As viewer habits change with the growing use of the internet, the competition for eyeballs is intense between traditional broadcasters and new entrants like OTT-only providers. The focus is on providing more unique and compelling content, while streamlining operations to align costs of production with expected revenue.
Effectively, for broadcasters, this means they are having to do more with less — more content, more choice with fewer resources and less investment. So just how can broadcasters achieve this and remain in a competitive position?
Live content draws crowds
One of the ways broadcasters can create this more compelling content is through live TV. Live content has the power to pull in huge audiences and, as a result, is attractive to advertisers. More than that, with the marketplace so crowded with non-traditional broadcasters like OTT providers, live production becomes a powerful tool that can be used for competitive advantage.
Of course there are a number of challenges inherent in live production, particularly in the production of remote live events — be it a one-off event like the Olympics, or regular events like weekly baseball league matches. Sending teams and equipment to remote locations can be expensive and places production outside a controlled environment. Costs are compounded by factors like communication links that often need to be booked and set up way ahead of time. Then there is the question of logistics, getting both staff and equipment to site, and the concern of whether the quality of the broadcast is going to meet expectations.
Simplify and centralize production
The best way to overcome many of these challenges is for broadcasters to simplify the remote set-up and centralize as much of the production as possible. To streamline the workflow broadcasters must have extremely flexible, reliable, low latency, two-way transport of video, audio, communication and other data between the remote location and the central production facility.
And it is here that IP is making headway and helping broadcasters make live remote production a practical, proven and deliverable proposition. IP networks are both pervasive and cost-effective and, as such, are ideal for transporting remote production signals from any location to a centralized facility over great distances.
Rather than setting up a relatively expensive, specialist broadcast circuit, production companies are increasingly turning to IP contribution circuits. With the right media nodes to act as gateways onto and off the IP network, and management systems that put users in control of their network needs (e.g. managing and monitoring connections), IP networks make it easy to produce live content.
Time, cost and logistics savings — the benefits of IP contribution
One of the main advantages of IP contribution is that there is reduced need to send large OB trucks (in many case small OB vans suffice) to remote sites and fewer staff are required on site, so the cost comes down substantially. Less, more lightweight equipment is needed on site to get the job done. Directors, editors and production staff can remain in the central production facility, working in their own familiar environment and there will be greater utilization of the hardware, too, adding to the cost efficiency.
Why flexibility adds value
In live TV, the network becomes one of the most crucial aspects of operations — from monitoring data and signals along the transport chain, to its establishment. Connections and circuits between different points need to be established quickly and easily, almost on demand. When broadcasters use IP contribution, establishment of connections is also easy to do, whether they are relying on third-party telcos to do this or are managing the process themselves, it can be done at almost any time and more cost effectively. This is particularly advantageous for unplanned live TV, such as breaking news stories where immediacy is absolutely key.
The future
A complete move to IP in the broadcast environment is happening. In the past 18 months or so, the interest in IP in the studio has grown exponentially. Projects, like the VRT and EBU LiveIP project, are demonstrating that IP is a realistic proposition in the studio. What’s really interesting about this evolution is that IP is blurring the difference between studio, campus and remote locations. The same technology used for contribution, media nodes and software defined networks controlled by a smart management system, applies in the studios and campuses. This has the potential to radically transform content production, potentially paving the way for virtualization and with it enormous flexibility and cost effectiveness.
