaking innovation, the ...
20/10/2025
Inside TAMS: How Time-Addressable Media Stores could redefine sports workflows By Paul Markham
Friday, October 17, 2025 - 08:57
Print This Story
A penalty...
20/10/2025
Transformational production: Inside TVN's remote production push for the DFL...
20/10/2025
How NBC Sports Transitioned Stamford Facility to One Format: 1080p HDRMulti-year plan harmonizes workflows, simplifies operationsBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial ...
20/10/2025
NBA on NBC' Studio Production Team Is Ready for Tip-Off With Coast-to-Coast...
20/10/2025
Under pressure: TVN CEO Markus Osthaus considers the German sports broadcasting ...
20/10/2025
(L-R) Maria Dizzia, Carmen Emmi, and Russell Tovey attend the Plainclothes pre...
20/10/2025
In March, we launched Concerts Near You to help listeners find concerts from their favorite artists. Since then, more than 3 million people have used it to disc...
20/10/2025
Em diversas cidades do Brasil, um movimento tem se fortalecido para celebrar o poder, a beleza e a profundidade da criatividade negra. O Dia AMPLIFIKA, agora em...
20/10/2025
In cities across Brazil, a movement is growing that celebrates the power, beauty, and depth of Black creativity. AMPLIFIKA Day, now in its fifth edition, return...
20/10/2025
Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft rendering...
20/10/2025
DENVER and MUNICH Imagine Communications today announced its plans to acquire Pixel Power Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rohde & Schwarz. Financial terms of...
20/10/2025
LOS ANGELES G Morgan has joined Globecast, a provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, as executive vice president of sales, Globecast Am...
20/10/2025
PLYMOUTH, Wisc. Heartland Video Systems and Zixi have partnered to enable broadcast-quality live video delivery over any IP network....
20/10/2025
A. R. Rahman on Facing Fear and Finding the Divine In an interview with Berklee President Jim Lucchese, the Oscar-winning composer reflects on how courage and...
20/10/2025
Monday 20 October 2025
To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. ...
20/10/2025
Rohde & Schwarz transfers Pixel Power to Imagine Communications Companies work collaboratively to ensure continuity and ongoing support for existing customers...
20/10/2025
RT 's Prime Time is set to host the final Presidential Election Debate this Tuesday night, October 21, providing an opportunity to hear directly from Irelan...
20/10/2025
NVIDIA and Google Cloud are expanding access to accelerated computing to transform the full spectrum of enterprise workloads, from visual computing to agentic a...
19/10/2025
Back to All News
Sins of Kujo' Comes to Life in New Live-Action Series Set for Spring 2026
Entertainment
19 October 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied to cl...
18/10/2025
New England Sports Network (NESN) has chosen Harmonic, working with Astound Business Solutions, as its enterprise technology partner to transform primary distri...
18/10/2025
NEW ORLEANS, La. In the run-up to the start of the NBA season, WVUE-TV and Gray Local Media have announced a deal with DirecTV that will greatly expand access t...
18/10/2025
Berklee Celebrates 40 Years of the Fall Together Concert Faculty composers Bob Pilkington and Greg Hopkins are among the featured artists for this year's ...
17/10/2025
NEP Group Receives New Equity Investment From 26North Partners LP, Co-InvestorsCarlyle remains the largest shareholder as the company prepares for the futureBy ...
17/10/2025
Apple Lands Five-Year Deal for F1 Distribution in the U.S.Besides airing on Apple TV, the sport will be amplified on other Apple servicesBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Ed...
17/10/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Marshall Electronics' Bernie Keach on the Future of PTZ Camera...
17/10/2025
L2 Productions' REMI Facility in Austin Can Produce Content From AnywhereMusic festivals, sports events are produced via flypacks and remote control roomsBy...
17/10/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
17/10/2025
(L-R) Christopher Meyer, Addison Timlin, Cooper Raiff, Lili Reinhart, Alyah Chan...
17/10/2025
M sica e arte se uniram em uma noite especial na semana passada na ZIV Gallery, ...
Keith Wymbs 
