Managing technological debt: future-proofing your broadcast infrastructure

03/09/2024

By embracing IP-native, software-based solutions, service operators and providers can reduce their reliance on outdated hardware, streamline their operations, and position themselves for long-term success

Sponsored Content

Published: September 3, 2024

By embracing IP-native, software-based solutions, service operators and providers can reduce their reliance on outdated hardware, streamline their operations, and position themselves for long-term success

target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>

In today's fast-paced broadcast and media landscape, the term technological debt has become increasingly relevant. As companies strive to keep up with the relentless pace of change, many find themselves weighed down by legacy systems that were once cutting-edge but now hinder innovation and growth. This technological debt not only stifles progress but also poses significant risks to operational efficiency and business success.

The challenge of technological debt Technological debt accumulates when outdated hardware and software continue to be used long after they become obsolete. However, it's important to note that not all legacy systems are necessarily burdensome. For many service operators and providers, if a delivery network - such as a cable system - has remained unchanged for the past decade, an older monitoring solution might still be adequate. In such cases, the system is not necessarily considered technological debt, as it continues to meet the network's current requirements.

The challenge arises when these organisations begin to migrate to more modern, IP-native technologies. The limitations of legacy systems become apparent as the need for new capabilities, such as enhanced visualisation and the ability to bring video to screens from any point in the network, reveals the need for outdated monitoring solutions. These older systems, once sufficient, now need help to keep up with the demands of contemporary media delivery.

The future: embracing IP-native, software-based monitoring solutions Many companies are turning to 100 per cent software-based, IP-native solutions to effectively manage technological debt and future-proof their operations. These modern systems are designed to replace outdated hardware, offering unparalleled flexibility and scalability. Moving to a software-driven infrastructure, which includes advanced monitoring, probing, and visualisation platforms to ensure content integrity and delivery, allows broadcasters and service providers to adapt to new technologies quickly, integrate with existing systems, and scale their operations without the constraints of legacy equipment.

These platforms' advantage lies in their ability to support a wide range of formats, protocols, and codecs, all within a single, unified system. This approach avoids the pitfalls of siloed solutions, ensuring that media operations remain streamlined and efficient. The flexibility offered by these solutions also helps reduce the complexity of managing diverse media environments, allowing companies to focus on delivering high-quality content to their audiences.

These modern solutions differentiate themselves by enabling advanced visualisation and providing the ability to manage video streams from any point in the network-capabilities that older systems simply cannot offer. This makes them essential for organisations looking to stay competitive in today's rapidly evolving media landscape.

Overcoming the barriers to transition Transitioning from legacy systems to modern, software-based solutions can be daunting, especially when faced with cultural and organisational barriers. However, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. By adopting these solutions, operators can streamline their workflows, engineers can reduce the complexity of their systems, and managers can ensure that their infrastructure is aligned with business goals.

One of the biggest challenges is the shift in mindset required to embrace new technology. Trust and collaboration between vendors and service operators are crucial. Building strong partnerships with technology providers who offer not only the tools but also the support needed to make the transition as smooth as possible is essential. Business models that eliminate surprises and hidden costs can also play a significant role in facilitating this transition.

For example, a service operator transitioning to an IP-native solution might initially need help integrating new technologies with existing infrastructure. However, with the right support and a clear strategy, these challenges can be managed effectively, minimising disruption and maximising the new system's benefits.

Actionable steps to minimise technological debt For service operators and providers looking to minimise their technological debt and future-proof their operations, the first step is to assess their current systems. Identify areas where outdated technology is suppressing progress and prioritise upgrades that will provide the most significant impact.

Next, consider the long-term benefits of moving to a software-based, IP-native monitoring solution. Platforms that offer a modular, flexible approach can grow with your business. Whether you need to monitor a handful of channels or manage a complex, multi-channel network, these platforms can scale to meet your needs.

In addition, it's important to develop a phased approach to migration. Rather than overhauling an entire system at once, service operators can gradually introduce new technologies, allowing for smoother transitions and less operational risk. This approach also allows testing new solutions in a live environment, ensuring they meet expectations before full-scale deployment.

Finally, partner with a vendor who understands the unique challenges of your industry. Working with technology providers c

LINK:	https://www.tvbeurope.com/ip-migration/managing-technological-debt-fut...
	See more stories from tvb

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

08/01/2026

RTVE selects Alfalite Neopix for its first broadcast depl...

Spain's national public broadcaster, RTVE, has upgraded one of its main television production facilities in Madrid with the installation of two Alfalite NEO...

08/01/2026

Richard E. Wiley to Step Down as Media Institute's Chairman

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

08/01/2026

Cineverse Acquires Giant Worldwide

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

08/01/2026

Maxon Introduces Cinebench 2026

Maxon's new release of Cinebench features performance enhancements and adds support for the latest Nvidia and AMD GPUs as well as Apple Silicon. Maxon is t...

08/01/2026

Zixi Accelerates Global Growth with Appointment of Heathe...

Zixi, the industry leader in IP-based video transport and orchestration, today announced the appointment of Heather Mellish as Vice President, Global Sales. In...

08/01/2026

Pebble future-proofs playout at Canal Sur

Pebble, the leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, has provided a complete update of its installation at Canal Sur in Spain. ...

08/01/2026

Panasonics success in US market with Flagship Z95B OLED T...

iWedia, a global leader in software solutions for connected TV devices, proudly announces the success of its collaboration with Panasonic on the Z95B OLED TV, o...

08/01/2026

Secuoya Chile Invests in Ikegami UHK-X600 and UHL-X40 Cam...

Secuoya Chile, a leading provider of television content creation and supporting services, has invested in Ikegami UHK-X600 and UHL-X40 broadcast cameras as the ...

08/01/2026

Kiloview Highlights its Integrated AV-over-IP Ecosystem a...

Kiloview, a global leader in AV-over-IP solutions, will showcase its latest innovations at ISE 2026, highlighting the continued evolution of its complete, light...

08/01/2026

iWedia and Realtek Strengthen Collaboration to Shape the...

iWedia, a global leader in software solutions for connected TV devices, and Realtek, a leading global SoC design house, today announced the next phase of their ...

08/01/2026

CJP Broadcast delivers new pitch-side media facility for...

CJP Broadcast has completed a new pitch-side media installation for Cinderford RFC, creating a flexible production setup that supports match coverage, coaching ...

08/01/2026

PlayBox Neo CEO Defines Vision for 2026 after Record Year...

PlayBox Neo further drives momentum in Playout, Streaming, Media Management and Delivery "With a brand new year at PlayBox Neo already off to a flying start, I...

08/01/2026

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents Second Annual Commercial Dance BFA Concert

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents Second Annual Commercial Dance BFA Conce...

08/01/2026

Parents of murdered Irish woman Kirsty Ward speak out People need to know his name

Tonight, on RT Prime Time at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player Tonight, Prime T...

08/01/2026

It's The Late Late Show Trad Special

The Late Late Show celebrates the very best of traditional Irish music with its first-ever full special dedicated entirely to the tradition Lisa Canny | Kevin...

08/01/2026

Japan Science and Technology Agency Develops NVIDIA-Powered Moonshot Robot for Elderly Care

The next universal technology since the smartphone is on the horizon - and it ma...

08/01/2026

AI Copilot Keeps Berkeley's X-Ray Particle Accelerator on Track

In the rolling hills of Berkeley, California, an AI agent is supporting high-stakes physics experiments at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) particle accelerator....

08/01/2026

DANCING WITH THE STARS - WHO WILL BE THE VICTIM OF THE EARLIEST EVER SERIES ELIMINATION?

It will be murder on the dancefloor when Dancing with the Stars returns this S...

08/01/2026

More Ways to Play, More Games to Love - GeForce NOW Wraps CES With Linux Support, Fire TV App, Flight Stick Controls

NVIDIA is wrapping up a big week at the CES trade show with a set of GeForce NOW...

07/01/2026

SVG Summit 2025: All General Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Summit 2025: All General Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAYThe SVG Summit celebrated its 20th edition with a loaded agendaBy Brandon Costa, Directo...

07/01/2026

NBCU's Brings Rinkside Live' and Courtside Live' Features to Peacock for Legendary February'

NBCU's Brings Rinkside Live' and Courtside Live' Features to Peaco...

07/01/2026

A Defining Moment for Podcasts: Spotify Kicks Off Week of Festivities After Contributing More Than $10 Billion to the Industry

Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...

07/01/2026

Introducing Listening Activity and Request to Jam in Messages on Spotify

We know people use Spotify not just to listen, but to share the songs, podcasts, and audiobooks they love with their friends and family. When we launched Messag...

07/01/2026

Go Inside Spotify Sycamore Studios, Our New State-of-the-Art Podcast Studio in Hollywood

This week, all eyes are on the podcast industry as the Golden Globes recognizes ...

07/01/2026

Making It Easier for Video Podcasters to Earn on Spotify

Podcasts are stepping onto a new stage this week as the Golden Globes recognize the medium for the first time. To mark this milestone moment, we're hosting ...

07/01/2026

Invitation to Submit Proposals for Micro-Budget Film Projects 2026

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in collaboration with a distributor, is commissioning new micro-budget fiction feature films and invites eligible...

07/01/2026

For L3Harris, the Action Starts Six Seconds Before Artemis II Lifts Off

NASA's Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, from Launch Complex 39B at ...