
IBC 365: Cloud Playout: Covid-19 Fuelling Increased Migration as Broadcasters Seek Greater Flexibility
Implementing some degree of cloud-based playout has been a marked trend for a while now, but this year's momentous events are certain to accelerate developments. In this article, Executive Vice President Ciaran Doran, alongside other industry personalities talks to David Davies about the changes in broadcast workflows.
In the context of the profound changes that have impacted most aspects of broadcast workflows during the past few years, it was surely only a matter of time before playout underwent a similar quiet revolution. That has now arrived in the form of cloud-based playout, which opens the way for broadcasters to enjoy greater flexibility and cost-efficiency, either as a sole platform or as part of a hybrid playout infrastructure that typically includes on-premise facilities.
Markus Placho is vice president of video products at SES, a leading provider of global content connectivity solutions via satellite, which currently manages playout for more than 525 channels and delivers over 8,400 hours of online video streaming per day. There is more and more demand [among our customers] for cloud-based playout, primarily due to flexibility and the opportunity to scale up and down more easily, he says. Pop-up or temporary channels - for example, those connected with sporting tournaments - would be a good example here as they allow playout to be achieved without the need to invest in hardware for a short period of time.
For SES, this realisation has recently led to the development of its own bespoke cloud playout infrastructure together with Microsoft Azure; Placho envisages that many of its customers will want to migrate some or all of their services to this platform . But as the following round-up makes evident, innovation is hardly in short supply elsewhere in this market, with numerous vendors bringing new or updated cloud-based systems to launch over the past 18 months.
Cloud playout overview
Cinegy's software playout product, Cinegy Air, has been available to run in the cloud for more than three years as a BYOL or rental offer. It comprises two key components - Cinegy Playout Engine and Cinegy Air PRO operator interface - which can be run independently on different instances.
Michael Jacobs, the company's head of professional services, highlights a specific USP from an operational cost perspective: One of the advantages of using our software is that we can make extensive use of any Nvidia GPU, which is available to offload CPU cycle costly jobs such as encoding of output streams with H.264 or HEVC and insertion of complex graphics. This means that running an HD channel with branding can be achieved on a very modest cloud instance with associated costs.
The advantages of cloud-based playout are now firmly established and further underlined by the impact of Coronavirus, indicates Jacobs, who says the primary benefits for Cinegy's customers are the reduction in capital expenditure, reduction in time for deployment of pop-up channels for large-scale sporting events, and the flexibility which comes from not being tied to a hardware deployment. Additionally, given the current climate, there is the ability to [enable] their engineers and operators to continue their day-to-day tasks without being in the same building as their colleagues and equipment.
Software company nxtedition's offer revolves around the use of on-premise virtualised private cloud infrastructure. According to creative director Adam Leah, its customer base of regional and national broadcasters has geographical borders, and therefore the elasticity and scalability of a public cloud is not necessary for their day-to-day playout requirements. Instead, their requirements focus more on speed and cost.
As a dynamic live led' playout system, the area of adoption nxtedition sees the most is the recycling of content made by the client through the day, either live-on-air or to live streams, apps, VOD, web or social media. Moreover, the use of localised private cloud technology allows not only the minimisation of latency and bandwidth load, but also the creation of smart channels that are populated with the content of either searches or linear playout of live material in the correct order, without the content moving anywhere else.
Ciaran Doran, executive vice-president at Pixel Power, positions playout within the frame of a broader trend towards virtualised services which can run in the machine room, the corporate data centre or the cloud. Hence the company's development of products such as Gallium and StreamMaster, and the pursuit of a licensing philosophy that entails each aspect of the functionality remaining the same, wherever that functionality is implemented. Broadcasters determine their own business case, and will make their own decisions on how to implement their own systems.
But where cloud-based playout is desired, one frequent motivating factor is the need to open pop-up channels, for instance around a major sporting event, notes Doran. The fully transferable licensing model means that - rather than adding to the risks of the pop-up channels by operating them remotely - stable and proven channels [can] be moved from the premises to the cloud, leaving capacity free for the pop-up channels to be spun up under the direct control of the engineers.
Channeling playout
Amagi's main offer in this area is the CLOUDPORT cloud-based channel playout platform, whose primary selling points including the leveraging of significant automation for processes such as playlist generation and quality checks for configurable parameters. As well as pre-recorded content, CLOUDPORT can also be deployed to manage live broadcast and is able to ingest content from multiple live sou
Europe Stories
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
07/08/2025
July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...
08/07/2025
In an era where digital threats to journalists are becoming increasingly aggressive and widespread, MediaSafe Africa launches as a vital online resource to help...
08/07/2025
This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...
08/07/2025
UKTV today announces that Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, has decided to step down fro...
08/07/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. - July 8, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced a reco...
08/07/2025
Arvato Systems Optimizes Customer Communication with AOK Niedersachsen
New project in the statutory health insurance sector
Arvato Systems and AOK Niedersach...
08/07/2025
On August 7, Apple Arcade is adding four exclusive games to its diverse catalogue of more than 200 fun games for players to enjoy, all free from ads and in-app ...
07/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT **
VIZ Media Ignites AX 2025 with Star-Studded Panels, Exclus...
07/07/2025
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA As Apple Music marks its 10th anniversary this year, Apple unveils its most ambitious creative project to date: a brand-new state-of-the...
07/07/2025
RT has announced that Mark Bignell has been appointed Commissioning Editor for Comedy following a public competition. This senior editorial position will drive...
04/07/2025
The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...
04/07/2025
Friday 4 July 2025
Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/Od5WpvWmDr8
Further...
04/07/2025
The Pitch comes to RT Radio 1 airwaves this Sunday at 7pm. The Pitch is a brand...
03/07/2025
For our Vario-Jib, as well as for a repertoire of weights, we now have carts that make transport easier...
03/07/2025
One of our latest innovations: Slider Drive Unit!
Our Vario Slider not only comes with improvements and new features, but also with its own drive unit!
Our i...
03/07/2025
The 360 EVO lives up to its name: 360-degree rotation not only on the pan axis, but also on the roll axis, enables filmmakers to take their creative visions eve...
03/07/2025
What a buzzing few days at BSCExpo in London!
We were thrilled to connect with so many talented professionals from the world of cinematography.
A huge thank ...
03/07/2025
ADOLESCENCE - Shot with Panther Tower"The whole rig had to be detachable mid-episode
Netflix limited drama series Adolescence has been gaining attentio...
03/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT ** Shonen Jump Store Hosting Los Angeles Pop-up During Anime Exp...
03/07/2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...
03/07/2025
The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025
Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...
02/07/2025
Calrec expands ecosystem at NAB 2025 giving broadcasters access to dynamic workflows and ultimate flexibility Helping broadcasters meet the shifting needs of me...
02/07/2025
02 Jul 2025
VEON Raises USD 200 Million in Private Bond Placement Dubai, July 1, 2025: VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON ), announces ...
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
02/07/2025
Rohde & Schwarz acquires ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH and expands its T&M ...
02/07/2025
Wuppertal July 2, 2025
Riedel Communications Launches RefSuite Ecosystem for S...
02/07/2025
Andrew will serve as Chair of ABC alongside his role at NED, APL Media, where he supports the executive team with strategic insight and global expansion plans. ...
01/07/2025
The launch of Code of Silence, coupled with the Britains Got Talent semi final, gave ITV its best Sunday night of 2025.
The first episode of the new crime dr...
01/07/2025
ITV and Mammoth Screen have announced the start of filming for Betrayal, a gripp...
01/07/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
01/07/2025
Vocal-processing plug-in joins NOIZ Hub series
Launched in 2024, KIT Plugins' NOIZ Hub series was created with the aim of providing a range of professio...
01/07/2025
New self-paced learning programme announced
Mastering.com have announced the availability of a new online course designed to cover the fundamentals of maste...
01/07/2025
The Traitors are coming: Get your first taste of the global hit as Season 1 of T...
01/07/2025
cetecom advanced certifies Rohde & Schwarz test solution for the verification of...
01/07/2025
RT has announced that Teresa Smith has been appointed Commissioning Editor with responsibility for Factual Entertainment following a public competition. This s...
01/07/2025
This July, RT is delighted to support Galway International Arts Festival, Earagail Arts Festival in Donegal, Belfast TradFest and 23 other arts and cultural ev...
30/06/2025
There's nothing quite like the magic of finding music that feels made just f...
30/06/2025
When it comes to new music, Spotify's team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They're...
30/06/2025
Star Studded Ensemble Cast Are Joined by Richard Rankin as Filming Begins on the Second Season
[June 12, 2025 - Boston, MA]: The Forsytes, Debbie Horsfield...
30/06/2025
Eurorack sequencer module reimagined
California-based modular synth innovators Qu-Bit have announced the launch of a new module that offers a fresh new take...
30/06/2025
Improved dynamic behaviour, improved audio quality & more
Techivation have announced the release of an upgraded edition of their very first premium plug-in,...
30/06/2025
German premiere with live flight demonstration: German industry team showcases e...
30/06/2025
The Focusrite Summer Sale is now on Don't miss unbeatable deals on Scarlett, Vocaster, and more.
Whether you're an artist, a producer, or a podcaste...
30/06/2025
All 8 episodes of Season 1 of 1923 will be available on RT Player from Tuesday ...
30/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
52% report AI security spending is displacing tr...
30/06/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Cannes, June 30th, 2025 - Thales Alenia Space, t...
29/06/2025
Handpan-inspired instrument announced
Roland have announced the launch of the Mood Pan, a unique electronic hand percussion instrument that has been designe...
28/06/2025
Music theory plug-in updated
Three months on from the release of the latest version of their renowned music theory plug in, Scaler Music have launched an up...