IABM Journal Article By Simen K. Frostad
Chairman, Bridge Technologies
What is a decision?
It seems like a simple question, but it's one worth considering. What separates the terms decision' from choice'? The general consensus is: judgement and deliberation. Whilst a choice can be entirely arbitrary in nature, decision making is process orientated', linking behavior with performance and consequence. In essence, decisions act on inputs to drive outcomes. So it follows that all decisions are data driven' - in the sense that data', most widely defined, constitutes information - the inputs upon which the decision making process is exercised.
The key ingredients of a good decision
Thus, the quality of a decision is really impacted by three central factors: the extent of information available, i.e. the number of variables for which information exists, the quality of that data - with quantitative generally preferable to qualitative, and the extent to which the decision maker is able to make use of that data - both by virtue of how comprehensible it is, and how effective and knowledgeable the decision-maker is themselves.
Once upon a time, these three elements were entirely lacking in a broadcast environment. Your network either worked or it didn't, and often the first you'd know about it was Mr. Jones on the phone complaining he couldn't watch the Snooker. Trouble shooting was long, tedious and laborious. In essence, the data needed was lacking in quantity, quality, responsiveness and usability.
Perhaps less of a problem when infrastructure costs once meant that only a few big players dominated the market, and Mr. Jones had nowhere else to watch his snooker. But now, in an environment characterized by endless choice and next to no switching costs for audiences? A very different story.
Decision after decision
Troubleshooting decisions constitute just one type of decision you might make in a broadcast environment, and - moreover one you'd ideally like to avoid; if everything has gone well in your organisational decision making chain, you shouldn't be getting to the point where trouble-shooting decisions are even required.
In reality, decisions in the broadcast industry exist on a vast spectrum; they constitute the high level, boardroom decisions made regarding organizational strategy, and they constitute the millisecond decisions made regarding data paths through complex networks. Of course, at every point - regardless of scale - these decisions need effective metrics to support them.
Decision Blind
Of course, with this sheer scope and scale of decision making going on at the micro- and macro- level, it can be easy to become decision blind' -becoming entrenched in a process that uses the same outdated data points and unconscious biases, in an uncritical manner.
But critically revisiting these questions is key. Really how much do you really know about your network, and how much are you assuming? About your audience and their experience? What data points are you currently getting to inform your decision; how relevant, timely and usable are they? Are you sure you're making decisions, rather than arbitrary choices?
Fundamental questions perhaps - but it's surprising how many people aren't asking them - instead laboring on with outdated information and unchallenged assumptions. And that's really the main thrust of what we're driving at here: When was the last time you considered something as fundamental as what constitutes a decision'?
Probing the depths
It will come as no surprise to hear that technology is offering at least partial answers to many of the challenges we've outlined above. Broadcast network monitoring has never been more sophisticated or comprehensive than it is now. When it comes to the issue of quantity and quality of data points, it's now possible to use probes to gain real-time, continuous insight across the full broadcast chain - from ingest to contribution to playout - giving metrics on every component of technical network performance. From the camera painter in a remote OB van, to a network technician working on a headend, to a boardroom executive ruling on next year's budget, probes have the potential to give the data needed to make effective decisions: able to generate the kind of data that facilitates millisecond operations on audio and video transfer across networks, accommodating the widest range of operational protocols, standards and configurations - compressed and uncompressed, whilst also generating historical reports that give a strategic, birds-eye overview of operational performance for management and decision makers.
But does this increase in the quantity and quality of data points result in better decision making?
Not necessarily.
Indeed, an overload of information can be as limiting as it can be enabling in the wrong hands. It's only if this data is packaged and presented in a meaningful way that it can form the basis of effective decision making, even for those not necessarily versed in the intricacies and technicalities of network performance and IP packet transfer. It's here where an effective monitoring system will really set itself apart: putting eyes at every stage of the broadcast chain to produce not just data, but information which is meaningful, usable and presented in a way that is intuitive to understand.
Joined up thinking
All of these concepts become even more complex in complex environments (hardly a shock, right?). It's all very well gaining insight along your beautiful, shiny, newly installed IP network. But who has the budget for such a revolutionary upgrade? The truth is, the majority of broadcasters are working with piecemeal, hybrid and legacy systems, where the data available to harvest is wildly different in type, m
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
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
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
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...
14/01/2026
Staines-upon-Thames, UK, 13th January, 2026 ITV, one of the UKs leading broadcasters, has selected Yospace, the global leader in Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI), to ...
14/01/2026
Steiger Media's adoption of Calrec's compact Argo M console not only makes its innovative new hybrid truck faster, more efficient, and agile, but also e...
14/01/2026
Wednesday 14 January 2026
Sky News announces Cathy Newman to lead flagship new political programme
Sky News today announces that award-winning journalist and ...
14/01/2026
The first stamp of An Post's 2026 Stamp Programme, marking 100 Years of Broadcasting, was unveiled at by Patrick O'Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Com...
14/01/2026
It's official! Beverley Callard has landed in Carrigstown. The beloved actor, known for her unforgettable roles and iconic screen presence, is joining the c...
13/01/2026
Independent media in Brazil and Colombia is facing an urgent crisis of traditional business models alongside a deteriorating security environment, according to ...
13/01/2026
Luxembourg, December 17, 2025 - SES S.A. ( SES or the Company ), a leading spa...
13/01/2026
Written and executive produced by Steve Lightfoot and Angela LaManna, produced b...
13/01/2026
New updates to Hitmaker Expansion from Celemony and Softube Edit pitch-perfect vocals with Melodyne Essential and get radio-ready guitar tones from Softube...
13/01/2026
Live broadcasts from RT 2FM Breakfast with Carl, Roz & Aisling, RT Radio 1 Tod...
12/01/2026
Spotify's new co-CEOs, Alex Norstr m and Gustav S derstr m, start off the new year with a message of renewed leadership, creative responsibility, and what&#...
12/01/2026
At Spotify, we listen to a lot of music. And every year, our global editors and artist partnerships teams come together to spotlight the emerging voices we beli...
12/01/2026
Spotify's global editors and Songwriter & Publisher Partnerships team spend their days immersed in new music, tracking the writers behind the songs breaking...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan and increases its support for the J...
12/01/2026
X-Rite and Rhopoint Launch Rhopoint PANTORA Aesthetix to Streamline Creation of...
12/01/2026
12 Jan 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Launches 5G Pilot in Lviv Lviv, January 12, 2026 - VEON, a global digital operator (Nasdaq: VEON), today announces that Kyivsta...
12/01/2026
Monday 12 January 2026
The ultimate betrayal: Harry and Jamie Redknapp, Paul Me...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan to increase its support for the Jap...
12/01/2026
Welcome to the AVECO team: introducing new members of management
At AVECO, we are continuing to implement our #newAVECO strategy, which aims to build an even s...
12/01/2026
For the first time in the nine-year history of Dancing with the Stars, the first...
10/01/2026
This year, podcasts are making their Golden Globes debut with a new category honoring the medium's leading shows and creators. To mark the occasion, Spotify...
09/01/2026
RT Player has 157 million streams, up 10% year-on-year
An increase on 2024, RT...
09/01/2026
RT 2FM has today announced the highly anticipated list of 2FM Rising Artists for 2026, kicking off 2FM Rising week for the eighth year on The Tracy Clifford Sh...
09/01/2026
RT to Host the 2026 RTS Ireland Awards
Thursday, 16 April 2026 | Dublin Royal Convention Centre
The RTS Ireland Television Awards 2026 | Gradaim RTS 2026 | R...
08/01/2026
An evidence-based analysis on disinformation and information manipulation in Sudan's ongoing conflict is published today. (January 8th 2026).
Thomson Found...
08/01/2026
In 2025 we launched the Spotify Partner Program to give creators more ways to tu...
08/01/2026
On Wednesday in Los Angeles, Spotify welcomed creators and press to a brunch cel...
08/01/2026
TSA awards Rohde & Schwarz contract for advanced airport screening ahead of Socc...
08/01/2026
The review looks back at DPA's miniature microphone development over the years. It compares the evolving technologies from the original mics through CORE an...
08/01/2026
Comscore Launches Audio Targeting and Measurement Capabilities with The Trade De...
08/01/2026
Tonight, on RT Prime Time at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player
Tonight, Prime T...
08/01/2026
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
It will be murder on the dancefloor when Dancing with the Stars returns this S...
07/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
07/01/2026
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
This week, all eyes are on the podcast industry as the Golden Globes recognizes ...
07/01/2026
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 ...
06/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
06/01/2026
Lorde. A$AP Rocky. JENNIE. Baby Keem. KATSEYE. That's just a taste of who...
06/01/2026
Channel 4 and UKTV are giving viewers even more reasons to stream, with UKTV's U service set to feature thousands of hours of free, unmissable and bingeable...
06/01/2026
Tuesday 6 January 2026
An update on our Sky Mobile prices
Devesh Raj, Chief Operating Officer, Sky
Today, we've announced some changes to the prices of ...
06/01/2026
Comscore Launches Daily Program-Level Reporting with Deduplicated Insights on Sh...
06/01/2026
Comscore Completes Recapitalization Transaction with Preferred Stockholders Foll...
05/01/2026
Bad Bunny's DeB TiRAR M S FOToS defined the sound of 2025 for listeners eve...
05/01/2026
As the clock struck midnight and 2026 was born, so was an exciting range of new ...
IABM Journal Article By Simen K. Frostad
