IP in live production IP in live www.csimagazine.com M2M Satellite in IoT/ Satellite

In the spotlight: interference Satellite Are apps the future of TV? Headends evolution

April 2016

csi-cover-april2016.indd 1 31/03/2016 16:00:36 SECURING THE CONNECTED FUTURE

The world of video is becoming more connected. And next- generation video service providers are delivering new connected services based on software and IP technologies.

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Discover how Verimatrix is defining the future of pay-TV revenue security. www.verimatrix.com/verspective

Visit us at NAB 2016 April 18-21 • Las Vegas • Booth # SU2806 Contents

IP in live production IP in live Satellite in IoT/M2M www.csimagazine.com 22 M2M Satellite in IoT/ Satellite We look at what role satellite can play in the

In the spotlight: interference Satellite Internet of Things and Machine-to-Machine Are apps the future of TV? Headends evolution space, as well as other emerging opportunities Editor for satellite platforms Goran Nastic

25 Data & analytics Commercial John Woods, Hammad Uddin April 2016 Actionable intelligence and the cloud has

csi-cover-april2016.indd 1 31/03/2016 16:00:36 presented a unique opportunity to fight piracy Design and production 05 News but also wider problems that can disrupt service Matt Mills (Manager) All the latest industry news, views and analysis availability and revenue Jason Tucker Matleena Lilja 12 COVER STORY - TV-as-an-app 31 IP in broadcast Are apps really the future of television? Interoperability is among the hurdles hampering Regular contributors And just what is TV anyway in an app-centric the adoption of IP in live production, where Adrian Pennington, Philip Hunter, David Adams, Stephen Cousins, environment? multiple standards and approaches are battling for attention Anna Tobin, Chris Pickering

16 TV apps - part II Circulation Two leading analysts share their perspective, 34 Satellite interference Joel Whitefoot including usage stats on the most popular OTT and A look at the current state of affairs and broadcast channel apps some key development timelines over the next Accounts few years Marilou Tait, Lynta Kamaray 18 Headends evolution Editorial To what extent are the twin moves to the cloud 36 CSI Awards tel +44(0)20 7562 2401 and virtualisation shaping video headends? Our industry awards are now open for entry and [email protected] feature a new category in the shape of VR 21 Industry column Advertising The DTG looks at how television is changing 38 Events diary tel +44(0)20 7562 2421 amid ongoing debates about whether people prefer Details and timings for the big industry shows [email protected] to sit back or lean forward taking place in 2016 tel +44(0)20 7562 2422 [email protected]

Subscriptions tel +44 (0) 20 1635 588 861 Editor’s report: [email protected] Circulation manager: joel.whitefoot@ In September last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook reignited a familiar argument when he perspectivepublishing.com declared that “the future of TV is apps”, which coincided with the launch of a new TV Operating System from the company. There are, of course, reasons for Cook’s vision of the Subscription rates future (after all, everyone wants their business model to succeed) but regardless of Apple’s Per year: Europe £88; UK £68; ambitions, are there also other reasons to agree with his statement? We explore competing Rest of World £98. Cheques payable claims and try to assess what they might mean for the future of TV over the next few years. In particular, to Perspective Publishing how will fragmentation play out, how about search & discovery? Indeed, what happens to channels in a Limited and addressed to the world of apps? These questions and more are tackled on pages 12-17. The cloud and IoT are among the Circulation Department other trends sweeping across ICT and other industries besides. The impact of these is examined with regards to headends on page 18, satellite on page 22 and on a wider level on page 25. Finally, we zoom Printed by Buxton Press in on the issue of satellite interference on page 34. Goran Nastic, editor Managing Director John Woods

Perspective Publishing Publishing Director 3 London Wall Buildings Mark Evans London EC2M 5PD www.perspectivepublishing.com ISSN 1467-5935

www.csimagazine.com April 2016 03

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digitalEditions-march2016-204x271.indd 1 01/04/2016 10:48:33 News

VR will bring new forms of story telling VR news in brief

Virtual Reality will of post-production goes VR SDK from Qualcomm completely transform on the end-user side? Qualcomm Technologies has storytelling, but the “Things you know made available a new virtual immersive experience that about classical reality software development comes with it also brings an filmmaking doesn’t kit. The Snapdragon VR SDK entirely different production work in VR,” noted is designed to enable developers paradigm that will have to be Peter Kauff from to exploit the power of the considered. VR specs and Fraunhofer. Things like Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 industry bodies are very likely positioning the film processor, which is capable to emerge to bring standards. crew, how to cut, set of supporting immersive VR VR will be revolutionary light, direct attention… experiences, but can also be to both viewers and ultimately how to tell difficult to fully utilise without storytellers, so panellists at DVB virtualistion and augmentation. stories changes. “Almost a new the right set of tools for World 2016 agreed that almost a new When we talk about VR, it’s a film making language needs to be developers. According to the film making language needs to be combination of all these,” said invented,” he noted. company, it abstracts the invented and that rules on Ludovic Noblet from b-com. Like with other new complexity of immersive VR and production grammar are needed. The key aspect of value technologies, it will probably be provides developers with access This is both to improves the quality proposition is the capability to helpful to introduce elements of to optimised, advanced VR of service and to avoid problems like almost jump into the content and the standardisation. There are lots of features for Android smartphones motion sickness and headaches removal of the screen interface, standards needed in this space, it and upcoming VR headsets. which many users report feeling. according to Noblet, who calls it was suggested, and in effect new Many new technologies that are 360 video and VR is not a new ‘deep media’. VR brings more rules on production grammar are crucial for an optimal VR user concept but there are many new interaction between the audience and needed. “There’s a real desire to experience will be supported enabling technologies that can now content, compared to today’s ‘static’ get everyone together and talk a in the Snapdragon VR SDK, take it from a niche to mass market. experience. common language in both including DSP sensor fusion; Smart cameras, digital processing for VR also introduces the notion of production and deliverables,” Fast motion to photon, which stitching, high performance cloud ‘time elasticity’, where story time vs said DTG’s Simon Gauntlet. helps reduce latency by up to networks, and, most importantly narration time changes compared to There is at the moment an 50%; Stereoscopic rendering perhaps, CE devices like traditional video, including non-linear ongoing DVB study mission that with lens correction; VR smartphones and new headsets are storytelling. “You have more freedom will provide with all the technical layering; and Power management. all combining to drive the market. of the story you are experiencing,” details for delivering 360 video. The SDK is expected to be There are hundreds of new entrants, he added. This is expected to be complete available in the second quarter including consumer heavyweights Because VR blurs the lines at some point this summer. of 2016 through the Qualcomm like Facebook, Samsung and Google. between creators and audiences, part Gauntlett also said he would not Developer Network. “A new era is starting, all about of the storytelling goes on the end- be surprised if some sort of VR delivering experiences. Key words are user side, which begs the questions, Forum emerges to tackle the end- Nokia debuts pro VR camera immersion, personalisation, “Whose story is it?” And which part to-end jigsaw puzzle. Nokia has launched its OZO virtual reality camera in Europe, which is aimed at professional Sky sets up VR unit VR content creation. Camera features include real-time VR Sky has become one of the first major including the Rift and Samsung Gear Sky is no stranger to VR, having preview, wireless operation, and broadczetsr to create and set up an VR headsets. It will also launch invested in Jaunt VR in September full 3D 360 VR audio and video in-house production team dedicated to a dedicated Sky VR app. of last year and has been filming live broadcast capabilities. The Virtual Reality. The payTV operator will produce some VR footage since, including company has also teamed up Called Sky VR Studio, it will more than 20 videos across sports, content for Sky News. It feels the with post-production house produce content initially for movies, news and entertainment time is right given the availability Deluxe and software house The Facebook’s 360-degree video genres in 2016, starting with two F1 of camera technology and even Foundry to facilitate the content platform, viewable through the social VR experiences, made in partnership more device support. production workflow and advance network’s website and mobile apps. with Formula One Management and Sky VR Studio will be headed end-to-end solutions for creating The Sky content will also be available the Williams F1 team, in time for the up by executive producer Neil immersive virtual reality for Facebook’s Oculus platform, new F1 season. Graham. experiences.

www.csimagazine.com April 2016 05

05news.indd 1 30/03/2016 11:08:21 News

UHD news in brief Upcoming UHD/HDR specs to trigger first New 4K channels on satellite Phase 2 deployments Yahlive announced the launch of its first free-to-air 4K channel, This October is a big month in the HDR solution and is about to enter Fashion One 4K, in the Middle evolution of beefed up ultra HD market for BR discs. East and North Africa region. standards, especially with regards to As far as DVB is concerned, Fashion 4K is part of the Fashion High Dynamic Range. This will lead a total of nine candidate HDR One television network and is the to the first Phase-2 launches in early systems/technical proposals have first television channel being 2017 and Sky Deutschland hinted it been put forward for Phase 2. The broadcast in 4K that is dedicated will limit HDR to UHD services systems being discussed in DVB to fashion, entertainment and rather than dilute it down to HD. specification work by these groups is today generally fall under the lifestyle, with an extensive library A number of announcements keenly anticipated by the industry. It umbrella of either being a PQ type of native UHD content. Fellow related to UHD/HDR are expected is also why the October approval is system or a LG type system. The carrier AsiaSat will distribute the from various industry bodies is likely to trigger the first commercial candidates under consideration new Love Nature channel on the October, when the picture should deployments in early 2017, probably comprise single layer solutions and AsiaSat 4 satellite. Love Nature look a lot clearer of what a key part starting with payTV and broadband dual layer solutions, and come from is another FTA UHD channel, of the next-gen ultra HD experience OTT providers. the likes of Philips, Dolby, Philips giving viewers 4K wildlife and will look like. ITU-T and MPEG But there are disagreements over and Technicolor. nature footage from a library of are planning to conclude their work the best type of HDR. ITU-R has DVB’s David Wood pointed out nature documentaries, series, on HDR that month, at which time been discussing HDR for over two that the DVB focus is on featured themes and exclusive the DVB will then also approve the years, with a new recommendation transmission of video signal and natural history. ‘UHD-1 Phase 2’ specification. finally agreed in February, settling on signalling, not the contrast ratio of Some markets require backwards both the US perceptual quantiser displays, which are responsibility of 4K in Spain compatibility with Phase 1 but (PQ) system (defined by SMPTE ST manufacturer. Assuming the October Vodafone Spain is the country’s others don’t. 2084) and BBC/NHK’s Hybrig Log timeline is met, it will be followed by first operator to launch a set-top Because HDR (which is about Gamma (HLG) system for HDR several months of final work in ETSI box that supports ultra HD. To better and brighter pictures and broadcast productions. These are before becoming an official standard. go with the UHD decoder, the contrasts) is widely perceived to be now in the process of being As well as HDR, a higher frame telco will offer up four UHD a major feature of UHDTV Phase 2 approved, which should happen rate (HFR) will be ushered into the channels: the music network – indeed, DVB’s Phil Laven before October. specification, but this is expected to Festival 4K, the entertainment declared that “HDR is the killer UltraHD BluRay disc, meanwhile, take several years longer than other networks Fun Box UHD and app for UHDTV” – the final has opted for PQ (ST 2084) as its features, likely in 2019. Insight TV, and Slow Channel, a background signal with images. UHD services will be offered via HDR in HD or UHD only? both fibre and ADSL networks. High Dynamic Range technology free-to-air) broadcasters who may world but at the moment it’s one of Through this move, Vodafone will may not just be for ultra HD want to go for the cheaper HD + the ingredients of the UHD soup.” also unify its TV offering for both platforms, as it can bring value HDR combination. Martin Fähnrich from Panasonic IPTV and ADSL subscribers with to HD systems as well. Sky Deutschland is among the said the decision is ultimately up to the hybrid DTT/IPTV box. From the perspective of payTV providers who look set to broadcasters and it is technologically consumers, HDTV + HDR may include HDR only in its upcoming neutral as a CE manufacturer. UHD set-top from Orange be a good option as proponents ultra HD offer as a way of further However, he pointed out that by the Orange has unveiled its new of so-called HDR+ argue this differentiating upcoming UHD time the HDR decision is made in Livebox home gateway, which will not be impacted by viewing services from their HD propositions. October and the products appear in will available by this summer in distance as higher resolutions are. “HDR in HD is certainly a the market in 2017 that most TV sets France. The 802.11ac WiFi unit Whether HDR gets implement business model but at this point in in the mid-range onwards will be works in tandem with a new Ultra in HD will be a decision for time we would like to use HDR as a UHD Phase 2-enabled. There will HD decoder that features Dolby individual media companies certain leverage to introduce ultra still be HDTV sets shipped next year, Atmos sound. The operator will however. It seems that there might HD,” said Stephan Heimbecher, of course, so whether these include offer a catalogue of content be a loose split between payTV Director, Innovations & Standards in HDR remains an open question. including live events, sports and operators, who want to achieve Technology at Sky Deutschland, at As Panasonic suggested, it seems more than 300 titles on demand the full UHD + HDR premium DVB World 2016. “I think that it will demand from broadcasters will in UHD. experience, and some (especially eventually make its way into the HD influence this.

06 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

06news.indd 1 31/03/2016 10:18:49 12 May 2016, Millennium Hotel Mayfair, London

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BetterSocietySaveTheDate.indd 1 11/02/2016 16:39:42 News

news in brief DVB-T2 ready to roll out in Germany

KPN licenses DT’s smart The first phase of Germany’s DVB- pipe and home platform T2 migration starts in late May, squeezing data Dutch incumbent KPN is one with a soft launch of the largest six rates of full of the first operators to use channels provided in full HD. It HD channel Deutsche Telekom’s Qivicon means that the European football from 16Mpbs smart home platform. The Dutch championships will be shown in to 4mps. telco trialled Qiviocon last year, 1080p for the first time on the DTT Media following which it has now anywhere worldwide. Broadcast launched an app-based SmartLife With the upcoming move, carried out offering to all customers. It also Germany is going direct from DVB-T2 & features a security service that MPEG-2 to HEVC, thereby HEVC trials in KPN has developed with Trigion leapfrogging MPEG-4. In doing so, Berlin, Cologne and Munich in encrypted with a cardless CA and Philips. The announcement it is also scrapping interlaced and order to tweak the right technical solution from Irdeto. comes 12 months after DT going with 1080p50 in DVB-T2, the parameters, including portable The pilot launch of select services revealed Qivicon was coming to new terrestrial broadcast standard. DTT reception. with 6 multiplexes - three for public the Netherlands and the UK. It marks the gradual culmination One of the main findings and three for commercial KPN follows Austrian energy of a process that started with the concluded there was no significant broadcasters - will start on 31 May company eww Group in offering introduction of DTT in 2002 in saving found in the bitrate with in time for the Euros, when there services based on Qivicon outside the country. 720p/1080i compared to 1080p, will be a simulcast offer where all of Germany. Last month, DT But the current German DTT which promoted the decision to go other DVB-T channels remain on air. signed up five new partners platform offers no HD services with the latter. A hard migration takes place in to develop services based on putting it at a severe disadvantage The DVB-T2/HEVC combination Q1 2017, when DVB-T transmissions Qivicon as it aims to take a lead against competitive cable and will be used for a mix of more will cease in all major areas. in the connected home market satellite systems. This has formed channels, almost all in HD, and A switchover will then follow in and enter other European the key part of the strategic shift interactive content via the ‘multithek’ rural areas and the transition is countries. to HEVC-based DVBT-2 services. HbbTV portal, which will also be due to finish in 2019 when DVB-T Holger Meinzer, CMO at Media expanded over time due to spectrum will be switched off completely to UK broadcasters mull joint Broadcast, the country’s DTT constraints, according to Meinzer. coincide with the clearing of SVoD service infrastructure provider, explained at There will be between 15 and 20 700Mhz spectrum. The BBC, ITV and and DVB World 2016 that major public free-to-air (FTA) public channels and Besides low-cost STBs, DVB-T2 NBCUniversal have been in and private broadcasters are now 20-25 commercial channels available will be available on connected TVs, discussion about launching a doubling the size of the broadcast for a small fee. These will be laptops, smartphones and dongles. subscription video on demand streaming service to rival Netflix. Talks are understood to be at an Telefonica rules out widespread LTE-B early, explorative stage for the He suggested that a combination city you’re in. if I take London, the proposed service, which is likely of sites, spectrum and business case biggest city in Europe, it’s not likely to focus on providing older will limit LTE-B’s applications. to happen at a large scale any time archive TV content, not first-run “LTE-Broadcast is a great soon,” Short added. shows, although it would have technology but it’s only as good as Little progress has also been some original content. Netflix has the sites, or the spectrum or the made on the handsets front, where more than 5m users in the UK. business that you have. Some of Rehfuess admits the issue remains the issues though when looked at a typical ‘chicken and egg problem’. Sky invests in iflix together constrain the adoptability Qualcomm test terminals were used Sky has invested $45m in a so I think we should see it as a for the recent Nokia-led Munich Malaysia-based VoD start up, compliment rather than competition trials, due to a lack of commercial its first foray into Asia. The iflix to TV broadcasting,” said Short, devices. As Rehfuess pointed out, service operates in Malaysia, speaking at the DVB World 2016. there needs to be a certain level the Philippines and Thailand “Some of the use cases we’ve of market demand visible for the with more than 11,000 hours Dr Mike Short of Telefonica has looked at are interesting but for handset makers to, which is not yet of Hollywood and Asian content ruled out national deployments of national deployment most unlikely. the case. Moreover, a longer battery to 1m subs. LTE-Broadcast technology. It does depend on which country or life would also be useful.

08 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

08news.indd 1 31/03/2016 10:12:44 2016

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Untitled-2 1 11/02/2016 16:02:50 News

news in brief Big traction for SAT-IP globally

RTL to buy Smartclip The first commercial services based necessary compliance testing sold 30,000 flat screen TVs with Sat- The German media firm will on the new SAT-IP standard are due procedure. Compliance testing in the IP, the technology is being acquire the online video by the end of the year in Germany, past was carried out by SES and was implemented for the HD+ platform. advertising company’s operations while the technology is also being recently handed over to Finland’s Called HD+ ExtraScreen, it will be in a number of European trialled by operators outside Europe. Labwise due to the volume of launched towards the end of 2016 markets. RTL Germany is buying And it is seeing such high industry demand from manufacturers, some once the current field trials have a 93.75% stake in Smartclip for demand from manufacturers that of which require “lots of debugging”. been completed, marking the first around EUR74 million, through testing is now being outsourced. Wrede said talks are taking place practical implementation of Sat-IP. which it will acquire Smartclip’s SAT-IP technology, originally with other test houses and welcomes According to Wrede, 80% of businesses in Germany, the devised and developed by SES, more testing facilities to express their homes in Germany have never heard Netherlands, Scandinavia and allows DVB based satellite interest. of Sat-IP or know that they can take Italy. Smartclip bundles the broadcasts to be made available The technology is benefiting from a satellite signal onto IP network, online video advertising inventory inside home networks, converting a new powerful complete SoC from showing the scope of the marketing of 700 publishers worldwide, and broadcast signals via a local device Broadcom, which is enabling new challenge but also the opportunity. manages the integration and to IP after reception to the dish. It products. There are now at least 75 In parallel, the Sat-IP Alliance has serving of video advertising to all is a client server architecture that products from 45 partners, including been established to raise industry internet-connected devices. allows linear broadcast services to integrated TVs from Panasonic, a awareness and the next step will be According to the companies, become available on more devices Humax streaming player and apps for coordinated marketing efforts, Smartclip complements RTL and satellite reception then iOS and Android. There’s a further including a joint presence at trade Group’s investments in digital becomes a pure software large number of devices awaiting shows. Members include SES, advertising sales, including in application. certification, including HDMI sticks Eutelsat, Hispasat, Panasonic, Nagra, particular SpotX, a platform for “How do we reach tablets and and a Vestel set-top box among other Maxlinear and Ali, with more programmatic online video phones over indoor networks? STBs. coming on board. The aim is to get advertising. Investors ask us what we will do The hope is also that devices such more satellite and other types of about tablets,” said Thomas Wrede as the OTT Apple TV adapter will be operators outside Europe. Indeed, DOCSIS 3.1 goes live in US of SES, speaking at DVB World able to use the SAT-IP signals (Tizi Wrede said that trials are underway Comcast has kept its promise and 2016. “We have 7,000 video servers recently brought out a client which from three operators in Korea, South kicked off the first Gigabit speed so we don’t want to change to IP runs on Apple TV 4). The partners Africa and Malaysia. service based on DOCSIS 3.1 in from DVB,” said Wrede. are looking to further enlarge Finally, the Alliance is considering Atlanta. The deployment makes SAT-IP interoperability is universe of servers and clients. a transfer of the Sat-IP standard Comcast the first in the US to guaranteed by passing the In Germany, where Panasonic has under the auspices of DVB. deploy DOCSIS 3.1 technology. However, it is not available to all Altice in IoT deal with Sigfox customers in the Atlanta market from the beginning. The new Altice said it will integrate SIGFOX the group is present, including gigabit downstream service connectivity in the operator’s Portugal with Portugal (35Mbps on the upstream) is offering in France and Telecom, the US and Israel. priced at for $70 per month with internationally to support a range By offering complementary a three-year contract, or for $140 of Internet of Things services. connectivity solutions, per month with no contract. In France, where the network the companies aim to There have been pockets of already covers 92% of the “democratize the IoT in all announcements in Europe and population, this partnership will sectors of the economy” and Asia so far but most MSOs won’t allow the customers of Altice- expand the offer of connected start deploying DOCSIS 3.1 until owned SFR, to benefit from high solutions for businesses and Michel Combes, COO of Altice, next year. ABI Research says only bandwidth and low bandwidth consumers. Chairman and CEO of SFR. “We are 1% of cable subscribers offers. SFR clients will use The alliance will square Altice talking about billions of connections. worldwide will be using D3.1- SIGFOX connectivity as a against French rivals Orange and We share the same entrepreneurial enabled services by the end of complement to existing Bouygues Telecom, who have opted vision with SIGFOX and the will to 2016. Comcast plans to launch connectivity solutions, such as to use of the LoRa standard. conquer new markets. The DOCSIS 3.1 in new markets 4G or WiFi. “We are convinced that the IoT availability of the SIGFOX network including Nashville, Chicago, The partnership with Altice will market is an opportunity to seize allows us to bring new Internet of Detroit and Miami later this year. then extend in all territories where now, with a global vision,” said Things solutions to our B2B clients.”

10 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

10news.indd 1 31/03/2016 10:01:44 News

Satellite to carry over 785 UHD channels news in brief

A new report from NSR identifies even developing regions see content increasing ARPUs and subscriber Cord-shaving in the USA 2016 as a key inflection point for the by the end of the decade. levels, said NSR. The number of pay TV subs in rollout of ultra HD via satellite and The report also says the plunging • The number of paying IPTV North America will fall from forecasts over 785 UHD channels by price of 4K TV will see 4K TV subscribers in the Asia Pacific 112 million in the peak year of the year 2025. penetration rates to rise faster than region overtook paying satellite TV 2012 to 106 million in 2021, but UltraHD remains a small the initial introduction of HD TVs. ones in 2015, and the gap will the rates of losses will plateau, component of the video market, with Given the exponential increases widen, according to Digital TV says new research. According to around 1% of overall channel counts, we’ve seen on 4K TV shipments, Research. Over 123.5 million IPTV the Digital TV TV Research, but by 2025 UHD will form a critical introducing UltraHD channels and subs are expected by 2021. China payTV penetration will drop from component of most platforms by packages is a key strategy to retain will contribute 78.4 million IPTV 87.1% in 2012 to 80.3% in 2021. 2025. Those without it will be viewed and grow pay TV subscriber bases in subs, or nearly two-thirds of the Last year was notable because the same way SD-only platforms are an increasingly competitive region’s total, by 2021. Pay satellite subscriber losses were recorded viewed in the market today, says NSR environment. Additionally, this is a TV will only supply an extra 30 for all of the major platforms: in its report, UltraHD via Satellite, vital competitive response to OTT million in comparison, with FTA cable, satellite and IPTV. Cable 3rd Edition. platforms’ ever expanding online satellite TV adding ten million. has been losing subscribers since While commercial UltraHD content catalogues,” said Alan Crisp. 2011, satellite TV started in channels in East Asia have been While in the short term DTH, 2014, and IPTV joined them available for over a year, the new Cable TV and IPTV platforms will in 2015. Despite these gloomy format expands its geographic reach offer UltraHD for ‘free’ with existing facts, fewer than two million on linear TV platforms. By next year, premium channel bundles, longer pay TV subscribers will be lost almost all regions worldwide will term UltraHD will achieve higher between 2016 and 2021, the have UHD channels available, and revenue streams generated by analyst house said.

11newsATX.indd 1 01/04/2016 10:01:30 TV as an app

Are apps the future of TV?

David Adams weighs in on both sides of the argument and assesses their implications

Image courtesy of NAGRA

n September, Apple CEO Tim Cook build stronger relationships with consumers, and Amazon, Netflix and YouTube, with newer apps declared, at the launch of a new version monetise those relationships in multiple ways. like Periscope also rapidly gaining users, there is of Apple TV, that “the future of TV is However, there is also clearly a big gap between no reason to assume this means the demise of the apps”. Apple has opened up its SDK for the traditional, lean-back TV experience using incumbent operators. As Neale Foster, chief the first time and created a new operating a conventional EPG and the experience of operating officer and vice-president of global sales system (tvOS) that allows third party using a vast and confusing array of aggregation at Access says: “Just because it’s an app doesn’t developers to create apps for the platform. platforms and apps – for channels, genres, mean it can’t be a pay TV operator.” IThe most enthusiastic Apple fans in the industry individual programmes, individual sports and Still, the threat to the current pay TV business believe this could be a very significant change, other content-related services. There is clearly model is obvious. “The ‘applification’ of TV is allowing Apple to attack the business models of going to be a need for some sort of aggregation part of the bigger trend around the restructuring operators and content providers of all kinds, mechanism to help consumers make sense of this of the industry with the agility of the internet,” including online gaming platforms. fragmented TV landscape. says Mike Couture, senior vice-president, product But regardless of the progress of Apple’s So if the future of TV really is some sort of and marketing, at Quickplay. “It’s global; and ambitions, there are already good reasons platform that helps consumers make sense of increasingly it’s mobile and it’s personal. There to agree with Cook’s statement. After all, an app-filled world, how can technology enable are many more apps coming. We’re only seeing trends in video viewing, moving away from content providers, operators, broadcasters or the beginning of this.” the living room and linear TV towards TV other industry players develop that platform, The most important change for channel or everywhere services from multiple sources, are or find other ways to provide services that content providers of all kinds will be increased very clear. An increasing number of consumers consumers will want to use? And which players interactivity, says Daragh Ward, CTO at in many different markets are also now used are best placed to profit from this transformation Axonista. He gives the hypothetical example to interacting with apps on smartphones, in content delivery, discovery and consumption? of an interactive news channel that would allow tablets, smart TVs, set top boxes of various consumers to access stories or programming kinds and other devices. And apps can help The ‘applification’ of TV most relevant to them as and when they choose, the creators and distributors of content increase Although statistics suggest that the most popular including clicking on captions running across the interactivity, offer complementary services, video apps for the under 30s are platforms like bottom of the main screen. “If the future of TV

12 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

12-15_TV_as_an_app.indd 2 30/03/2016 12:00:26 TV as an app

has to include this ability to interact, the only back experience and that linear TV is still popular information overload problem. Metrological uses way to deliver that experience has to be through with mass audiences. “Linear delivery is still the an abstraction layer in its technology to ease apps,” he says. dominant format,” says Ian Munford, director of technical issues for broadcasters aiming to offer Apps will provide an opportunity for industry product marketing and enablement for media such services. players to use accurate viewer data more rapidly solutions at Akamai. “Even in countries where the NAGRA has also tried to address this issue and in many more different ways, says Michael adoption of online viewing is at its highest, the with its cloud-based intuiTV solution for pay TV Fridman, vice-president, marketing, at Comigo: share of viewing time achieved through OTT operators, launched at CES 2016. As Andre “If TV providers want to create the best possible technology is still barely 20 per cent.” Kudleski, chairman and CEO of NAGRA parent TV experience for their subscribers, company Kudelski Group put it at the launch, and, for example, take advantage of with a nod to Apple: “The future of television is ultra-targeted, measurable advertising television and it’s more about enjoying content opportunities, they need to use data in than anything else. This means getting back to an advanced way.” Although previous attempts to introduce app-like technologies into TV apps predictions smart TV environments have not Jeroen Ghijsen, CEO of Metrological, expects enjoyed great success, it is worth to see operators adopting application considering that other types of app may framework technology that enables support of personalised TV app experiences and delivers greater app performance on any device. His “There’s a danger that we’re all trying to app-related predications are as follows: cater for the content connoisseur, the 1. Operators deploying more robust TV app offerings: Simply offering the most popular person who knows what they want to 4 or 5 TV apps natively isn’t scaling to support a breadth of apps across a growing watch, as opposed to the person who wants number of devices.

to sit down in front of the TV and find a pot 2. More personalised apps line ups: Operators now have the tools to customise app store of content that opens up for them.” line ups and introduce local app content based on audience segments, live events and viewing habits to automatically change provide useful complements to those that For Anthony Smith-Chaigneau, senior director, app line ups and make them more personal are directly related to content, in part as product marketing at NAGRA, the method used for each household. a result of Apple TV now being open to third for content discovery is key. “There’s a danger party developers. that we’re all trying to cater for the content 3. Apps integrated with live TV: Contextual For example, suggests Iddo Shai, director, connoisseur, the person who knows what they app experiences enable apps to recognise product marketing for video and OTT at Kaltura, want to watch, as opposed to the person who what the customer is watching and suggest he and his family enjoyed planning a holiday wants to sit down in front of the TV and find a contextually relevant internet content that together, looking at possible accommodation on pot of content that opens up for them,” he says. complements the TV viewing experience. Airbnb, on their smart TV. It is also easy to Everyone agrees that the ideal would be a Apps act as a content feed, providing imagine the sorts of educational or healthcare- navigation experience that is seamless and leaves consumers with relevant content without related apps that a growing number of consumers the viewer blissfully unaware of what lies behind having to leave the live TV experience. already access via laptops and tablets finding an the ‘channel’ they are watching. Consumers also audience on the main TV if presented effectively. increasingly expect to see the same interface on 4. More focus on the performance of TV apps: every device they use. Technologies such as We expect to see more deployments of Lost in a sea of apps TWINE from Access offer the ability to provide browser enhancements that help operators But the challenge remains how best to bring all of consumers with the same branded experience achieve results that are usually reserved for these capabilities to the viewer in a user-friendly, across a wide range of devices. native app approaches. Additionally, the lean-back form. If the future of TV really is going Jeroen Ghijsen, co-founder and CEO at technology enables operators to support to be about apps it will need to overcome the fact Metrological, believes personalisation in content and personalise UIs and HTML5 apps with that at present TV is very much about the lean search and discovery will help to solve the higher fidelity.

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a simpler and more intuitive viewing experience the old model of a $100 monthly pay TV that makes it easy for consumers to find the subscription is not going to be sustainable. content they want, without having to worry He also believes that many of the traditional about constantly swapping inputs, changing operators’ legacy infrastructures will hinder remote controls and guessing what is behind their attempts to create services as flexible as each and every app on a constantly morphing those that will be offered by newer entrants. app dashboard.” And yet, there are also reasons why the incumbent operators may be well placed to New entrants vs incumbents prosper in a new, app-filled TV world. As Dan There are other forms of navigation already in Finch, commercial director at Simplestream operation that could be an indication of the shape points out, the new technologies give them a of things to come. Voice search technology, as chance to build two-way relationships with their offered by Apple, Amazon, Google and some smart viewers too, building on existing brand awareness TV manufacturers, may form part of the answer. and trust. Chem Assayag, executive vice-president, sales, Daragh Ward agrees that incumbent operators at Viaccess-Orca, thinks the most important do have a chance in any battle to own the glass, ingredients of any successful solution addressing but suggests they will need to design better the navigation challenge will be easy to use interfaces, a powerful search engine – and also what kind of mood you’re likely to be in,” he simple payment mechanisms allowing consumers explains. “So they may be in a better position to to buy content spontaneously. “People will have “In the end it’s about recommend content to you.” a hard time understanding why they can’t pay as Ward thinks Apple TV has a great interface they go,” he says. content and that is and Android TV will also stimulate innovation in He is impressed by what he has seen of the a scarce resource.” apps and services. “So Apple and Google are in Molotov platform, which allows users to access a good position,” he concludes. “There’s only so a huge range of different types of content from long that the incumbents can hold out, I think.” different sources, including social media; and On the other hand, the incumbents still, for the which offers a search engine which allows more interfaces for content discovery if they are to do so. time being at least, hold one of the strongest tangential search queries – relating to actors Some of the newer players, faster to create new, cards: the pick of the most valuable content. within a particular movie or programme, cloud-based infrastructures, may also be able to “Content is still king,” says Foster. “The not just the content itself, for example. Both use personal data in more innovative ways than platform’s only as good as the content. Much will incumbent operators and new entrants into this the incumbents can, he suggests. “Google can be depend on what content owners want to do to market possess advantages and disadvantages that in a better position to know much more about maximise revenue.” may help or hinder their attempts to become one you, so you might be sitting in front of the TV but He notes that Apple and Google have both of the players who ‘own the glass’. But ultimately, they know what you were doing, what you were been connected with corporate acquisitions of says Jason Flick, founder and CEO of You.i TV, searching for earlier in the day, so they may know other content providers, and even with the possibility of bidding for sports rights: “It maybe doesn’t fit with their business model right now, but that might change.” “In the end it’s about content and that is a scarce resource,” agrees Assayag. “Companies like Apple and Google have great technical skills and very deep pockets. If these guys suddenly decide that they will compete for some of the premium content, like sport – I can’t see the traditional players being in a position to compete if Google and Apple decide to pay a lot of money. Their spending power could create a lot of change in the industry.” But perhaps we’re asking the wrong question, says Metrological’s Jeroen Ghijsen. “If you talk about ‘ownership of the screen’, that is, to us, an old fashioned way of thinking,” he says. He

14 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

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suspects the future may be more about harnessing personalisation and mobile technologies to share revenue between several different players. Adam Nightingale, vice-president, EMEA at Accedo, is intrigued by news of the possible NBC/BBC/ITV streaming on-demand service thought (at the time of writing) to be the subject of discussion between the broadcasters. “Collaboration is where the industry should be going,” he says. So, is the future of TV an app? “I think apps are a big part of TV,” says Murali Nemani, CMO at Active Video. “But the statement from Tim Cook assumes that everything you ever want is available through Apple. I don’t think that is true. But can Apple truly be an aggregator of apps, with the best of all the content from different places? Yes.” If Cook was right, he wasn’t talking about the short term, says Iddo Shai. “For the future of TV to be apps it should be as easy to navigate around Apple TV as it is to navigate around your normal TV experience,” he says. “The truth is, we’re just not there yet. Not all the content is there, the usability is not there. It’s not yet as easy to watch Apple TV or Amazon Fire as it is to turn on your set top box. People will buy those devices, but it Data shows % more (less) likely that a user is to have one of the major broadcaster Apps installed on any of their video devices vs. Netfl ix (18-34 year olds only) will be a while before they say ‘this is how I want to consume my TV’.”

“This is the wrong question – it should be ‘What is TV?’ in the App environment” - TV is really about entertainment, and define an offering that is sticky enough to flexibility in pricing and business models entertainment apps are already here keep the viewer – or is it consumer – coming will support app providers in building and - If we want to move the TV experience to the back, without them feeling like they are tied maintaining audience app world then we need to recreate what to a service - Consumer Insight, understanding how makes it so popular – live and linear content - And, of course, content will remain as the TV apps are being used, establishing need to be at the core of the experience key differentiator different usage and purchasing profiles - We can then build our own viewing - But ubiquity will become more and more will also play a large part in helping experience around this. Recommendations important – give me what I want, when, and to shape a more personalised experience will be contextual: ‘Show me something that ‘where’ I want it. Let me access my DVR on for the end user I want to see, that fits into this programming my tablet when I’m overseas - In summary: The shared nature of gap’ Why? Because Downton Abbey is on at - And as consumers add to their devices, the storytelling goes back to cavemen 9:00pm winners will be the providers who can sitting around the fire. Today, we can - TV as an app can take from the linear and deliver their apps to where their audiences carry the fire around with us, but we the on-demand world and allow us to create are actually going (and not to where they’d still want a shared experience, and on a ‘blended viewing experience of live and ‘like’ them to go) TV that includes live and linear content. on-demand - By using the cloud, content providers will Fill in the gaps with relevant content, - The challenge for players in the app-verse have access to the same scale and and that will keep the consumer sitting will be in creating loyalty with their users. functionality previously only available to around your fire parties or arms of Just as service providers are experiencing large service providers. And service large agencies) aggregating household some churn because of OTT and app providers will be able to add new capability level data and using it to personalise services, the users of these services are - As the market fragments and TV apps the TV viewing experience, making very promiscuous increase, consumers will have greater programmatic more powerful.” - So the TV as an app provider needs to choices in how they pay for their content, so Adam Davies, senior product manager, Cisco

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viewers. This is particularly relevant when Buried in a sea of titles trying to reach Millennials whose television viewing has seen the greatest decline. In this emerging app-driven TV market, how do • Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) are consumers find out what’s on, where, and when? becoming an important way to inform people about new shows. Today’s service provider EPGs are effective at helping viewers navigate s the market becomes expected to know what is available to them, let linear TV, VOD, and in some cases DVRed increasingly fragmented alone know where it is available? Regardless of programs but they fails to take into account the with TVE apps, where you sit in the television ecosystem, in order larger viewing patterns of today’s consumer. individual programmer to be successful it is critical for consumers to find Like it or not todays viewers get programming apps, and online video shows they want to watch. Failing to do so suggests from a variety of sources (i.e., broadcast and services, it seems that that many of these shows will go unwatched due cable networks, Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, there are an almost to a lack of awareness, rather than lack of interest. Vudu, Google Play, etc.). While it may seem infinite number of video services available. So in So how do consumers find out what’s on, counterintuitive for service providers to include Athis emerging app driven TV market, how do where, and when? According to Strategy Analytics viewing options from sources outside their viewers find out what’s on and where? Without a ConsumerMetrix Survey, on-air promotions (i.e., control in the long run they will benefit from it schedule and with a library of 1000’s of movies TV trailers) are by far the most common way by being in a much stronger position to and TV shows to choose from how are viewers to consumer find out what TV/video programming influence the choices viewers make. At the end know what is available, making it easy for networks is available. Fifty-seven percent of respondents age of the day consumers are going to watch video and programs to get buried in a sea of titles. 18-74 said that they used on-air promotions to from a variety of sources. Services providers For example the latest episodes of Downton find out what TV/video programming is available. can either put themselves in the optimal Abby are available on linear TV while past This was followed by channel surfing (37%), position to influence those viewing choices or seasons are available via electronic sell-thru (EST) browsing the electronic program guide (EPG) they can allow other to do so. on Amazon, while season 1 is available via SVOD (38%) and word of mouth (WOM) from family • Social media is not a source used by a on Amazon. According to FX Networks CEO and friends (35%). significant number of consumers to find out John Landgraf, “there will be more than 400 Some key findings include the following. what is airing on TV/video. Fewer than 1 out original scripted shows on television this year”, • On-air promotions are the most common way of 5 respondents said that they use social while Amazon and Netflix will introduce a wealth viewers found out about other programs to media to find out what is airing on TV/video. of original programming over the next few years. view, however, as television viewership declines • As online service providers continue to produce With all this to choose from how is a consumer these promotions are reaching fewer and fewer more and more original content finding it in their vast video libraries becomes a greater challenge. For the most part, online video services don’t run on-screen promotions (except for very select programs), making it challenging for viewers to find new programming. Unlocking the value of programmers and online video service providers video catalogues in this fragmented world is not easy. It will require significant improvements to existing search and recommendation algorithms, unified search and recommendations that cross services, and solutions that account for generational differences in how viewers find out about programs to watch.

Michael Googman is Director, Digital Media Strategies, Digital Consumer Practice, at Strategy Analytics

16 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

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f you can’t beat them join them, right? That’s certainly a must when it comes to What happens to a channel TV as an app. Shifting viewing habits mean more and more video is being viewed on line. That goes for full length TV content in a world of Apps? just as much short-form video and user- generated. There are a number of factors By Guy Bisson, Ampere Analysis at work here. Chief among them is fragmentation: Ifragmentation of viewing and of channels as the options for accessing a channel’s content become more diverse. Splitting viewing across a linear channel and an app-based catch-up or streaming service is a necessary evil today. But at the same time, there is a second factor. Unless a channel’s online service is a scheduled linear stream, fragmentation online is coupled to content disaggregation, making search and discovery central to the user experience. At the same time, when entering the world of TV apps, channels face a renewed competitive landscape in which channel-like competitors such as Netflix jostle for viewing share alongside emerging video platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Looking at the top ten most watched video apps by young people (under 34) across the big five European markets (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain), it is the new platforms that are most often watched: Youtube, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix. Emerging video apps like Instagram and Snapchat also now make the top ten for monthly viewing and live streaming apps like Periscope are ascending quickly. Only a couple of the big Data shows % of homes watching in the past month and is based on Euro big Five: broadcaster platforms (BBC iPlayer and Spain’s UK, DE, ES, IT, FR) Artresmedia) make the top league. So when the app becomes the channel, the old guard are Analysis Ampere Source: certainly losing out. So what does the new battleground that is the app mean for the major broadcasters? I thought Netflix’s home market, where younger US it would be interesting to look at the impact of viewers are more than 1.5 times more likely APP % of homes using in past month Netflix establishing in a market on the video apps to have installed Netflix on a device than the of the incumbent and public service broadcast video apps of one of the major US networks. MyTF1 6% groups. In other words, how well do the most- There’s a similar, but less pronounced, trend Snapchat 6% watched channels in a given country fare against in the big European markets where Netflix is Atresplayer 6% an app-based up-start like Netflix? well established, although a few incumbent Sky Go 8% Instagram 9% The analysis makes for pretty interesting reading. broadcasters, such as the BBC in the UK and BBC iPlayer 9% Looking at the under 34’s, again across the big TF1 in France are still holding their own. Netflix 14% European markets and the USA, it’s clear that Finally, in the new Netflix markets of Spain Amazon Instant Video 15% where Netflix has been long established, it thrashes and Italy, incumbents still rule, but for how Facebook 19% most incumbent broadcasters in terms of app much longer? If the future of TV is an app, YouTube 63% installations (app installed by user on any device). then the battle lines, it seems, have already

This trend is most pronounced in the USA, been drawn. Analysis Ampere Source:

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he changing of face of video acquisition has found itself trending down, from satellite will disappear, but it’s definitely moving headends nicely mirrors the the acquisition of programmes via satellite to towards IP delivery,” adds Peske. wider transformative shift direct fibre over IP. The move away from ASI and SDI/HD-SDI taking place in the TV and “You are seeing a lot of operators, especially towards transport over IP is affecting connectivity broadcast industry. This has the larger ones, receiving their content directly throughout the headend. The desire for most taken in the move from over fibre and not over satellite,” says Rich Peske, operators to move towards an all-IP environment analogue services to digital, VP of the video processing business at Arris. is impacting a lot of headends products and Twhile the source content itself has changed from “The smaller ones still get a lot of their technologies. SD to predominantly HD. programming direct over satellite, but more and “Paradoxically the move to having compressed With the growth of multiscreen delivery, the more you’re seeing direct fibre connections.” video in the headend actually reflects an last few years have also seen headends grow in It is a case of down but very much not quite improvement in quality, as it is often introduced scale and complexity to reflect delivery beyond out for satellite. “Even operators going with direct at the same time that the source feeds are the main television in the living room. Headends fibre connectivity for their programme source will switched from relatively highly compressed have evolved to multi-platform, including support still use satellite as a back-up. There’s no signs satellite sources to high bit-rate IP links,” says From headends in the sky to headends in the cloud? Goran Nastic looks at the evolution of video headends architecture and examines the extent to which the cloud is dictating the course

for OTT distribution. Consumer expectation for access to content on more devices, and any place or time, is driving the need for more formats and access to the content. At the same time, the compression efficiency has improved dramatically over the period and there’s an ongoing migration towards M{PEG-4 and HEVC. While the core linear TV services change relatively slowly, the ability to rapidly introduce changes to the ways consumers access that content is a key competitive aspect for many operators. So the number and types of output have been increased: adding Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) outputs to conventional linear streams, extending the reach to more devices and to devices that may be on the public internet, as well as providing cloud DVR and on-demand services as part of the overall subscriber offering. Another fundamental shift in headend architectures involves the migration from uncompressed SDI routing to compressed video over IP. With the rise in IP, satellite

18 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

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Tony Jones, VP Technology & Architecture, Types of cloud – factors to consider: TV & Media at Ericsson. It is a case of different technology options for different situations.

What to virtualise? Private cloud Hybrid and public clouds All this has simultaneously coincided with a • For large companies with many • Hybrid cloud solutions can be benefi cial as a means gradual shift to software based infrastructure for products and applications, private clouds to reduce the amount of infrastructure owned and man- video processing and virtualisation. can result in better scale gains due to the aged by the video company. Hybrids typically offer the “Transitions to cloud infrastructure typically elasticity and the advantages of shared most fl exibility correspond with the expansion of services or the and virtualised platforms, as well as the • Public cloud leaves more room to focus on what is launch of new facilities,” says Tom Lattie, VP, simplifi ed operational processes considered core business (operators may also be able to market management & development, video • A private cloud enables scale benefi t from subscription or OpEx billing options) products at Harmonic, which claims there are advantages by hosting multiple products • For services that require high capacity on a given hundreds of live 24/7 video services being and applications network footprint, a hybrid model makes more sense delivered to consumers from its virtualised video • Private clouds include the ability to where some cloud components are complemented by infrastructure. manage the network, control prioritisation distributed video delivery optimised network appliances Typically, items that make most sense to of resource allocation and control when • If the video content is being delivered across the virtualise first are ones that change rapidly and maintenance operations take place Internet, processing the content closer to the consumer those that may have varying utilisation. This • Private cloud solutions may be easier in a public cloud can make sense makes services like VoD and file-based services to integrate with the playout on managed • Public cloud (or hybrid) can be useful as ‘extension ideally suited to the cloud because they are very networks space’ for apps that have few critical dependencies elastic in demand. Unsurprisingly, this is where the most visible and rapid migration is happening today. By contrast, the cloud is a more unwanted consequences that might introduce “The choice of private/public then becomes challenging platform for live streaming so very new costs or impair the operational needs, a question of the relative cost of moving content, little of this is today performed in the cloud. according to Ericsson’s Jones. along with content security considerations versus “For live, you’re still in a transition phase - According to Johan Bolin, VP of Products at cost of owning the infrastructure.” there is some live transcoding taking place in the Edgeware, it makes more sense to move functions Most conventional data centre applications cloud but it’s pretty minimal because it doesn’t such as content management, origin servers, natively support transaction-based services, but take advantage of the elastic nature of the cloud re-packaging and encryption, transcoding and ‘pure’ cloud deployments place restrictions on the and it’s very processor intensive,” says Peske at encoding. “Components that do not scale with type of technology that can be used, adds Jones. Arris, which on the video side has been most computing power and are traffic and storage- Typically, this means limiting to conventional aggressive in cloud DVR/nDVR technologies and intense, such as caching, make less sense to move Intel Architecture devices. “So here there needs moving that functionality towards virtualisation. to the cloud,” says Bolin. to be a consideration of the relative merits of Some of the main considerations that affect At this stage, it’s important to be clear about different technology options: at this point it is far the ability and cost of mapping into cloud what ‘cloud’ means, points out Jones. “This can from clear that just one technology option can be infrastructure relate to content location and vary from being the way that containerised optimal for all applications,” he says. (Incidentally, rights, processing and cost of compute, applications are mapped to clusters in a private Ericsson has introduced the HDS 8000, which it connectivity (including cost of transit), delay data centre, through to meaning truly public claims is the first data centre system to use Intel sensitivity and utilisation. Since the main drivers cloud offered by a third party. The potential and Rack Scale Architecture to achieve significantly relate to potential cost savings, each use case restrictions of the two are very different, so we better flexibility and utilisation.) needs to consider how those cost reductions need to consider exactly what might be mapped As the use of ABR services increases, the ABR might be derived, and also whether there are any to which type of infrastructure,” he explains. outputs are becoming an increasingly important

Liberty’s virtual data centres encoding, transcoding, encryption and without the cloud. The move to the cloud is In late 2013, Liberty Global outlined how its multiplexing to the cloud across a series clear,” he said. move to the cloud has resulted in accelerated of virtual data centres, depending on rights Amrani noted that Horizon launches in the first time-to-market of the Horizon TV platform in issues. “It is not so much the centralisation two markets of the Netherlands and Switzerland the second wave of market rollouts. The plan or location that is important; it is more about took 12 months at a time when PECHE was not was to virtualise the Pan European Central Head whether you own that infrastructure or not. yet operational. The next two markets by End (PECHE) model as much as possible. The aim is to perform the video processing in comparison, Ireland and Germany, took only Faycal Amrani, managing director and chief the best and most cost efficient way. Our goal three months thanks to the PECHE. “So when architect for Liberty, said the operator would is to harmonise the services and solution across we talk about elasticity, agility and service move traditional headend functions such as our footprint with agility and we can’t do it velocity, we mean it, it’s real,” Amrani said.

www.csimagazine.com April 2016 19

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part of the overall TV service offering, and Netflix goes ‘cloud native’ – will others conventional linear and ABR paths are becoming “Some larger follow? more converged. ABR services that are provided Netflix earlier this year closed the last data exclusively via the public internet can work well operators are also centre for its video-streaming business, in third party data centres, argues Jones, however completing a seven-year migration to the if the main publishing point is instead onto an looking at ways to Amazon Web Services cloud. It has now operator’s own network, it is likely to be more transformed into a self-proclaimed ‘cloud cost effective to keep the processing at the use standard data native’ company. operator and save the costs of moving content Netflix now operates tens of thousands to and from the third party data centre. centre infrastructure of servers and tens of petabytes of storage While large cable and telcos can run private in the Amazon cloud, a move that brings clouds inside their own data centres (see box out), management to multiple benefits, such as service elasticity that is not the case for many others. “To have simplify the and availability, as well as reliability and your own data centre you need to be pretty big. redundancy, according to the company. Most people will rely on public data centres like operations of their The company said that cloud costs per Amazon, Google and Microsoft,” says Peske. streaming start also ended up being a fraction Recently, some larger operators are also video processing.” of those in the data centre. looking at ways to use standard data centre Netflix relies on the cloud for all of its infrastructure management to simplify the scalable computing and storage needs, operations of their video processing. headends and perhaps adopt new cloud concepts including business logic, distributed As in the case of Netflix (see box), it is such as NFV, thinks Edgeware’s Bolin. “New databases and big data processing/analytics, expected that some content owners who only hybrid models will likely be developed, and on recommendations, transcoding, and hundreds deliver via the public internet will move towards the more commercial side, we will likely see of other functions that make up the Netflix full cloud operation, as they don’t own their more ‘as a service’ business models,” he says. application. own delivery network. Operators who have both On the content distribution side, Bolin foresees “It took time and effort to transform Netflix the content rights and own their network have increasingly see ‘super-distributed’ solutions into a cloud-native company, but it put us in a more tools at their disposal to make sure the needed to manage the increased volumes of much better position to continue to grow and experience lives up to the expectations of network traffic. The delivery layer of caches and become a global TV network, creating a better consumers, so are more likely to remain either streaming servers will be increasingly distributed and more enjoyable streaming experience for on private cloud or use a hybrid cloud approach. and integrated in the networks. Netflix members wherever they are,” said Yury Ultimately, it depends on what their goals are Applications and functionality such as Izrailevsky, vice president, cloud and platform for this migration. re-packaging, encryption, protection and engineering, Netflix. Finally, Harmonic’s Lattie raises the point personalisation - scaling with the amount of While one of the biggest, Netflix is not the that one of the most important considerations streaming but traditionally hosted in the headend first platform to go ‘cloud native’. It is agreed is the skill set of the headend staff. “Similar - will move from the headends to applications in that for companies delivering services across with previous transitions to digital or IP, the delivery layer. This will not only offload the internet going cloud-native makes sense training and skill set augmentation is critical. networks and reduce storage, but also facilitate more of it is expected going forward. “It is also an ideal time to re-evaluate the improved protection and security and new more Nevertheless, it is also worth noting that level of engagement with your technology vendors personalised concepts, according to Bolin. this is in effect a hybrid set-up, which post-sale,” adds Lattie. “These new and deeper Data centres may also become more diverse combines AWS with Open Connect. Netflix relationships can help a smaller operator scale in the technology they support, with more still uses a highly distributed CDN based on faster or a larger operator move more quickly not application-specific processing being supported. servers optimised for video delivery (the Open hampered by staffing levels or other projects. Of “Progressively, we may see more orchestration of Connect), placed in a very large number of course it only makes sense to transition once a successive stages of processing by higher level PoPs across the globe. given company’s workflows can be supported systems as a further stage of simplification of reliably in a cloud based infrastructure.” operational management,” concludes Jones. about it, but the reality doesn’t necessarily match The message by all is don’t expect a sweeping, the yet,” says Peske. “It’s a relatively slow Further on down the road swift move to the cloud. While ‘Everything’s in movement but that depends on which functions The emergence of ultra HD with HDR will bring the cloud’ makes for a good story, it’s limited we’re talking about. More will be housed in data about a new step change and the need for extremely to a few marquee things for marketing purposes, centres but that’s a slower process than the high levels of processing power to achieve the full notes Peske. ‘IP-isation’ of the headend.” potential of HEVC and other next-gen codecs. “There’s a great deal of talk about moving As ever, it’s a gradual migration, one step at Headeands will develop further to OTT everything to the cloud. There’s a lot of hype a time.

20 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

18-20_headends.indd 4 31/03/2016 17:50:58 Industry Column TV is the new TV Television is changing. So what exactly does that mean for the future of TV?

o what is “television” According to Ofcom, the UK leads the world availability of TV app functions is under question. these days? We hear in the way it views TV. UK viewers are apparently As TV continues to dominate viewing for all lots of statements such the most advanced in embracing new ways to age groups despite so many new technologies and as “broadcasting is dead”, enjoy TV and video content. However, the latest services claiming to be disruptive, perhaps TV is “the future is IP” or research from Thinkbox, the marketing body for disrupting the internet rather than the other way even the infamous commercial TV in the UK, shows that the average around? Whatever your view, in this increasingly “We believe the future TV viewer in the UK watched a total of 3 hours fragmented world we need standards and industry of television is apps.” 51 minutes of TV a day in 2015. For the average collaboration to efficiently deliver the experiences SGoing back to basics, we are talking about viewer, 3 hours 47 minutes of this daily viewing consumers want. creating content to “inform, educate and was watched on a TV set, with just 4 minutes Broadcasters are looking to enhance their entertain” and then delivering it to viewers. There watched on other devices such as tablets, linear offering with easy access to catch-up are ongoing debates about whether people prefer smartphones and laptops. content. Ensuring a simple proposition to allow to “sit back” or “lean forward” but it is clear that TV – live, playback or on-demand across all viewers to legitimately move content around the both options are used. Likewise, whether people screens had a 76 per cent share of total viewing home and across devices while protecting assets is prefer to enjoy “scheduled” content, “time and Thinkbox states that YouTube accounts for something that needs to be addressed in the flexibility” or even “binge viewing”, all variants just 4.4% of viewing while SVoD (Netflix, horizontal market, something that Sky are now need to be supported. Finally, the proliferation of Amazon Prime and other SVoD services) offering with Sky Q. Improving quality is essential viewing devices means that watching can be on accounts for another 4 per cent. When combined to differentiate and we are finally getting closer to any sized screen, both in the home and on the with recent developments such as Microsoft’s large scale deployment of ultra HD services now move and even now in immersive environments announcement to stop support for its Skype for that the standards are being settled. Addressing with Virtual Reality. TV application from June this year, the ongoing new markets such as VR and the trend towards making content more interactive and game like is television’s new frontier. Progressing such areas of industry collaboration are exactly why the UK’s Digital Television Group (DTG) was set up over 20 years ago and we continue to help broadcasters, manufactures, service providers and retailers develop a coordinated offering for the benefit of the consumer.

Simon Gauntlett is the chief technology officer at the DTG. There is more on this at www.dtg.org.uk and if you’re interested in getting involved, please contact Simon Gauntlett at [email protected]

21 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

31_DTGColumn-april2016.indd 2 29/03/2016 11:13:55 Satellite

New directions for satellite

Anna Tobin looks at director of innovation. “Even in developed of remote assets in inaccessible locations, so M2M/IoT and other countries, fibre is not an economically viable cellular network access would be rightly solution for 100% coverage.” considered a direct competitor to satellite.” emerging opportunities The more direct competitor, particularly in the Cellular networks are, however, often reliant on for satellite operators, machine-to-machine (M2M) area, is cellular, fibre for key stages of their transmission process. argues David Wigglesworth, head of Inmarsat’s The biggest threat to established satellite as well as the M2M division. “A fibre network provides operators are new entrants, claims Roger Boddy, emergence of new terrestrial connectivity and is limited in the type CEO of Global Teleports. “The biggest challenge of terrain it can cover. It cannot, for example, to satellite operators’ core business is the growth competitive threats directly provide connectivity to mobile units. A of alternative satellite constellations due to cellular network, on the other hand, uses increase the density in low earth orbit by 100% terrestrial base stations to provide wireless in the next two years and by 700% within the ibre is commonly seen as the connectivity to fixed and mobile units. The M2M next four years,” he says. biggest challenge to a satellite market, among other things, enables the tracking operator’s core business. In The Internet of Things order to thrive proactive bird The Internet of Things services (IoT) is a major operators have entered that “Satellite could play growth area for satellite. Millions of tiny processes market themselves and such as smart-home meters reporting daily energy diversified to tap into emerging a key role in usage could add up to a lot of bandwidth Fincome streams. Conversely, however, fibre has requirements. Most IoT devices rely on WiFi or also boosted demand for satellite services too. motoring and traffic blue tooth access, which can be served either by “It’s worked in our favour by creating consumer satellite or terrestrial infrastructures. Whichever expectation for services that many will never get, management in the comes in cheapest will be the winner here. because the cost of fibre deployment per home “Some of the main advantages of satellite explodes in regions with lower population future.” for M2M and IoT markets is consistency and density,” explains Antonio Arcidiacono, Eutelsat’s guaranteed quality, in addition to ubiquitous

Source: NSR

22 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

22-24_satellite.indd 2 04/04/2016 12:04:49 Satellite

coverage,” says Eutelsat’s Arcidiacono. “With low-cost and low-power user terminals, such as Eutelsat’s smart LNB, we’re able to deliver an affordable service that can also be used by terrestrial networks to extend or back-up their coverage. “According to our internal estimates, 25 to 30 billion objects will be connected by 2025, creating scope to leverage our USPs to serve an emerging business.” The scope for this business is immense. Satellite’s USP lies in its ability to connect devices where there is no terrestrial connectivity. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) which sends distress calls to rescue services, is a prime example of a communication will also rely on satellites.” system that will remain dependent on satellite “The KU/KA band As our role as drivers is taken over by the car technology. Satellites are also crucial for providing itself, the car will become a mobile infotainment weather information that is invaluable for flood HTS train has centre for everyone it is transporting and satellite or forest fire control, for example. Being able will have a primary role in transmitting this to allocate additional capacity as a result of arrived, the IoT content to cars. unexpected demand in situations such as this, will be what makes one satellite operator stand passengers are on Ku-band moves out from the crowd. Northern Sky Research has already noted that in “Our M2M solutions, have been deployed board and about to some niche markets M2M/IoT units are starting to transmit sensor data to improve visibility of to move away from L-band to Ku-band and it changes in water levels and water quality. They’ve move on to the next expects some High Throughput Satellite (HTS) also been harnessed for oil and gas pipeline M2M/IoT usage to move over in future. monitoring, observing corrosion and other risks destination.” Wigglesworth at Inmarsat, however, doesn’t through placing sensors at intervals along a believe that there will be a huge switchover in this pipeline,” highlights Wigglesworth at Inmarsat. respect. He says: “Ku-Band and HTS are not a Interestingly, many of these new connected to that LAN, the hacker will be able to substitute for L-band. The technology for Ku and services will not require huge amounts of gain access.” HTS is typically designed for applications bandwidth. “It’s too early to judge,” says Stephen This is something that may be of concern requiring large amounts of bandwidth with Douglas, solutions and technical strategy lead, to on the ground technology, more than relatively expensive and physically large terminals. IoT, at Spirent, “but the volume of units is more satellite, however. M2M, by its inherent nature requires small, likely to be in the millions, rather than billions compact, discreet and cost effective terminals with minimal bandwidth requirements.” Connected cars with relatively small amounts of data transfer. Whilst bandwidth may not be an issue, The soon to launch self-driving cars will be Today, Ku and HTS are sub-optimal technologies however, security could be a problem, warns heavily reliant on satellite technology, particularly for M2M end points, however, they may be used Boddy of Global Teleports. “I have a major geo-location services. Cars already use satellite as concentrators to back haul aggregated M2M concern about the penetration of the IoT into technology with GPS, ‘Sat Nav’. Driverless cars data. For KU and HTS to emerge beyond this the world wide web,” he says. “Domestic and auto-parking technology open up huge will take significant investment in technology household appliances are increasingly being opportunities for remote control, satellite and many years.” equipped with a web-based interface so that they tracking and other technology applications. Boddy at Global Teleports has a more positive may be interrogated for fault finding or remote “So, satellite could play a key role in motoring view, however. “Wake up! The KU/KA band management by a computer or smart phone, but, and traffic management in the future,” says HTS train has arrived, the IoT passengers are without due regard for security, this opens up the Boddy at Global Teleports. on board and about to move on to the next home to the hacker. Satellite has a double role to play in destination. We are already delivering IoT service “On the basis of IoT being a least cost impact connected cars, adds Arcidiacono at Eutelsat. on HTS satellites platform, IoT-enabled domestic devices will be “We predict that car telematics will be checked “We have already adopted HTS technology in minimally equipped. If that home has its own by satellite for predictive maintenance, software our domestic and enterprise service offerings to local area network and the IoT device has access updates, road safety, etc. and that infotainment augment our traditional satellite service offerings

www.csimagazine.com April 2016 23

22-24_satellite.indd 3 31/03/2016 16:11:40 Satellite

and use wireless and optical fibre technologies to constantly working on making one-stop satellite for LoRa, points out Arcidiacono at Eutelsat. extend service to Local and Metropolitan Area solutions; with pre-defined pricing packages; “LoRa, such as Sigfox, is available today and Networks around the satellite landing point.’ pre-engineered networks, that take some of remains more open for new players than any Meanwhile, SES is leveraging its partner O3b the complexity off of our customers while LTE network platform could be.” Networks’ low-latency high throughput MEO allowing them to manage their satellite network The openness of LoRa is what attracted fleet to fully utilise the world’s only hybrid remotely; and shorter provisioning times. Inmarsat to it. “Inmarsat has joined LoRa as it GEO-MEO network. We’re also creating satellite-agnostic business provides a more dynamic and open ecosystem Being flexible and open to new technologies is models, allowing customers to roam between than its competitors, where the members of the key for anyone operating in the satellite industry satellites or combine multiple beams at the Alliance aim to deliver interoperability between says Douglas at Spirent. ‘If satellite is to compete same price per Mbps.” platforms and devices to enable complete with other connectivity solutions it needs to offer solutions built from across the ecosystem,” a more flexible development and test environment Standards explains Joel Schroeder, director of Inmarsat’s to help drive adoption. It needs to better position As is normal for this industry, various competing M2M programme. its value adds - ubiquitous coverage, borderless standards have developed for IoT and M2M “From Inmarsat’s perspective, the LoRa roaming, flexible bandwidth management, technology, but the LoRa Alliance focusing on the strategy and technology and marketplace offer reliability, immediacy - and it needs to better Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) the best fit for Inmarsat and its channel, many position itself within the eco-system of specification for wireless battery-operated things of whom require similar or standardised connectivity solutions as complimentary. Inmarsat in regional, national or global networks is the solutions that are scalable and easy to deploy joining the LoRa Alliance is a good first step.’ standard that has gained the most traction. across the globe.” Satellite operators not only need to be flexible Leading IoT system providers Cisco and IBM are As this standard has already entrenched itself, when looking at new business opportunities, they key members of the Alliance, for example, whilst it is likely that all the big players will eventually also need to offer their clients interchangeable Inmarsat is the first bird operator to get behind it. adopt it. We await to see who will be next in services, adds Bozhinkova at SES. “SES is Being early to market has been a big plus point line join.

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22-24_satellite.indd 4 30/03/2016 10:45:06 Focus sponsored by: www.csimagazine.com

Connected intelligence

verimatrix-april2016.indd 1 31/03/2016 11:52:37 Sponsored feature

New rules of engagement

CSI looks at the changes sweeping the television industry, not least its relationship with data

here are two oncoming waves of technology in the television space: a greater image and sound realism, and personalisation/ interactivity. The first takes in the likes of ultra HD and virtual reality, the second includes the likes of Tmobile video, addressable advertising and VoD. It remains to be seen what combination of these viewers will want and be willing to pay for. It also brings in the need for security and privacy. Largely thanks to IP, TV now touches the consumer in a much more connected and personalised way. Because TV is much more personalised, a new level of interaction is emerging between our personal data and broadcast, which wasn’t the case a few years ago. The convergence of broadcast and mobile is a big topic point among both parties. talk about how mobility and the cloud are While this has been a failure in the past, there “According to disrupting industries globally. As media supply is greater hope and optimism for the future. chains continue to migrate to the cloud, consider People are downloading and streaming more Norway’s SINTEF, this recent statement from the Digital Production than ever but there hasn’t been a major Partnership (DPP), a not for profit company disruption to the classical payTV industry. approximately 90% founded by major UK broadcasters ITV, BBC There is a lot of consumption and delivery and Channel 4: “The television production over WiFi networks, both inside and outside the of the world’s data model has changed remarkably little in the last home, but cellular delivery over 4G still faces few decades. But the proliferation of video across some fairly significant bandwidth constraints, has been generated all sectors, the emergence of new digital agencies, changing consumer consumption habits and Predictive analytics over the last two the growing maturity of web-based production Telcos, internet and cloud service services could all prove hugely disruptive to the providers are dealing with converged years.” established model.” services with the help of network analytics It is acknowledgement that times are changing, solutions and services, as well as network especially for HD and even more so 4k. all the way from the traditionally conservative intelligence solutions. Dell has been 5G could be a game changer, however. field of production through to consumption - and researching analytics business benefits That promises data rates for 4k type of content that disruption is inevitable. and uptake and has found around half of and could significantly up the game for mobile. business and IT decision-makers anticipate But again, it will be a case of licensing rights. IoT and data analytics gaining a competitive advantage in the future Content owners are still trying to figure out how The other disruptive wave affecting the entire through predictive analytics. OTT is creating to maximise their money once users start going technology landscape is the Internet of Things, a much more competitive environment and outside the home. Those business rules will which in turn affects a whole range of other we are also beginning to see the rise of certainly affect the 5G discussion. verticals, from retail and banking, to agriculture Analytics-as-a-Service. At Mobile World Congress, there was much and automotive. The mobile industry sees 5G/IoT

26 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

verimatrix-april2016.indd 2 31/03/2016 11:52:38 Sponsored feature

disrupting the media industry on top of other past two years. Every second, over 205,000 new Data in the cloud verticals. And once again, IoT also brings gigabytes are created – roughly the equivalent of People and industries are being transformed with it a new privacy and security paradigm. 150 million books. by broadband, mobility and the cloud, A decade ago there were about 500 million The challenge for the insurance industry is according to AT&T. Customers are gathering devices connected to the Internet. Today, there how to leverage all of this data and adapt its huge amounts of data, which is increasingly are 10 to 20 billion. In five years’ time, that own approach to business in this increasingly being stored and connected to the cloud in number could reach 40 to 50 billion, according connected world. a secure way. to estimates by technology firm Cisco. This rate While much early attention was directed at “Everything is moving to the cloud. Once data vehicle telematics, in the past year or so, the no longer resides in the end devices but in the sector has seen a two- to three-fold increase in cloud there will be no stopping it,” said Ralph the number of IoT-related products, services and de la Vega, Vice Chairman, AT&T, at MWC “The proliferation pilots focused on homes and buildings, health and this year. “It’s the combination of devices, of video across all fitness, and other wearables according to research software, mobility and the cloud that is by Accenture. Consultants at the firm surveyed disrupting everything. Complete business sectors, changing insurance executives in Europe, North America, models around the world are getting changed.” Asia-Pacific and Latin America, finding that 39 It’s about real-time data too, taking consumption habits per cent have already launched or are piloting information and using the cloud to manage connected home or connected building initiatives all the analytics through cloud computing. and growing maturity that use the IoT, and 44 per cent consider “Cities and governments worldwide will be connected devices to be a driver of future able to operate more efficiently once they’ve of web-based insurance revenue growth. had data about things they’ve never had data The IoT presents unprecedented opportunities before. We can no longer sell connectivity, we production could for growth. It gives insurers the potential to have to sell solutions to make customers more move up the value chain, from providing only successful,” said de la Vega, who added that all prove hugely indemnification for a loss that has occurred, data has to be orchestrated end-to-end. to a more proactive, positive role that includes disruptive to the continuously helping customers prevent the loss. Data storage and privacy is another huge issue The IoT is definitely changing the risk currently doing the rounds in regulatory circles. established model.” landscape significantly. One of the biggest issues The way in which individuals view their personal with the IoT in general has been that of liability – data and the ways in which it is used by working out who or what is responsible for errors businesses or all kinds will further change in the of growth goes a long way to explaining how and malfunctions. IoT devices communicate with future. This will have far reaching implications the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has, each other in a highly complex manner, and for all manner of systems within the IIoT sphere. in a short space of time, gone from a vision working out which device is responsible when “Disruption is coming and we haven’t seen it of how information and data could be managed something goes wrong can be challenging. This all yet. We are just at the beginning of ICT in the future, to something that is at the heart is an issue with connected cars – especially once transformation in industries and society,” said of modern business and utterly ubiquitous they become semi-autonomous and eventually Hans Vestberg, president & CEO of Ericsson, in its scope. driverless - and there are early discussions around with 5G and IoT firmly in mind. But the phenomenon of the IIoT is unique liability, what decisions to make in case of an The TV industry will continue to need to because it allows the forward-thinking company unavoidable accident, insurance and so on. adapt to the challenges and opportunities of to prepare, adapt, and thrive in this new economic Data is already a big deal but it will be an even data-driven analytics in IoT and IoT itself. age. The rise of IIoT also means we are at the bigger one as more and more devices – from At this year’s DVB World, the global terrestrial start of a new age of data. Two chief components tractors to pets – get connected. With billions standards group set itself the task of exploring of an ‘IIoT object’ are its ability to capture data of devices collecting data, the lines get blurred the possibility to host supplemental IoT/M2M via sensors and transmit data via the Internet. on who is responsible for what data. IIoT downlink traffic over a DTT network. Looking The declining cost of sensors since the start of objects function autonomously and in conjunction at the long term future of the DTT platform, the new millennium has been a main driver in with multiple other objects. Data is quickly it is an admission that DVB must better connect this growth. This has had profound implications shared, processed, reshared, and reprocessed with other technology islands going forward. on organisations’ ability to capture data that before it might be seen by human eyes. In other Seeing what role broadcasters, operators, was previously out of reach. words, it is too simple to associate one device vendors and other stakeholders take in this According to the Norwegian research with one piece of data, since so much of the emerging space – and where they fit in this wider organisation SINTEF, approximately 90 per cent IIoT’s potential lies in the seamless transfer of technology and societal evolution - will be very of the world’s data has been generated over the this data between objects. interesting indeed.

www.csimagazine.com April 2016 27

verimatrix-april2016.indd 3 31/03/2016 11:52:38 Sponsored feature

Global connectivity: Enhancing security and reducing cost

By Steve Christian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Verimatrix

ecurity for premium video revenue security providers are uniquely placed to will have the very important role of aggregating services has always been capture this heartbeat through their access and analysing data from across the whole an arms race with the to hundreds of operators worldwide, ranging customer base. result that new threats from major Tier 1s to emerging service have tended to emerge as providers in different markets embracing Establishing secure lines of trust quickly as existing ones a wide range of use cases and threat scenarios. But there are also significant hurdles to are countered. Inevitably The ability to analyse this heartbeat can overcome in aggregating all of this data, not this has meant providers of revenue security for give early warning of impending issues or least because some of this data can be highly Svideo platforms have had to expend a lot of effort problems that might be relevant either for sensitive. Operators will need convincing that dealing with breaches and security related an individual customer or more widely to privacy can be upheld. After all the concept problems after they occur. Crisis management the whole pay TV ecosystem. As such, this behind cloud-based monitoring turns on its head has been a critical part of the business. plays an important role in the trend towards the long established idea that connectivity is a But the advent of the cloud has presented the software-empowered operator. threat to revenue security, presenting it instead as a unique opportunity to take a major leap The underlying theme here is that the whole an opportunity to extend its scope. It challenges forward against not just the pirates but also entertainment and video services industry is the prevailing orthodoxy that a system is more all those exceptions and unanticipated problems shifting towards a much more software-based and secure if it is kept in isolation. It also positions that can disrupt service availability and revenue. adaptable ecosystem as the infrastructure the cloud as a positive force for security by It presents the opportunity to progress from becomes IP-based and virtualized around standard enabling insights to be gained and potential reactivity to proactivity. commodity hardware components. At the same threats detected early on, despite the apparent time operators are also becoming more data risks of letting a third party gain access. Acquiring actionable business intelligence centric and increasingly reliant on actionable Operators have obviously established their By taking a global perspective across a spectrum insights derived from intelligent big data analytics. own security layers at the data centre level in of video service activity covering a diverse Security is at the heart of this revolution because parallel with the revenue security provided by population of platforms, client devices it is emerging as a vital source of analytics, as well external specialists in the field. This will typically and users, the cloud has the potential to detect as expanding its traditional role by protecting all include various mechanisms including firewalls a representative global heartbeat of both healthy the data including new sources. In this context, and Intrusion Protection Systems (IDS). Their and potentially problematic activity. Major cloud-based monitoring and support services role is precisely to prevent cases of sensitive data leaking out or unwanted external access to critical systems. Now, in order to aggregate data, operators are being invited to allow a hole through these protective walls in order to have information extracted for a global monitoring platform. Therefore it is crucial that the extraction process does not introduce any new vulnerability to outside attack, while contributing to collective security from which operators will each benefit individually. Partly this comes down to trust, as well as accessibility. This should not however be a significant hurdle since by definition an operator should already trust a security provider on which it depends for the protection of its most valuable assets. Seen in this light global monitoring is no

28 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

verimatrix-april2016.indd 4 31/03/2016 11:52:39 Sponsored feature

more than a logical extension of the existing proven trust model, which has presumably stood the test of time given that most operators have long established relationships with their revenue security providers. “There is potential to Anticipating threats and challenges A proactive monitoring system can also bear down more automatically and will continue to require potentially identify operational issues such as a considerable expertise to resolve. In the past, particular system reaching its capacity, or even effectively on pirates operators have had much of this expertise niggling things like expiry of a software licence available in-house. Yet it clearly makes more sense or password. A secure infrastructure supports than before.” and enables scale economies at the human semi-automated delivery of license updates to resource level for this expertise to be concentrated operators, so that operators can avoid subscriber with the revenue security provider rather than growth exceeding license capacity in a proactive down more effectively on pirates than has been scattered across large numbers of operators. manner. At the same time, by having this done to date. This will not only save money for operators but infrastructure in place, routine operations that Database health is another area where there is also, over time, extend the scope of revenue counter ongoing threats such as downloading OS a clearly identified scope for reducing problems protection further, which is crucial as the security patches can be performed automatically. through proactive monitoring. It is common for proliferation of live and on-demand streaming A natural question is what the full operational inconsistencies to arise within, for example, the creates new threats. Beyond that, the advent of impact will be and the extent to which errors or entitlement database that harmonizes solutions, Ultra HD services is also creating new security conditions that previously involved a reactive incorporating APIs to manage rights, messages, challenges and opening fresh avenues for piracy. response after the event can now be nipped in the devices, content and configurations. It has been We are convinced that data monitoring itself bud before operators have even noticed them. shown that identifying any inconsistencies raises the bar higher against pirates and will keep While at this stage it is too early to provide a between elements in this database and correcting it there, while at the same time extends the scope definitive answer, based on past history from the them almost as soon as they arise can prevent for operators to embrace analytics and proactively field, Verimatrix has found convincing evidence operational problems occurring later. protect revenue against emerging threats. Visit that well over 50% of current incidents can be www.verimatrix.com/verspective intercepted and headed off through proactive Leveraging a wider range of expertise to learn more. monitoring. This is based on patterns of our There is another important dimension for error logs that we call P1s, which gives good operators, which is ROI. The point here is that Steve Christian, Senior Vice reason for confidence that more than half can be many of the issues identified through data President of Marketing, anticipated. Furthermore there is potential to bear monitoring cannot be completely dealt with Verimatrix

www.csimagazine.com April 2016 29

verimatrix-april2016.indd 5 31/03/2016 11:52:43 SECURING THE CONNECTED FUTURE

The world of video is becoming more connected. And next- generation video service providers are delivering new connected services based on software and IP technologies.

Now imagine a globally interconnected revenue security platform. A cloud- based engine that can optimize system performance, proactively detect threats and decrease operational costs.

Discover how Verimatrix is defining the future of pay-TV revenue security. www.verimatrix.com/verspective

Visit us at NAB 2016 April 18-21 • Las Vegas • Booth # SU2806 IP in broadcast

IP stumbles at the fi rst hurdle

Is the promise of systems interoperability and open workfl ows using IP interfaces at risk of being undermined by an unjoined up vendor-centric approach? Adrian Pennington explores

he wholesale Registered Disclosure move to IP in Documents/RDD34. broadcasting Lobby group AIMS has birthed (Alliance for IP Media a number of Solutions) has Nevion, solutions to the Grass Valley, Imagine same problem: Communications, Lawo TIP in the live production and SAM as founder environment. members. They want to The groups can count build on 2022-6 with multiple backers, all claim to AES67 and Video Services be standards-based and all tout Forum (VSF)-devised their open credentials. But no TR-03 which splits the scheme has been fully ratified by video, audio and metadata any international standards body into separate paths. and the degree of openness is one Some of these consortiums of interpretation. are based entirely on a world IP-based broadcast is not as without SDI, according to simple as connecting wiring, switches and drive quickly as possible, however they want to Cisco. “While visionary, they are impractical arrays to servers, applications and equipment. ensure they invest in a technology that will for large broadcast and media businesses that If it was, we’d be much farther down this path. protect them in the future.” need to make money today,” the company says. In fact, it’s just as easy to build proprietary Few would argue with this description by Others are designed to move customers and solutions on an IP backbone as it is to continue Nevion’s of engineering, Andy Rayner, of overall prospects to IP-based infrastructure while development based on SDI. goal for production: “The transport of separate protecting the proprietary lock-in that is Live production is the biggest challenge media essences with appropriate timing to allow common in today’s SDI-based world. for IP due to the requirement for low latency them to be brought together in production, “No wonder broadcasters are confused and and discrete, reliable switching. The variety but kept seperate to allow for the processing cautious. And that’s why Cisco has committed of approaches recognise that IP affords the that needs to happen.” to the AIMS alliance and its approach to building opportunity to move from the constraints And why do we want this? “Because IP the common standards the broadcast and media of SDI to allow for a more flexible means of independence removes you from the ever industry needs for a successful transition to an treating video, audio, and metadata. However, increasing number of formats,” says Rayner. IP-based future,” it says. the sluggish nature of standardisation, the “Spatial and temporal resolution are increasing Cisco says it has combined AIMS’ goals impatience of some customers wanting to to HDR and 8K and down to various with its own expertise developing intelligent move their business forward and proprietorial requirements for mobile, so moving to a native connectivity, storage and distribution, resulting business interests, mean the industry enters video interface, rather than a composite one, in a better approach to IP-based backbones and NAB at risk of falling into gatewayed silos is where we need to be.” applications for broadcast and media. instead of universal interoperability. Most approaches take the SMPTE standard Evertz, which is a participant in VSF and the 2022-6 as their starting point. These include TR-03 effort, has a different approach. ASPEN A question of standards Sony’s Networked Media Interface (NMI), an (Adaptive Sample Picture Encapsulation), uses “The danger is one of losing confidence and adaptation of 2022-6 which supports SMPTE MPEG-2 Transport Streams to carry video creating confusion for our customers,” spells 2059 PTP for timing but not the AES67 audio (before SMPTE as draft RDD37) because, says out Mo Goyal, Director - Product Marketing, standard and wraps media in a single multicast Evertz, this is a technical route that works today. Evertz. “The industry wants to employ IP as stream. This technology is before SMPTE as a Both AIMS and Evertz work uncompressed

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32-33_IP_production.indd 1 31/03/2016 17:53:49 IP in broadcast

ASPEN dictates its standards and then makes them free to use which is not the same as an open standard.” Imagine Communications CTO Steve Reynolds concedes that Evertz devised “a clever solution to IP encapsulation in the transport stream”. Nonetheless, he says, “this has compromises that are not aligned with the longer term vision of the industry. It’s evident that ASPEN was a short term solution to a short term problem. That’s not to say Evertz won’t move into TR-03 but we didn’t see the need to take that interim step.” Evertz is robust in response: “There’s a misconception that ASPEN is proprietary, and that’s not true,” says Goyal. “The purpose of submitting an RDD to SMPTE is to publicly disclose how to expand the existing MPEG-2 TS standard to include uncompressed video. There’s no royalty or license fee associated with it.” Image courtesy of Cisco While the EBU’s project Sandbox has been making all the headlines with a live IP studio and a live IP remote production of a concert (neither and claim to be agnostic about compression formats,” says Tim Felstead, Head of using TR-03), Evertz can point to deployments which is believed important – though not Product Marketing, SAM. “Our philosophy since 2014. “ESPN the first real facility built necessary given enough bandwidth - for is that we should be adopting open protocols using an IP core and running the ASPEN handling UHD. that are as much as humanly possible framework,” says Goyal. “This year the Superbowl Another proposal comes from NewTek. royalty free.” was the first major event to be produced using Its Network Device Interface (NDI) eschews Nevion’s Rayner agrees, “We are committed NEP’s facilities for CBS Sports using an IP traditional broadcast standards and is aimed to open standards rather than retro-fitting infrastructure based on an ASPEN framework at lower-budget broadcast, corporate one manufacturer’s proposal. Such proposals (CBS made similar use of the tech for coverage communications, niche sports and YouTubers. are initiated only to garner market share and of Masters golf this time routing 4K (from NewTek CTO Andrew Cross argues that attempt to impose a solution on the market.” a quad 4K capture) and NBC Sports is trialling there is an industry standard in terms of cabling Sony brushes off such criticism. “If you ASPEN for production of the Olympics. and that this has in fact permitted the different look back to when we first introduced NMI Goyal continues: “The big difference between media transport protocols to flourish. it could have been seen as proprietary but AIMS and ASPEN is that we’ve used a proven “In the past the industry has been burned Sony has quickly opened up RDDs to SMPTE standard and have deployed over 30 global because if a facility made a decision about a and other groups. We are committed to an installations using IP. AIMS is promoting TR-03 standard and bet on the wrong one it would interoperable approach,” says Nicolas Moreau, and TR-04 as a possible path for IP. But it’s not end up with a huge sunk cost and no way out,” Product Marketing Manager IP Live Production proven. It’s at an early phase with a lot of he says. “To a degree, IP has ovecome that & Workflows. unanswered questions. Starting from scratch since the IP cabling or network doesn’t need ASPEN – which is supported by Sony, will pose a challenge. They have some optimistic to change. I don’t believe the multiplicity or Discovery Communications, ChryonHego, views on when the industry will see a final lack of standards will be as much of an issue AJA, Hitachi and NEP Group – comes in for solution. We’re not as confident at this point this time around.” most criticism. Here’s a stinging repost from when (and if) it will happen.” Some of the messaging and counter Koen Meyskens, open innovation manager at Sony makes a similar case against AIMS. messaging between sponsors of competing Belgium broadcaster VRT, which ran the AIMS- “TR-03 is not yet a standard, it is only a protocols is pretty intense, showing just supported world’s first remote live IP production recommendation and we only support standards.” what is at stake for companies backing the as part of the EBU Sandbox LiveIP project: [though Moreau neglects to mention Sony’s own wrong horse. “We have a strong belief in open standards not draft document]. “AIMS collectively — and SAM individually — linked to any vendor and broadcasters are not But let’s not paint this as a VHS verus Betamax see a danger in the adoption of proprietary helped with a mess of different protocols. argument. Evertz appears more concillatory

32 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

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toward its rivals than AIMS members are toward TR-03 but with addition of registration and media feeds) are represented within the system,” it. “It is easy for us and our customers to deploy discovery protocols that BBC R&D have explains Pinfold. Central to this is the concept ASPEN today but that’s not to say if and when proposed,” says Rayner. of identity in which every resource as well as something down the pipe is proven and has This has been a sticking point for many every stream of video, audio, or data flowing commercial value that we can’t make adjustments engineers at the cutting edge of live production through the system is given a unique identifier. to it,” says Goyal. “It could be ASPEN or some since if something goes down it’s up to them “All together, this brings benefits in terms version of TR-03 – it’s all software and we have to find and rectify it. With the specialised of agility, independence from physical location, the flexility to adapt.” routing, physical connections and manual and a reduction in configuration time,” he says. configuration of current OB and studio Compression conundrum infrastructure, diagnosis is relatively The IABM view One chief differentiator between the protocols straightforward. Understandably, is compression. While AIMS and ASPEN are In an IP-based approach such connections, the broadcast equipment vendor’s trade theoretically uncompressed there is growing routes and devices may be virtual. So, asks body IABM, is taking a diplomatic tack. consensus that a form of light compression BBC R&D Senior Technologist, Clynt Pinfold, “Industry standards remain important will be needed to work with 4K over standard “How do we know what is available, where it is and should continue to be one benchmark 10GigE pipes. available, and most importantly, how to get to it? of stability,” tiptoes John Ive, director of Sony deploys its own Low Latency Video Codec in its pathway, while IntoPix has gathered considerable support behind its own JPEG2000- based codec branded TICO. “There’s a misconception that ASPEN is Imagine is agnostic about which scheme is used in an AIMS framework, but fellow AIMS proprietary. That’s not true.” member SAM wants to see the royalty free VC2 dominate. The EBU Sandbox tests worked with uncompressed HD only, but the vendors It should be possible to plug an IP-based video technology and strategic insight. “However, which collaborated on the project are thought camera in, and immediately have the pictures looking for a single standard is no longer to favour TICO. it produces available on the network.” tenable for every aspect of the industry. ASPEN is taking a wait and see approach, BBC R&D has implemented a ‘discovery and The value of standards is increasingly in noting that both TICO and Sony have their registration’ system which allows networked the open documentation of important benefits. “ASPEN currently defines uncompressed media devices and resources to be automatically parameters, ensuring that more than one video over TS, but as a framework can be recognised and made available. “A data model supplier can produce systems that will be expanded to include compression formats if describes how resources (cameras, displays, compatible or operate in a consistent way. required,” clarifies Goyal. If one standard leads others, this will come NewTek NMI is uncompromisingly from popular use.” compressed at what Cross calls baseband The transition to an all IT/IP system is quality (similar different from other technology developments to ProRes or DNXHD) over 1GigE pipes. in that it affects so many aspects of the “Almost everyone will come to the same production/playout chain - it’s not just conclusion,” says Cross. “If you want to a box-for-box replacement within existing transport uncompressed around then SDI systems. The consequence is that workflows is going to be better than IP. For instance, need to be re-designed, skillsets are different, in TR-03, you need 10 microsecond timing new creative opportunities will develop and accuracy for each scan line of video. There’s most important, the technology deployment just no way that a computer system without will be very different with some commodity customised hardware is ever going to be able hardware, software solutions, shared resources, to achieve that.” cloud integration and virtual machines. “All of this is going to take time to mature Discovery and registration and evolve,” stresses Ive. “As there is no Nevion wants to steer AIMS beyond TR-03. In precedent for these changes, we are facing particular it wants to focus on registration and a period of experimentation for some discovery, two elements it feels are lacking in aspects. Fortunately, not everyone is facing the VSF formula. a refurbishment cycle at the same time.” “We are committed to using essence-based Fortunate indeed.

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32-33_IP_production.indd 3 31/03/2016 17:56:45 Satellite interference

This process has been working well, but now The state of interference we could do with making it more efficient and one way has been to introduce standards for geolocation reporting. If regulators receive Martin Coleman of SIRG says the focus now has reporting in a common format from everyone, to come from the broadcasters to do their bit and it will be easier for them to quickly compare information and create consistent evidence to help themselves then apply the appropriate action. The major satellite operators have their own he risk of satellite interference Human error. geolocation solutions in house, but that is not true is at the forefront of most 1. Deliberate jamming. Instances of deliberate for all satellite operators. For those that don’t, it satellite broadcasters’ minds. jamming are rare and account for a minimal obviously takes longer to determine the source of It only affects a minor number number of interference cases. However, it does of the interference and this can be a major challenge. of services, but when it does course occur and this case is the most difficult to That is why this year, the Space Data Association occur the results are often solve. The broadcaster being jammed cannot do (SDA) has introduced a geolocation solution detrimental, leading consumers much themselves to resolve it, however, to help service to its satellite operator members. This is Tto miss that winning goal, for example. Clearly, safeguard their services the satellite community supported through its executive members and in a broadcast world, including outside broadcast has and continues to build better tools and means that an operator without their own solution (OB), live feeds are a particular problem, once processes to combat this very specific challenge. can request a geolocation. The SDA will then a viewer has missed the moment, there is no It is mostly politically motivated and mainly determine which other member is in the best going back! occurs in regions with unstable political position to help and then a geolocation will be Also, consumer viewing expectations have situations. For a number of years, we have been performed. That process is currently manual but been drastically increasing and competition, working closely with regulators, both national will shortly be automated, making it all the more fiercer than ever; with premium content being and the ITU, to ensure they can intervene when efficient. So, even if your operator does not have delivered at anytime and to multiple devices. deliberate jamming occurs. At the same time, its own solution, it can still support you effectively The net result is that viewers will simply not geolocation manufacturers have been putting a through deliberate jamming if it is a member of tolerate a loss of service, and will simply get great deal of effort into making better systems the SDA, or by using a third party geolocation their content elsewhere if service is interrupted. with more accuracy. This means that the satellite service provider. It is for this reason that the Federal operator can easily pinpoint the location of 2. Equipment Failure. Broadcasters have Communications Commission (FCC) introduced the jammer, within a very small margin. That a huge amount of equipment throughout the the deadline for all video feeds transmitting information can then be passed onto the ITU or operation. So, no-one can blame them for in the US to contain Carrier ID by 1 June 2016. other regulator and take steps to stop the jammer. shopping around for the best deal. The problem Recently, that deadline has shifted back to September, with a further grace period until 3rd September 2017. As an organisation pushing for this important technology to be mandated, I was at first a little concerned that has been shifted. However, in actual fact what this means is that the FCC is serious about enforcing it and has given broadcasters more time as reaching the initial deadline was proving impossible. Indeed, at Satellite 2016 we were beginning to see some of that panic set in, with broadcasters desperate to find out what new equipment might be needed to meet that. Fear not, however, the tools and technology are already in place, as I will outline in this article, but the focus now has to come from the broadcasters to do their bit and help themselves. The causes of satellite interference are varied but can normally be put into one of three groups: Deliberate jamming; Equipment failure; and

34 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

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is however that there are far too many bad CID products still available, which can then cause Arguably interference. Equipment is getting better and the biggest there are far more good products than bad, but development in the other problem is the long lifecycles and the technology reticence on the part of the broadcasters to over recent years, replace equipment that really should not be and IRG’s biggest operational anymore. achievement has There are a number of ways to minimise been the this risk however. Firstly, if you are buying new introduction of equipment, check whether it has been approved Carrier ID (CID). by the Global VSAT Forum (GVF). Secondly, For anyone not up make sure you maintain existing equipment, to speed, CID embeds a unique ID spread everything else IRG is looking at the development service it regularly and check for errors. And spectrum carrier within the main transmission of a simple add-on unit to apply carriers at the thirdly, invest in a good monitoring system that carrier. Our DVB-CID technology, standardised L-Band output of any Modem/modulator system. will continually check the entire network and flag by ETSI, enables that signal to be carried Once you are transmitting CID, you may also up any errors as soon as they occur. And finally below the noise floor, which crucially means want to consider a CID detection tool to ensure make sure any single channel per carrier (SCPC) the carrier, in the majority of cases, does not you are displaying your CID accurately. system has Carrier ID. have to be dropped to identify the source of 3. Human Error. This is by far the most prolific interference. The next steps cause of satellite interference, but it is also the Today, CID is included in almost all We are continually looking to develop new tools, one you can control the most. We have been equipment manufactured. So, before you buy processes, and systems, to reduce interference as working tirelessly to develop tools and strategies any new modulators or encoders, check our list to much as possible. We are currently looking at the that help, and often these developments will cover see the ones with DVB-CID (the ETSI version) - role big data may have to play, for example, equipment failure. http://satirg.org/dvb-cid/cid-ready-products/. something that has increasing importance in the You can also use the list to check whether your broadcast industry generally. However, with all of Training existing equipment already has CID, as in many these initiatives, the key to their success is the In any industry training is the best way to cases, it does. We endeavour to keep the list as users embracing them. combat human error. With better training for updated as possible, but if you are unsure, please So, if you are a satellite broadcaster, you now those operating the satellite uplink equipment do either contact your manufacturer or get in have a responsibility to: is key. Our End Users Initiative (EUI) Training touch with us, we would be happy to advise. and Certification working group has created For broadcasters, there are a number of 1. Train your staff, a customized training and certification resolutions that mean compliance with CID is 2. Check your equipment is up to scratch, program, which is offered through Global becoming a requirement for many. I have already type approved if possible, VSAT Forum (GVF). mentioned the guideline in the US, for all SCPC 3. Ensure you have CID and are transmitting it, This course is specifically tailored to the and MCPC video transmissions needing to be 4. Put the right tools in place to monitor your broadcast environment, Carrier ID and all the CID compliant by 3 September 2017, latest! We carriers and alert you to any problems, specific challenges, and scenarios that entails. are pushing to get the same kind of regulation 5. If you are operating in an OB environment, EUI also offers best practice and rolled out elsewhere and we hope to get some real make sure your antenna is aligned correctly documentation, including a new set of guides traction there over the coming months. at each move. aimed specifically at satellite broadcasters to help However, one of the biggest barriers for them understand how best to mitigate the risk of widespread implementation will remain the cost Any broadcaster wanting to know more about interference and implement Carrier ID. of installing brand new equipment. If you have reducing interference can also use our group as a legacy equipment, it is naturally going to be very valuable resource. We have a growing data library Technology costly to replace all of that, which may otherwise containing valuable resources and information, Technology is really the main focus of IRG. still have a long life ahead of it. That said, if you which can be found here - http://satirg.org/ By developing new technology, we can get are in that situation, I would encourage you to resources/irg_data/ better at detecting interference when it occurs, double-check with your manufacturer, as in some as well as automating to minimise the risk of cases it maybe a case of a simple firmware errors in the first place. We have in particular upgrade to be CID compatible. In other cases, seen a flurry of new technology being launched you may find you do already have CID and it is Martin Coleman is executive over recent months and years and it is extremely merely a question of enabling it as most likely, director of the Satellite Interference encouraging to see. equipment is shipped with CID turned off. For Reduction Group

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The CSI Awards – Enter now Deadline for entries: 12 May 2016

Established in 2003 the awards are among the most prestigious and competitive technology awards in the industry, designed to recognise and reward innovation and excellence in the cable, satellite, broadcast, IPTV, telco, broadband/OTT video, mobile TV and associated sectors.

NEW CATEGORY ANNOUNCED! Best virtual reality innovation VR is a new field awash with exciting opportunities. The 360-degree medium opens the way for content providers to tell stories in a new way and for operators and broadcasters to provide a more immersive experience. It also brings a new way of producing content and creates richer opportunities of engaging with audiences. This category looks to celebrate these emerging products and services as they evolve with market demands and end-user behaviours. It is open to CE manufactures, headset makers, content owners, broadcasters, payTV operators and others experimenting in this space and looking to bring this medium to life.

For the latest news and updates follow us @CSI_Magazine #CSIAwards

The CSI Categories

1. Best digital video processing technology 11. Best ultra HD TV technology or project 2. Best cable or fibre contribution/distribution/transmission solution 12. Best TV everywhere/multi-screen video 3. Best satellite contribution/distribution/transmission solution 13. Best social TV technology, service or application 4. Best customer premise technology 14. Best contribution to TV accessibility 5. Best monitoring or network management solution 15. Best HbbTV technology or service 6. Best content protection technology 16. Best data & analytics innovation 7. Best content-on-demand solution 17. Best cloud/virtualisation innovation 8. Best interactive TV technology or application 18. Best smart home product, technology or service 9. Best mobile TV technology or service 19. Best IoT product, technology or application 10. Best internet TV technology or service 20. Best virtual reality innovation - NEW CATEGORY

page forty four CSI magazine • Awards www.csimagazine.com Awards 2016

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The CSI Award winners will be announced on Friday 9 September at IBC in Amsterdam. Join us at the 14th annual CSI awards to see this year's winners exclusively announced. The Awards ceremony will include drinks and canapés and will as always be a chance to network with the leading names in the industry.

Judges: • William Cooper, Founder and Chief Executive, Interactive Media and Convergent Communications Consultancy, informitv • Alex Davies, Editor, RIoT • Andy Hickman, CEO, Eurofins Digital Testing, UK and Hong Kong • Steve Hawley, Principal Analyst and Consultant, tvstrategies (Advanced Media Strategies LLC) • Philip Hunter, Independent Writing and Editing Professional • Terry Marsh, Strategy in Digital Media • Brett Sappington, Director, Research, Parks Associate

Host of the CSI Awards 2016 Welcome Nadine Dereza Nadine Dereza is a specialist business presenter. She has been a reporter for the BBC, Sky and CNN, and was named Financial Journalist of the Year whilst working as London Markets Correspondent for the FT and Summit TV. She has a wealth of international experience and has worked with organisations from all over the world.

ENTER NOW: www.csimagazine.com/awards

For award entry enquiries: For sponsorship enquiries: For marketing enquiries: Hayley Kempen John Woods Sarah Whittington +44 (0)207 562 2414 +44 (0)207 562 2421 +44 (0)207 562 2426 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

page forty five CSI magazine • Awards Awards 2016 www.cable-satellite.com

36-37_CSIAwards2016.indd 3 31/03/2016 11:29:59 Events diary 2016

Date Name Location Website

22-25 February Mobile World Congress Barcelona mobileworldcongress.com 23-25 February BVE London bvexpo.com

1 March CASBAA OTT Summit Singapore casbaa.com/event/ott-summit-2016/ 7-10 March Satellite 2016 Washington DC satshow.com 8-10 March CabSat Dubai cabsat.com 14-16 March DVB World Venice dvbworld.org 16-17 March Connected TV Summit London connectedtvsummit.com 24-26 March CCBN Beijing ccbn.tv/en

4-7 April MIPTV Cannes miptv.com 16-21 April NAB Las Vegas nabshow.com 26-27 April M2M World Congress London m2mconference.com 26-28 April TV Connect London tvconnectevent.com

10--12 May Internet of Things World Sillicon Valley iotworldevent.com/ 12 May DTG Summit London dtg.org.uk/dtg/summit.html 16-18 May INTX Boston 2016.intxshow.com 31 May-3 June Broadcast Asia Singapore broadcast-asia.com

7-9 June ANGA Com Cologne angacom.de/en 21-22 June Digital Home World Summit London smarthomeworld2016.com 28-30 June Cable Congress Warsaw cablecongress.com

8-13 September IBC Amsterdam ibc.org 26-29 September Cable-Tec Expo Philadelphia expo.scte.org

04-06 October CDN World Summit London cdnworldsummit.com

8-11 November OTT TV World Summit London ottworldsummit.com 10-11 November Connections Europe Amsterdam parksassociates.com/events

TBC December Future TV Advertising London futuretvads.com

For a full list of events taking place in 2016 please go to http://www.csimagazine.com/csi/events.php

38 April 2016 www.csimagazine.com

EventsDiary-april2016.indd 2 30/03/2016 13:07:29 Business To advertise contact John Woods +44 (0)20 7562 2421 DirecTory [email protected]

ATX Networks designs, manufactures, markets and delivers a broad range of products to the global cable television industry. Other market verticals served include healthcare, enterprise, government, broadcast, hospitality, education, stadiums/arenas/casinos, retail, worship, and telcos.

ATX Networks is a global manufacturer of digital video solutions including transcoding, Corneliusstrasse 22, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany multichannel encoding, content streaming solutions, bulk video transition/gateways, RF Tel: +49 171 998 3676 management, RF filters, transmitters/receivers, headend and MDU amplifiers, node Email: [email protected] segmentation, node/amp upgrades, monitor/control equipment, pads/EQs, drop amps, Web: www.atxnetworks.com digital voice switches, & connectors.

Cisco is the longstanding market-leading supplier of video entertainment. With more than, 7500 video professionals , Cisco is unique in having the scale, resources and breadth of vision to deliver differentiated solutions to Service Providers.

See what Videoscape Unity can offer, visit www.cisco.com/go/videoscape.

Cisco, One London Road, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4EX Tel +44 (0)178 484 8500 Fax +44 (0)178 484 8600 Web: cisco.com/go/videoscape

EchoStar Europe is dedicated to enabling digital entertainment providers to optimise revenues by delivering added-value connected device solutions, services and applications. Through a comprehensive product range, including STBs, DVRs, home networking and TV anywhere technology, our solutions enable the provision of state-of-the-art and cost effective entertainment services.

Headquartered in the UK, EchoStar Europe comprises a number of business units and is Beckside Design Centre, Millennium Business Park, Station Road, affiliated with EchoStar Technologies, a subsidiary of the publicly traded EchoStar Corporation Steeton, Keighley BD20 6QW, United Kingdom (NASDAQ: SATS). Tel: +44 1535 659000 Fax: +44 1535 659100 Web: www.echostar.com

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. Intelsat supplies video, data and voice connectivity for leading media and communications companies, Internet Service Providers and government organizations. Intelsat’s valuable regional video neighborhoods deliver more television channels than any other system. Intelsat’s terrestrial network of eight strategically-located teleports and over 36,000 miles of leased fiber complements a global satellite fleet of more than 50 satellites, covering 99% of the world’s population. Intelsat utilizes a fully integrated satellite operations model, enabling global delivery from a single platform. 3400 International Drive, NW, Washington D.C. 20008 USA With Intelsat, communications with your customers are closer, by far. Tel: +1 202 944 6800 Fax: +1 202 944 7898 Web: www.intelsat.com

Verimatrix specializes in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-screen digital TV services for more than 500 operators around the globe. The award-winning and independently audited Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) and ViewRight® solutions offer an innovative approach for cable, satellite, terrestrial and IPTV operators to cost-effectively extend their networks and enable new business models. As the recognized leader in software-based security solutions for premier service providers, Verimatrix has pioneered the 3-Dimensional Security approach that offers flexible layers of protection techniques to address evolving business needs and revenue threats. Maintaining close relationships with major studios, 6059 Cornerstone Court West, San Diego, CA 92121-3713, US broadcasters, industry organizations, and its unmatched partner ecosystem enables Verimatrix Tel: +1-858-677-7800 Fax: +1-858-677-7804 to provide a unique perspective on digital TV business issues beyond content security as Web: www.verimatrix.com operators seek to deliver compelling new services. www.verimatrix.com

38 May-June 2014 www.csimagazine.com www.csimagazine.com April 2016 39

march_directory_2016.indd 1 31/03/2016 16:10:22 The Intelsat Globalized Network Deliver anytime, anywhere, any-screen viewing. Move your programming from linear to digital, multi-screen consumption. The Intelsat Globalized Network is the fi rst and only network that can cost-eff ectively transform your legacy networks and simplify operations by combining satellite, terrestrial technologies and managed media services. The future of media is here.

Embrace the digital future today. Find out how at NAB 2016, booth SU3110.

www.intelsat.com/media

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