What Will Streaming Look Like in the Coming Decade?

1_Cover.indd 1 www.csimagazine.com June 2016 What willstreaming look like inthecoming decade? • OTT, VoD, Cloud TV, Cable, Satellite, IPTV, DTT, IoT • TV Br oadcast •Streaming •SatelliteCab The leading mediafor videodeliverytechnology The magazinefor global video le •Hybrid The latest news, views andfeatures September 2020 25/08/2020 11:02:42

Aggregation European PSBs Remote production CSI Awards Untitled-1 1 at thegame. aren’t always in thehouse The bestseats live streamingsports. interviews withourseniorleadersonthefutureof Open theSportsInnovationSupplementfor audiences bystreamingyourliveeventwithus. to VOD.Letusshowyouhoweasyitisbuild solution thatcoversthefulleventlifecycle–pre-event sports toconcerts,eﬀortlesswithanintegrated make streamingeverysizeandtypeofliveevent,from to theirfavoritedeviceswatchalltheaction.We Teams arereturningtothefield.Andfans +1.877.334.3236 | vm.mp/csifall2020 [email protected] Verizon MediaCSIQ320.pdf18/5/203:03PM 26/08/2020 10:21:20

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Remote production Remote 20 European PSBs European PSBs European Examining cooperation and other strategies Aggregation Editor open to European broadcasters as they Goran Nastic adapt to changing times What will streaming look like in the coming decade?

June 2016 • OTT, VoD, Cloud TV, Cable, Satellite, IPTV, DTT, IoT • The latest news, views and features

1_Cover.indd 1 25/08/2020 11:02:42 Commercial 24 Technology corner 04 News & analysis Camilla Capece The compelling case for remote production The latest industry updates in a post-Covid world Design and production Matt Mills (Manager) 06 Analyst corner 26 Executive interview Jessica Harrington Guy Bisson on streaming in the 2020s A programmer’s perspective of key industry Regular contributors trends from Manuel Balsera of AMC 08 COVER STORY: Future of TV Adrian Pennington, Philip Hunter, Networks International Southern Europe David Adams, Stephen Cousins, The 2020s have been described as ‘The (AMCNISE) Anna Tobin streaming decade’. So what might it look like and how will it shape TV? 28 Cellular backhaul via satellite Circulation Alina Susca The new economics of satellite backhaul 11 Stats corner Euro and US pay-TV figures with informitv Accounts 29 AirTies Q&A Marilou Tait, Mohamad Saidani CTO Metin Taskin on WiFi 6 technology 12 Content aggregation and service migration Editorial The great new (re)bundle tel +44(0)20 7562 2401 30 Buyer’s Guide [email protected] 16 Verizon Media Q&A A listing of key suppliers in the cable, telco, Insights into how sports broadcasters are Advertising broadband and satellite sectors innovating during Covid-19 tel +44(0)20 7562 2438 [email protected]

Subscriptions tel +44 (0) 20 1635 588 861 [email protected] Editor’s report: Circulation manager: alina.susca@ perspectivepublishing.com Bundling has become a top strategic priority within payTV, especially the aggregation of SVOD and other streaming services (as evidenced by recent moves Subscription rates from Apple and, it would seem, Google). The argument is that doing so is Per year: Europe £88; UK £68; beneficial to consumers, operators and SVOD providers, coming against a Rest of World £98. Cheques payable to Perspective Publishing backdrop of new DTC entrants, platforms and (super) aggregators wholesaling or Limited and addressed to the retailing these new services. With so many options and ideas emerging, it will be fascinating to Circulation Department see what forms the new bundles take and we look at some of these, along with their impact, on page 12. It is a topic we will be returning to and surely one that will form a key part of Printed by Buxton Press industry discussions going forward. Our cover story identifies a few other topics that look set to influence the streaming and TV landscape in the 2020s. GN Managing Director John Woods

Perspective Publishing Publishing Director 3 London Wall Buildings London Mark Evans 2020 EC2M 5PD www.perspectivepublishing.com ISSN 1467-5935

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news in brief Apple and Google fuel new Flemish streamer aggregation battle launching in the autumn Rumours are getting stronger thereby helping with the Streamz platform from than Google is trying to search & discovery aspect. Belgian broadcasters come up with its own answer The leak originates from DPG Media and Telenet for the issue of app and Chrome Story but has since will launch in September video service fragmentation, found its way to other news following approval adding to recent moves in outlets. Rumours that Google from the European this direction by Apple in has been working on this kind Commission. DPG Media what is set to be a key new of project, as well as new and Telenet are now battleground going forward. moves on the Android TV last few years. preparing for the launch to According to multiple front, have been around Media and telco analyst the general public later reports, the company is since last year. Paolo Pescatore calls this autumn. The company developing streaming hub It comes as Apple recently aaggregation ‘the holy grail’, will be established on called Kaleidoscope, which launched its first bundled noting that while the concept September 1, with Peter will act as an online offer for its Apple TV+ is not new, it is something Vindevogel as CEO. With programming guide that service. The new offer hard to execute successfully. Streamz, Telenet and will let streaming users bundles ViacomCBS’s US “Inevitably we are moving DPG Media want to combine all their services SVODs (CBS All Access’s towards bigger bundles of respond to changing in one place. ad-free tier and Showtime for things delivered via the viewing behaviour while It appears to be a website $9.99 per month) to TV+ Internet. Consumers do not also offering a local that combines all popular customers via the Apple want to sign up to a slew of alternative in the streaming streaming services in one TV app. It is seen by many services. Neither do they services market. place—including Netflix, as a precursor for any other want to sign up to a bundle Amazon Prime, and Disney deals to follow. with services they do not Dutch Android TV Plus. It is thought that At present, every streaming want. Therefore, Youfone is the first this would probably also service is accessed via its own personalisation and flexibility operator in The embrace Hulu, HBO Max, app, which is cumbersome for are pre-requisites for future Netherlands off the block and others too. users who mostly now engage TV services,” Pescatore says. with an Android TV based The platform will also let in SVOD service stacking. With telcos aiming to service, which it hopes will them choose what they want This new form of aggregation become ‘super aggregators’ help it differentiate in the to watch, when and, if a is seen as something of a win- can Google, or someone else, competitive local television particular content item is win for consumers and crack the conundrum? This market. The service, which available on more than one service providers – a response is a key topic we examine is now live, provides service, what the to the fragmentation that has in this issue of CSI and consumers with a comparative pricing is, been taking place over the going forward. refreshed user experience across OTT, VoD and live TV experience on Satellite-cellular convergence in 5G TVs and mobile devices. MediaTek and Inmarsat convergence. They said The new 5G satellite The new solution replaces conducted what they claim the results of the IoT field NB-IoT technology Huawei and is powered is the world’s first public test will be contributed to established a bi-directional by Amino and 24i, who test of 5G satellite IoT the 3GPP’s Rel-17 link from MediaTek’s said the project took 5 data connection. standardisation work on N satellite-enabled standard months to complete. Chipset maker MediaTek on-Terrestrial Network NB-IoT device to a Together, they handle the and satellite operator (NTN), which is part of its commercial GEO satellite content ingest, encoding Inmarsat said the successful overarching initiative to (through Inmarsat’s Alphasat and transcoding, field trial of advanced establish 5G standards L-band satellite), for global management, customer IoT 5G satellite toward new use cases and IoT coverage from care, content distribution, communications marks services, building the Geostationary Orbit all the software and set-top an important step towards foundation for hybrid satellite 35,000 kilometres above boxes for Youfone. future cellular-satellite and cellular. the equator.

04 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

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5G to be transformative for content news in brief production says ABI research VR in-flight South Korean telco KT RIST Although most of America, while video 5G networking slicing is plans to develop a virtual the media and entertainment production solution providers, expected to play important reality entertainment industry is focused on such as AVIWEST, Dejero role in providing guaranteed service for air passengers using the 5G network for and Live U are starting to QoS, critically important together with Jin Air, a content distribution and integrate 5G into their in terms of bandwidth and Korean low-cost carrier. delivery, a new report video transmission products. latency, which is required Jin Air is the first in the from ABI Research thinks Most recently, the Seoul for high-value content country - and one of the that the superior capacity Broadcasting System production such as sports. first airlines in the world - provided by 5G technology deployed LiveU’s 5G Network operators can to introduce a pilot project creates the best opportunities integrated encoding and take advantage of network of in-flight VR services, in content production. transmission solutions for slicing to offer differentiated aiming to provide its The advancements brought live coverage of Korea’s network services for passengers with by 5G, such as high election. Chinese equipment content production. differentiated immersive bandwidth and low latency, vendors ZTE and Huawei “Operators need to entertainment features on will improve the 3G/4G have also tested live perform collaboration a variety of routes, starting enabled cellular bonding production of outdoor with different parties in the with international routes technology, which is widely events via 5G networks. value chain to meet the mostly used by family used for live production. Broadcasters including BT requirement in the travellers before the end of Trials of video production Sports, NBC Sports, ITN industry,” notes Khin Sandi this year. Passengers will over the 5G network have TV are trialing video Lynn, Industry Analyst be able to borrow VR started in some markets in production over 5G at ABI Research, adding headsets to view latest Asia, Europe, and North networks as well. that so far “Bonded movies in ultra-high cellular has been the resolution, and travel, technology of choice sports and other VR when content production contents in 360-degree occurs in a connectivity- images. challenged location.” ABI forecasts that 5G Liberty Global’s Sunrise network coverage will be Liberty Global has agreed quite extensive, supporting to buy Swiss operator more than 35% of the Sunrise Communications worldwide mobile user for CFR6.8 billion base in 2024. ($5.5 billion), less than a year after a failed attempt to merge with CES goes virtual for 2021 amid the same company. It comes as a U-turn from ongoing crisis the previous CFR6.3bn CES, one of the world’s Las Vegas as usual, week in January. “Amid takeover attempt by biggest consumer technology CES 2021 will be an all- the pandemic and growing Sunrise for Liberty shows, has been cancelled in digital affair, connecting global health concerns Global’s Swiss cable its physical format and will exhibitors, customers, about the spread of COVID- business UPC last year. take place digitally instead in thought leaders and media 19, it’s just not possible Announcing the January 2021. The from around the world. to safely convene tens of new offer, Liberty Global announcement has already The announcement came thousands of people in said the combination led to speculation to NAB, from the Consumer Las Vegas in early January would create a significant which is held in the same Technology Association 2021 to meet and do challenger in the city, and other big tech events (CTA), which organises the business in person,” said Swiss market, which is for the first half of next year. giant annual electronics Gary Shapiro, CTA dominated by incumbent Instead of taking place in gathering during the first president and CEO. Swisscom.

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4-5_Newsv3.indd 3 25/08/2020 13:17:58 Analyst corner

subscription streaming TV accounts for Streaming in the 2020s just over 10% of the TV revenue pie today. Add in online video advertising By Guy Bisson, Ampere Analysis (effectively AVoD but including social video) and streaming TV accounts for 19% of TV revenue in the region. That’s not far off the size of the TV advertising sector or total public TV funding in Western Europe, and two-thirds the value of the largest single sector of traditional subscription TV. Not dominant then, but certainly advancing rapidly. What about uptake? Counting streaming TV is complicated by the fact that most homes that take streaming services, take more than one. That’s why aggregation (touched on elsewhere in this issue) is so key. I’m sure it will surprise many to discover that there are few markets in Europe where there are more streaming households than traditional pay TV. Once the duplication of multiple ‘subscriptions’ is removed, only a few markets exceed a SVoD to pay TV ratio of one (meaning more paid streaming homes than paid traditional subscription TV). The UK and the larger Scandinavian markets are among them. Ampere’s latest global consumer survey shows that the typical number of paid streaming services in each streaming home now stands between two and three. In the US, the number is ecently I was asked dominate TV in 2020 and what’s the creeping close to four. to talk on the outlook for its position in the wider Streaming is advanced, but it has yet question ‘Will business of entertainment? to dominate by these measures. But if streaming dominate For sure, talking and thinking we’re at this position in streaming in 2020?’. As I sat about streaming TV dominates the development today, then whether you down to think about business agenda in the industry today. agree that streaming dominates the year the question, it For some consumers, it dominates the 2020, the path is set for the decade of Roccurred to me that it was actually way they think about viewing. And in the 2020s to be the decade of a fascinating and nuanced topic, the content business, it is front and streaming. And we are undoubtedly on as well as one that probably centre of any conversation about the cusp of second wave of streaming divides opinion. funding and commissioning. But there development. Two fundamental things According to Chambers Dictionary, are many ways to look at market have happened in 2020. Both will to dominate — derived from the Latin positioning and market power and remain at the forefront of TV for ‘master’ — means ‘to have command that’s where opinion can legitimately developments for the coming few years or influence over something; or to be be divided. at least. Those two things are studio the most important or active (of a So, to the evidence: looking just at direct-to-consumer streaming and the group)’. So, does streaming already the Western European region, growth of advertising supported video-

06 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

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on-demand or AVoD. Netflix, and the major paid streaming services that followed, changed the TV industry in so many ways. But Netflix did not change the fundamental TV value chain from content creation to distribution to the viewer. Yes, it ushered in new ways of viewing (binge viewing) and it changed the landscape and some of the terms of trade for dealing content rights (ushering in global deals as the norm), but it otherwise behaved like a TV channel, striking rights deals for content and moving towards original production as its market opportunity grew. What’s different about the second wave of streaming TV that’s kicking off right now, is that the whole TV value chain now needs to shift as the major content producers go direct. The way content is commissioned, financed, produced and distributed will now begin to change and the power balance between the major studios and the platforms that previously fulfilled the role of middlemen to the consumer is altered. The whole way content is bought and sold will look very different in a few years time. AVoD, the second major streaming shift of 2020, is in many ways less dramatic, but perhaps no less important. Streaming video advertising has been, and remains, the smaller part of overall online advertising and, on its own, much less important today than TV advertising. While the bulk of daily TV viewing remains with linear broadcasters, that’s unlikely to change. But the international roll-out from 2020 of major global AVoD platforms, and the fact that some of the studio direct streamers are adopting hybrid strategies that embrace AVoD as part of the business mix, means that ad-supported streaming TV is now at the beginning of a journey likely to every bit as rapid and influential in changing the business as SVoD. Streaming in the 2020s will be nothing if not dramatic in its impact.

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6-7_AnalysticCorner.indd 3 26/08/2020 09:46:26 Cover story – the future of TV

it is impossible to talk to about What is the future of TV streaming content in 2020 without the reference point of ‘Pre/Before Covid-19 (BC19) or Post Covid-19 (PC19)’. as streaming enters its “It has had a tectonic impact on our industry as a whole,” Odden says. “The pandemic has breathed new life into next chapter? some industry verticals (think streaming/streaming wars) and has impacted others to the point that they CSI looks at what the future holds for may not make it out of 2020, and still television in the 2020s, from the new phase others are on a prolonged pause until they can adapt to the new normal of streaming and everything in between (think content producers/studios).” The lack of customer brand loyalty is treaming video as we the business mix, means that a fundamental problem that is worth now know it is not ad-supported streaming TV is now at solving, according to Odden, who adds: much more than 10 the beginning of a journey that could be “But for those that get personalisation years old, but it has as rapid and influential in changing the right, they will reap the benefits of come to dominate business as SVoD. Together, DTC and industry leading loyalty (life cycle discussions and R&D AVOD will be at the forefront of TV customer value). Those that ignore budgets. With developments in the years ahead. personalisation and assume their Sstreaming entering a more mature content alone will bring customers, will phase, the 2020s are being called The rise of Premium VOD find themselves on the list of services the ‘streaming decade’. So what But AVOD is not the only story. Like so that were forgotten at the conclusion of might the next few years bring and many other things, the pandemic has the streaming wars.” how will streaming further change accelerated the shift in a new With that in mind, will Netflix pass the video landscape as it evolves windowing model. As studios go direct, 300 million users? Will it continue to beyond VOD and becomes the shrinking the window for their own dominate or will new brands and dominant way in which video is titles on their own platforms adds value companies emerge to take its SVOD consumed and delivered? to their DTC ventures. crown? Will it even still be around by CSI reached out to the industry and Disney’s move to make Mulan the end of the decade, or will it have the feedback was overwhelming, so available on Disney+ to subscribers been acquired by then? Whatever what follows is just a very small paying an extra $29.99 is just the latest happens, it is worth pointing out that snapshot. We will aim to provide more example big media conglomerates for all the quick traction that Disney+ flavour to some of the topics covered embracing PVOD as the next step in saw in its early days, its launch and here online over the next few months. Hollywood’s evolution as they subsequent success has been helped in differentiate from the influx of new no small part by the groundwork laid DTC developments streaming and SVOD platforms. out by Netflix over the previous decade. The second wave of streaming TV will The same will be true for other new see a whole shift in the TV value chain OTT churn and user loyalty entrants in the 2020s. as the major content producers go Many service churn figures do not direct. As Guy Bisson argues on page 6, make pretty reading and this will be a Data analytics and AI to power the whole way content is bought, sold key issue as competition intensifies. personalisation and distributed will look very different “By providing consumers with flexibility Because it is harder to achieve customer in a few years time, as the power and greater control over how much, loyalty, almost everyone we spoke to balance between the major studios and and in what form, they pay for access, agreed that the key to engaging with the platforms that previously fulfilled services with hybrid business models viewers will be enabling easy discovery the role of middlemen to the consumer can achieve greater customer retention of content and personalised content is changing. and perform better in a crowded across all screens. And the fact that some of the studio marketplace,” says Ariff Sidi at To this end, the value of data will direct streamers are adopting hybrid Verizon Media. be even more important in helping strategies that embrace AVoD as part of Kevin Odden of Vionlabs thinks that service providers to determine high-

08 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

08-10_StreamingInThe20s.indd 2 27/08/2020 11:56:39 Cover story – the future of TV

end-users, according to Anupama Anantharaman at Interra Systems. “We expect that trend will continue and that the cloud will play vital role in helping content creators and distributors keep pace with the rising volume of global content,” he says. AI and machine learning are already solving complex problems like identification of lip sync issues and facial recognition, as well as for collecting metadata. SES is experimenting with AI detection tools to identify faces, objects, compliance related issues, and more within VOD assets and live streams for better content recommendations. “In the future, we envision that search demand content and keep churn at transformed by machine learning as engines will be even more connected to reasonable levels. programmers will be able to track AI engines. Today it’s common to As streaming matures and more engagement behaviour to better search for a certain actor, but in the viewers watch linear programming on optimise programming suggestions to future, you’ll be able to search for exact OTT platforms, it is expected that the provide what viewers want to see keywords like ‘tennis racket’ to enhance ability to collect data on linear channel and when. the viewing experience,” says Markus viewing will improve as well. Viewing “Personalised content curation with a Placho and SES Video. habits will be tracked across multiple dynamic and personalised user devices, allowing programmers to experience will become the norm. This Optimising the viewer experience deliver a more personalised experience will involve adopting personalisation, Fine-tuning every video delivery stream through both content and advertising. machine learning algorithms and A/B based on instantaneous user context is As streaming across SVOD, AVOD and testing alongside manual curation,” critical to optimise the experience for BVOD grows, so will the ability to agrees Docherty at ThinkAnalytics. each viewer. According to Nivedita target consumers with more “Results from our customer Nouvel at Broadpeak, this will be made personalised advertising. deployments also show that this possible by coupling dynamic A/B In addition, device-level analytics will approach helps service providers get testing and instant delivery chain play a crucial role in helping optimise the best bang for the buck from a reconfiguration. By triggering specific QoS and QoE and will also be broader range of content – including protocols or delivery schemes, such as important for hyper-targeting of making previously unpopular shows multicast ABR and server-controlled marketing and advertising content, become popular.” ABR, operators can drastically improve according to Alex Beach of It is anticipated that automation will the quality of video streaming. EasyBroadcast. also be leaned on more often in “We believe a growing number of OTT viewing will provide not only response to sudden shifts in market content providers will benefit from local more personalised, but also more conditions. Many companies are already caching. Caching content at the edge of immersive, experiences through more automating their QC and monitoring the mobile network will boost the native sophisticated software-defined workflows in order to assure efficiency benefits of caching,” she says. distribution techniques that will allow and economy of operations while Also on the caching front, Beach of for high-quality, 4K, 8K and even 12K maintaining a high level of quality. EasyBroadcast expects that more formats that will provide enhanced QoE Using advanced AI models for data service providers will use content for the consumer, according to John analytics, content creators can gain caching solutions to push high-demand Wastcoat at Zixi. important insights into media content closer to the edge. ‘Viewer- Improved analytics and AI consumption behaviour, as well as assisted delivery technology’ will be technologies will help to further develop obtain real-time feedback about what’s used as an alternative to traditional content discovery. happening in the delivery chain and CDNs to optimise traffic flows, lower Linear TV presentation will also be about the QoE that is being delivered to operational costs, and improve QoE for

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viewers. This will help offset increasing services,” agrees Hans content licensing fees. Massart at ST Localisation of programming and Engineering iDirect. serving content to consumers from a The general feeling, localised edge is even something that even by OTT satellite operators like Intelsat have proponents, is that focused on this year. linear content will Tools such as manifest manipulation maintain its appeal in and technologies like edge computing a VOD world. already exist, and the next five years will “Based on our be about learning how to use them continued conversations appropriately, notes Eric Gallier with customers around of Harmonic. the world, Imagine “Achieving scalability for major large predicts further blurring events, low latency, standardisation of the lines between around a single streaming format (i.e., linear and streaming CMAF fmp4) and a high QoE will video services,” says there will be an increasing emphasis contribute a similar maturity for live Graham Heap Imagine on innovation. “As opposed to streaming,” he says. Communications. “In fact, consumers streaming simply being ‘the new Then there is 5G, another key may not even recognise that they’ve TV’, services will take inspiration technology/network delivery been converted by their video providers from the Twitch generation and development of the coming decade. A to next-gen, streaming-based platforms.” become more social and interactive. growing amount of video content will “One of the most interesting issues Consumers will interact with content be delivered over 5G mobile networks over the next several years will be how like never before, and this will give in the future, which will require further pay-TV leverages its existing real estate rise to exciting new commercial optimisations to handle the extra traffic. in the home to maintain that and monetization opportunities relationship,” adds Andrew Christensen based on real-time engagement,” The hybrid broadcast/OTT world at Firstlight Media. Meardi argues. The landscape is increasingly moving Echoing some of these sentiments, towards a hybrid model, where The power of the big TV screen and the key questions around the future of distribution via OTT and traditional the changing definition of TV OTT, will inevitably all link back to broadcast technology will be more Kai-Christian Borchers of 3 Screen Covid-19, thinks Maciej Czekała at commonly adopted. That hybrid Solutions (3SS) reckons the new Insys Video Technologies. delivery model will be optimised in the phenomenon of ‘co-watching’ will “Schedules seem unlikely to return to next five years, thinks Gallier. remain in the post-Covid era. what they once were... and it’s likely Placho at SES Video thinks a unified “As things go in 2020, none of us are that consuming media on the go will be user interface will result in consumers experiencing any of these shared significantly reduced, with mobile being unable to recognise the moments in the usual way. People’s functionality less of a focus,” he says. distribution method of the content natural appetite for watching the same Indeed, the big TV screen has a long they’re watching. This gives TV content, perhaps together, is future ahead of it, no matter how platform operators the possibility to predominantly going completely television is defined, if figures from switch delivery methods to optimise unsatisfied. This new co-watching Finecast are anything to go by. distribution costs and ensure a seamless viewing experience, whereby your According to findings from its experience for the consumer, who friends and family are sharing an ‘Thinking Inside the Box’ research, 85% benefit from a single user interface on experience with you, and interacting of UK consumers think they will always their TVs. with you even though physically have a TV in the house. Moreover, 74% “Until now, satellite has been separated, will grow significantly in the of 16-24-year-olds now class BVOD as overlooked as an enabler of OTT next few years. Services offering this part of their description of TV. services, but its synonymity with type of experience will pop up more Interestingly, only 9% classified broadcast and its capability to deliver and more,” says Borchers. YouTube as TV. high-quality, reliable transmissions Guido Meardi of V-Nova thinks we “This is indicative of the power of TV, anywhere makes it an ideal solution to will also see the advent of a more regardless of how people define it,” says enable universal OTT television diverse streaming landscape in which Harry Harcus, of Finecast.

10 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

08-10_StreamingInThe20s.indd 4 27/08/2020 11:57:04 Pay-TV stats

In association with the informitv Multiscreen Index

ogether with the 2020. That is now significantly more “The coronavirus epidemic had an Multiscreen Index subscribers than the top 10 services impact but amplified a long-term from informitv, in the United States. A number of trend,” says Dr William Cooper, the CSI brings you European service providers lost editor of the informitv Multiscreen subscriber data on television subscribers in the first Index. “Despite subscriber losses, there the top 10 television quarter of 2020, although the losses are still large numbers of households services across were far lower than experienced paying for traditional television services TEurope and the United States. in America. in these markets. Worldwide, the 100 According to the Multiscreen Index, Comcast and AT&T lost 1.42 million leading services in the Multiscreen the leading European operators had television customers between them in Index have 447 million subscribers 87.79 million television customers the first quarter and went on to lose between them, which is slightly more between them at the end of March almost as many in the second quarter. than they had two years previously.”

The top 10 pay-TV services in Europe

Service Parent company Platform Change quarter Subscribers m Television subscriber numbers at the end of March 2020 for the 1 Sky Comcast Corporation Satellite -64,000 23.93 leading 10 pay-television services 2 Vodafone Germany Vodafone Group Cable -61,000 13.58 in Europe that report figures. 3 Tricolor National Satellite Company Satellite - 12.23 4 Orange France Orange Telco 39,194 7.31

5 Free Illiad Telco 47,000 6.51 6 Rostelecom telco Rostelecom Telco 91,586 5.70 7 Cyfrowy Polsat Cyfrowy Polsat Satellite -35,342 5.16

8 Rostelecom cable Rostelecom Cable -37,944 4.79 9 Canal+ France Vivendi Satellite - 4.55 10 Telefónica España Telefónica Telco -41,500 4.03 -62,006 87.79

The top 10 pay-TV services in the United States

Service Parent company Platform Change quarter Subscribers m Television subscriber numbers at the end of March 2020 for 1 Comcast Comcast Corporation Cable -388,000 19.90 the leading 10 pay-television 2 AT&T Premium TV AT&T Corporation Various -897,000 18.58 services in the United States 3 Charter Spectrum Charter Communications Cable -70,000 15.55 that report figures. 4 DISH Network DISH Network Corporation Satellite -382,000 9.01 5 Verizon Fios Verizon Communications Telco -84,000 4.07 6 Altice USA Altice USA Cable -41,700 3.14

7 Sling TV DISH Network Corporation Online -281,000 2.31

8 AT&T TV NOW AT&T Corporation Online -135,000 0.78 9 Mediacom Mediacom Communications Cable -17,000 0.69

10 Frontier Frontier Communications Cable -39,000 0.62 Source: informitv Multiscreen Index -2,334,700 74.65

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They are doing this, he adds, because Pay-TV reconfigures it is what consumers have proven they want time and time again. Deloitte’s latest Digital Media Trends as super-curator study finds the average US consumer paying for four streaming-video services, The TV industry is still fragmenting as up from three before the pandemic. As more media providers join the SVOD consumers desert linear and pay-TV in fray, it’s putting pressure on content and pricing. favour of SVOD stacking but there’s a wind “Consumers are increasingly of change blowing toward consolidation. frustrated in trying to navigate the flood of streaming options, all while trying to Adrian Pennington reports manage costs,” says Deloitte vice chair Kevin Westcott. he aggregation of Media. “We haven’t yet seen the full Now they’ve got the choice, it seems content is not a new cycle of aggregation happen… there consumers do not want to do their own concept in the payTV is a lot of opportunity in the market aggregation. “They want the flexibility industry, but it is right now.” and choice, but having so many taking on new shapes Pay-TV companies are prioritising fragmented content silos and and forms. And the service/channel bundles and looking to subscriptions creates friction and industry seems keen SVOD aggregation, agrees Guy Bisson, frustration, particularly at the point of Tto embrace this as the video Research Director, Ampere Analysis; wanting to be entertained,” says Peter landscape continues to evolve. “Aggregation is the next battle ground.” Docherty, Founder and CTO, “What has been disaggregated will “There is clear movement in this ThinkAnalytics. “The discovery ultimately be re-aggregated, albeit not in direction,” confirms Adam Davies, experience across multiple SVODs and quite the same fashion,” declares Senior Manager Product Marketing at pay-TV makes the viewers’ job even Gideon Gilboa, EVP of Product, Synamedia. “Service providers are more difficult and time consuming.” Marketing and Solutions at Kaltura. adding their own OTT services, “Content owners and platform “I’m very bullish on aggregation,” developing more flexible pricing and operators should always follow the end says Paul Pastor, part of the exec team commercial models and creating consumer and what they are generally for Disney ABC’s stake in Hulu, now partnerships with pure OTT players to looking for is to get as much specific Chief Business Officer for Firstlight create the new pay-TV bundle.” content for their needs as easily as possible,” underlines Metrological CEO, Jeroen Ghijsen.

Service complexity “Multiple services mean a certain amount of complexity for viewers who ultimately want to switch the TV on and find something to watch,” says Alex Wilkinson, Head of Sales and Marketing, EMEA & LatAm, Accedo. “This will likely be more apparent as the global climate returns to some level of normality and consumers get back to much busier lives. It also means that often consumers gravitate to whichever service has the most choice and either leave the others mostly unused or unsubscribe.” In theory, offering up more content

Source: Manuel Esteban / Shutterstock.com Manuel Esteban Source: drives more opportunities for

12 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

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engagement, generating greater data sets and improving the likelihood that investments in technology and content will drive revenue. “For operators, the aggregator model means having more data on what the consumer is watching and how they are interacting with different video services within a bundle,” Wilkinson says. “It shifts control to the pay-TV provider and gives them access to much more intricate viewing data, which can be used to ensure stickiness and reduce churn.” Content providers also want to have better insights into how their content is being consumed. “They can then make better decisions from a content production point of view, making it easier to know what type of content to green-light,” says Erik Ramberg, VP, and provide enhanced monetisation operators is to maintain the quality Head of Global Business Development, opportunities. of content bundles combined with niche MediaKind. “If they own the service “The easiest way for SVODs to get OTT and multiscreen bundles and to themselves, they are going to have onto the big screen is through the STB,” ‘super aggregate’ with as many of the clear brand association and massive suggests Ghijsen. “The single remote top-tier SVOD services as possible. amounts of data into how their control remains of primary importance. “If you’re a Tier-2 operator, you’re consumers behave.” It is operators who are in pole position probably in a similar but weaker The service provider needs to bring to assume the role of super aggregator.” position,” he says. “For these, solutions that solves problems for the He compares the super-aggregator aggressively following a super content provider and the consumer. model to that of a warehouse. “You aggregation strategy is a way of “From the consumer perspective, this don’t mind what is in your warehouse – competing with the dominant player in means they are able to offer more than it could be niche and specialist. As long your market and defending your just every episode of a series (such as as somebody interested, you can sell it.” position relative to a vMVPD and other sneak previews, recaps and director Cloud-based technologies of course streaming providers.” commentaries), therefore leading to a make the shelf-space of the ‘warehouse’ For Tier-3 pay-TV operators, super far richer space that is still appropriate virtual and unlimited. At the same time, aggregation is even more important. to the brand,” says Ramberg. “By having billing all in one location makes With content costs rising and access to incorporating the branded DTC it easier for consumers to monitor it diminishing as content makers go experience into the service providers’ spend and to add and remove packages direct to consumer, super aggregation is platform, consumers can better engage at will. a matter of survival – “without it you with the content providers’ brand.” Amino says its pay-TV customers see may become less and less relevant to super aggregation as key to remaining the consumer,” Mackinlay says. The pay-TV opportunity relevant to their consumers. Content owners, like a Discovery or Application platform vendors and UI “If you’re a large dominant national A&E, which built their business on the developers understandably believe or regional pay-TV operator, you already low carriage cost of super distribution operators are in a unique position to have a collection of channel bundles on cable need to fundamentally change deliver aggregated video experiences that are popular with consumers, their operating model, believes Pastor. that provide reach and engagement— you’re already offering multiscreen “The reality is those business are where their TV App Stores and UIs act and you’re merging OTT with your maturing and declining in terms of as the super aggregator. These reduce broadcast or IPTV services,” explains losing pay-TV subs as people have barriers to entry for new viewers; Jamie Mackinlay, SVP Global Sales switched to DTC,” he says. “Many surface content and apps with and Marketing. of these companies are just treading integrated search and discovery Amino’s prescription for Tier-1 water because of the fixed costs (of

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 13

12-15_Aggregation.indd 3 24/08/2020 14:24:21 Content aggregation

infrastructure, content, organisation) required to run the business. For those looking to transition to digital it is not enough simply to change the narrative of their company. They are trading what used to be a 50% margin business for one that barely eeks out 10%.” Consequently, Pastor predicts a wave of aggregation driven by M&A activity, especially in the post-Covid era, and from joint ventures. “Like Hulu, these JVs will bring together niche brands on one platform where they can take advantage of ripping out some of their cost structures, generate more robust data sets and offer a more expensive, high margin proposition to subscribers.” Netflix,” says Gilboa. monthly price point of $78.96. Not only Operators themselves have by and Kaltura says its tools and services is the price point higher than for a large transitioned to high margin, high offer a ‘white label Netflix’ for both traditional pay-TV skinny bundle, but it revenue predictability against super aggregators and ’universal also requires signing up to up to four broadband delivery, he says. “They syndicators’ where content providers different subscriptions, managing those need to broaden the number of want to push their content everywhere. billing relationships and the associated use cases they can provide their “Every media company we work with differing user experiences on the consumers against that pipe and are looking for a way to distribute direct various services. The result, says the make it unbelievably sticky so that to consumer and also to syndicate their analyst Tim Mulligan, is a “suboptimal” you can upscale the opportunity content from the same DTC stream into viewing experience. within any individual household. the super aggregator’s experience,” Amid intensifying competition from There’s a huge opportunity in the telco Gilboa says. Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+ and space in delivering these services over others, Netflix has seen its pricing 5G and home networks since for the New payTV bundle, same as power grow over the five months to first time telcos and mobile operators the old? May 2020. have a competitive offering to cable.” While there are some consumers who According to a study of American Wilkinson observes that mobile will continue to fulfil the role of consumers published by analyst Cowen operators have seen aggregation as “a aggregator themselves, the vast majority & Co. Netflix customers who said they simpler solution” to offering a rich of us are thought to prefer the simplicity would be willing to pay more than they content bundle “that retains users with of getting content delivered in one currently do rose from 47% in the telco rather than the full overhead bundle by an operator. December 2019 to 55% in May. Among of trying to be a OTT broadcaster.” “This is especially true if they are respondents who stream more than already a subscriber,” Wilkinson says. seven hours per week of Netflix content Super aggregation vs universal “Bundled services often deliver price willingness to pay more rose from 52% syndication savings for consumers, which makes it to 60% over the same period. Vodafone, for example, is rolling out all the more attractive.” Netflix last raised prices in Q1 2019 its TV service that aggregates linear, It is increasingly apparent that the and the question is when, not if, it will VOD and OTT content across relatively cheap price of SVOD subs are do so again. markets including Greece, Romania, rising. The MIDiA Index (see https:// Meanwhile vMVPDs such as Sling Portugal, Spain and Italy. It is doing so www.midiaresearch.com/blog/ TV and YouTube TV are subject to using Kaltura’s Cloud TV technology. is-streaming-making-it-harder-and-more- the same rising content costs as “We are providing out of the box expensive-for-consumers-to-access-video- pay-TV providers. scale for operators and broadcasters content) reveals that that the most in “The risk that many of the services who cannot afford to invest billions demand TV shows of June this year will simply take up the bad habits of the of dollars to build a platform feature remain siloed behind three to four old cable/satellite providers is real, an set to compete with a Disney or differing services with a combined example being Youtube.tv and its

14 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

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pricing/channel changes which look all a wide variety of content.” easy too, but the customer also knows too similar to a cable TV company,” that by cancelling, all of their says Wilkinson. “The biggest change Evolution of aggregation preferences, profile and personalisation now is that customers are willing and Super aggregation is only in its infancy disappears, so they’ll think twice.” now able to move if they find the and likely to evolve in different ways. Another emerging trend is that of the offering and pricing no longer Gilboa suggests a further unbundling of operator as an app, whereby the suits them.” SVOD content to enable aggregators to aggregation model will move onto other Ramberg blames content providers offer subsets of content. He explains, platforms. “Consumers are increasingly who forced pay bundles to get fatter and “HBO or Netflix, for example, could looking to move away from the STB,” fatter. “People have been unfairly offer aggregators different pieces of says Wilkinson. “If operators are able to pointing the finger at service providers their libraries inside an app tailored for create a service on a mobile device or and operators, who are not the sole a super aggregator. An app could connected TV that aggregates all of the source of the unsatisfactory, bloated bundle the best original content from a content, and includes bills and pay-TV bundle. When an operator variety of SVODs related to political everything else a consumer needs, it is bought one channel, they were also drama, for example. Instead of likely to be an attractive proposition. It forced to buy six or seven other subscribing to three services to view becomes much more of a proposition channels. More recently, this also the content they love, the consumer for people that don’t want to subscribe includes the acquisition of SVOD pays for one as part of a super to a £50 per month pay-TV contract. library content, as well as some aggregation bundle.” That may seem less appealing for the transactional VOD offerings.” Kai-Christian Borchers of 3 Screen pay TV providers, but it will be Mackinlay also thinks channel Solutions (3SS) agrees: “We’re inching extremely interesting for consumers.” bundling “an over-maligned” content toward a trend where some traditional Borchers points to the phenomenon model; “The pay-TV mega-bundle is the pay-TV providers are becoming of “co-watching” which has rocketed worst form of video delivery, except for resellers. In future, they may even seek during lockdown on services such all those others that have been tried,” to select certain elements of Netflix, or Twitch, mimicked by operators BT he says, paraphrasing Winston Prime Video or HBO and package Sport around live sport. Churchill. these, for instance, along with very “People’s natural appetite for Winning platforms, he insists, must targeted genre-based SVOD services, to watching the same content, perhaps provide a combination of price, choice create a customised service that truly together, is predominantly going and quality and developments in appeals to the viewer. completely unsatisfied. This new content discovery techniques will “TV content thus becomes more of a co-watching viewing experience, remove many of the issues with the marketplace, but the operator can again whereby your friends and family are bundle model. “The goal is not for become the subscriber’s best friend and sharing an experience with you, and super aggregation to result in bigger, helpful curator. Subscribers gets exactly interacting with you even though more complex bundles, but to provide what they want, and only has to pay one physically separated, will grow flexibility and convenience in accessing simple bill to get it all. Unsubscribing is significantly in the next few years. Services offering this type of experience will pop up more and more.” Nonetheless the basics of success for pay-TV remain the same: “The viewer shouldn’t need to know exactly where the content came from or the specific controls a particular SVOD app might want them to use – they just want to watch the content,” says Docherty Having this seamless experience gives consumers the choice they want. Pay-TV providers ensure they reap the benefits of providing the end user experience, being the first point of contact, and importantly, of capturing the data to better understand consumer preferences.

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 15

12-15_Aggregation.indd 5 24/08/2020 14:25:17 Sports broadcasting Q&A With Darren Lepke, Head of Video Product Management, Verizon Media

innovation for the sports broadcast with traditional broadcast. However, as industry. Is there anything that the streaming landscape becomes stands out for you especially? increasingly saturated, service providers The thing that stands out to me the need to be creative in building engaging most is the innovation in remote services to retain subscribers. We will production and the need to move more see more hybrid models, already workflows from venues and broadcast successfully implemented by the likes of

Lepke, Darren Media Verizon HQ to the cloud. Tasks formerly done Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Tubi, in production studios now have to be being adopted to maximize revenues done remotely to allow for socially and reach a global audience. ow has Verizon distanced working. There has been a lot Media helped its of success with the quick adoption of Looking to a post-Covid era, what sports customers new ways of working, and the are some of the key trends and adapt to these innovation in remote production will changes you expect to see last? challenging times? only continue to evolve. In today’s stay-at-home environment, One of the major The innovation in fan engagement to consumers are exploring new media and concerns our create and capture the excitement of entertainment options. We have seen Hcustomers face today is restricted access live sports, even those played in empty growth in demand for social viewing, to sports venues, production facilities, venues, has been impressive. From interactivity, and gamification on live and data centers. With most of the artificial crowd noises to online streams, which will continue to increase world in lockdown, everything co-watching, sports leagues have created as these capabilities move from niche to previously done on-premise now has to new ways to keep fans entertained while mainstream. As a result, one technology be done in the cloud. The crisis has watching at home. While the absence of we are likely to see utilized more is real- accelerated the industry adoption of in-venue crowds will undoubtedly time streaming with its sub-second virtualized toolsets and remote change the live sports experience, this is streaming capabilities. It provides production. Innovation that was two or an opportunity for broadcasters to content owners with the capability to three years away at the start of the year continue demonstrating new, creative create and facilitate new video is happening now, and Verizon Media’s ways to bring shared emotion back to experiences that complement the typical features and capabilities align with this the viewing experience so that sports streaming of broadcast content. shift. The Verizon Media Platform is fans feel fully immersed in the action. Another trend is the collapse of fully cloud-hosted – everything is virtual production silos within media and is operational from any location. Will the pandemic accelerate organizations. In the past, there would For us and our customers, the impact the shift to OTT delivery and have been a broadcast team, a digital/ on production workflows has been DTC services? OTT team, and a social media team – minimized. There are multiple benefits The pandemic has accelerated the each with individual workflows, tools, to having a virtualized production migration toward online viewing, and processes. These teams are now environment, including reduced decreasing viewership for traditional coming together and looking for a way expenses compared to buying television. A record number of to truly converge the worlds of on-premise equipment and increased consumers are experimenting with new television, OTT, and social media into flexibility to personalize streams. As a offerings, including AVOD and SVOD one simplified workflow that allows cloud-based software-as-a-service models. This is largely due to the them to save time and resources, provider (SaaS), we see a heightened flexibility offered by OTT services. and create new and exciting interest in tools that are operated Consumers will continue to stream viewer experiences. from the cloud. content as the underlying technologies This Q&A is taken from a special of OTT platforms enable new and supplement on sports innovation during This has been a time of great unique experiences that are not possible Covid: access it from csimagazine.com

16 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

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Untitled-1 1 26/08/2020 10:15:24 AWARDS CEREMONY 2020 18 September 2020 Online Awards Presentation

The CSI Awards 2020 Shortlist announced - Watch the CSI Awards online

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.

2020 Categories 1. Best digital video processing technology 12. Best data & analytics innovation

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page eighteen www.csimagazine.com Awards 2020 CSI magazine • Awards

18-19_CSIAwards.indd 2 26/08/2020 10:29:32 AWARDS CEREMONY

The CSI Awards, now in their 18th year, will this year be taking place on Friday 18 September via an online awards presentation Join us at the virtual ceremony to see this year's winners exclusively announced via an online awards presentation.

Date: Friday,18 September 2020, 4pm BST Shortlist Announced We're delighted to announce the finalists who made it onto this year's shortlist - check them out here: www.csimagazine.com/awards

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18-19_CSIAwards.indd 3 26/08/2020 10:29:54 Public Service Broadcasting

Looking just at the Western Safety in numbers European geography, subscription streaming TV Goran Nastic looks at cooperative ways in which accounts for just over 10% of the TV revenue pie today, European broadcasters can work together to according to figures from Ampere Analysis. As Ampere’s stay relevant in this decade and beyond Guy Bisson observes elsewhere t Cable Congress for several years now, taking in content, in this issue, add in online video 2019, Erik Huggers technology and, potentially, algorithms. advertising (effectively AVoD but made the wry These have come in response to shifting including social video), and streaming remark that viewing habits and the threat of large TV accounts for 19% of TV revenue in European global technology and media the region, which is not far off the size broadcasters companies, including Netflix, Amazon of the TV advertising sector or total should huddle like and more recently Disney+. public TV funding in Western Europe. Apenguins, an analogy regarding the Yet it is easy to forget that PSBs are With streaming set to grow birds’ propensity to stay warm and still a dominant provider of audio-visual exponentially over the coming decade, safe by grouping together. services in Europe. According to figures what is a good old European PSB to Huggers, who at the time spoke as from Kagan, on average around a third do? Well, they are not completely a supervisory Board Member at of all individuals will tune into a PSB powerless in responding to new ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, has an TV channel each day in any given environments they find themselves in. extensive media heritage dating regional market. “There is plenty of evidence to back to Endemol and BBC among “In the short-term it will continue a suggest the PSBs have shown an others, and his comments come at leading role in European TV. That said, understanding of how the industry is a time when these broadcasters PSBs face a serious threat from changing. Complete transformation for are facing something of an alternative content providers that have a PSB requires the buy-in from existential crisis. forced a re-examination of public government, which happens at a much A marriage of convenience among media’s role,” says Mohammed Hamza, slower process than what can be various European broadcasters is not principal analyst at Kagan, part of achieved by any commercial groups,” uncommon, with such partnerships S&P Global Market Intelligence’s says Hamza. taking place at local and regional levels TMT offering. Hamza points to France Televisions as a good reference. The French PSB has acknowledged that it must do better with less resources (virtually all broadcasters are cash-strapped) and that technology is just one component in the transformation. It has streamlined with closures to some linear TV and radio stations and job losses due to cuts in government funding, but it has also invested in AI, a migration to cloud storage, and made ‘watch-offline’ enhancements to its digital platform. It has also shown a determination to match its streaming rivals as a data- driven business, and with that in place, how well the data is used will determine any improvements in its content production or platform engagement.

Embracing IP... and ensuring prominence in an app-based environment

20 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com Public Service Broadcasting

organisation should embark on with all location, etc. Ensuring that public “Adopt an IP-first haste,” MacAvock argues. service media remains prominent This then helps set the priorities for enough compared to other actors who strategy as quickly the whole organisation in production, aren’t necessarily subject to the same distribution and platforms and drives rules is a real challenge,” acknowledges as possible! An the product innovation for these. MacAvock at the EBU. “Matching the characteristics of the MacAvock believes that the first IP-first strategy two types of network provides benefits element is to ensure that public service to the consumers, but of course the way media organisations have access to, and doesn’t mean in which these can be exploited create exciting products for, every commercially remains to be seen,” relevant platform in their territories. ignoring traditional observes MacAvock. “This can be a complex and costly “Broadcasters are finding it exercise, but it is vital for organisations linear services; but increasingly harder to reach audiences,” that have an obligation to reach their they are integrated agrees Emily Dubs, Head of Technology entire populations,” he says. at DVB. “To secure their prominence While apps are an important first into a journey which in the modern connected TV step, they come with a range of environment, broadcasters need to downsides. That is part of the rationale all public service adapt. That means launching for DVB’s newest generation of internet- streaming services and enabling new centric specifications, collectively media organisation functionalities to reach a wider range known as DVB-I. It’s about ensuring not of devices.” just reliable and robust linear TV should embark on According to Dubs, 70% of EBU services, but also delivery and discovery members offer a VOD app. But apps over the internet. The DVB positions with all haste.” need to be provided and maintained on it as the internet equivalent to a multiple platforms, so there’s a limit to terrestrial, cable or satellite Pioneering broadcasters have some how many devices broadcasters can channel scan. history when it comes to the internet. afford to support. Another challenge is “Users won’t distinguish between a The BBC iPlayer launched in 2007, how competitive the TV environment service that arrives via broadcast or IP, around the time Netflix was has become. How do you ensure which may reduce their temptation to transitioning to streaming, while your app is noticed amid all of the choose a big streaming platform app ‘Project Kangeroo’ the online TV joint options available? over traditional services,” suggests venture between UK PSBs was blocked Maintaining service prominence is a DVB’s Dubs. on competition grounds back in 2009. key regulatory question which is being But it is also about the content itself. Throughout Europe since, PSBs have studied at great length by regulators Broadcasters will need to develop new created online VOD platforms. across Europe. kinds of content that better fit evolving One of the key trends that has The idea also ties to the concept of audiences, as digital natives represent a emerged is the concept of a hybrid universal service obligation (USO) over growing share of viewers who not only network approach, where IP doesn’t broadband IP networks. have a different way of consuming TV necessarily just mean a telco-managed In the past, the situation was much but also different content preferences. broadband network and where simpler. The public service media “In order to remain competitive on broadcast isn’t just a service, but a proposition was defined by the access the content side, PSBs should really be means of optimising network traffic to network; broadcast TV was receivable looking at commissioning more projects ensure resilience and quality. on a TV set, which had few other that are distinct from streaming services With this in mind, Peter MacAvock of functionalities. Ensuring that the or other commercial players. Greater the EBU recommends that broadcasters broadcaster had access to the network content experimentation or a more embrace the internet in all its shapes resources served to guarantee ‘avant garde’ approach to and forms. access, and a few additional rules commissioning is risky, but that in “Adopt an IP-first strategy as quickly ensured prominence. itself may be appealing antidote against as possible! An IP-first strategy doesn’t “In today’s app-driven world, the other popular offerings,” suggests mean ignoring traditional linear user’s experience is not defined by the Kagan’s Hamza. services; but they are integrated into a access network alone, but the “In the future, their role looks to be journey which all public service media combination of device, platform, edging toward a purer version of a

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 21 Public Service Broadcasting

public affairs content provider role, focusing on informative, educational and high quality cultural programming. A retreat from some popular types of general entertainment, such as reality TV, would mean losing ratings dominance in many markets, but the crux is that many commercial broadcasters and streaming services already provide much of this content: the alternative would represent a better use of public funds.” There’s room for more than one these often mean compromises, which recommendation and user interaction, successful local broadcast SVOD can limit long-term success. it’s best for broadcasters to not service, he adds, but not every service On the technology side, a model has intervene as these are areas which should specialise in local programming. emerged that envisions local require constant innovation to ensure The ideal situation is to have a handful broadcasters coming together to share users’ needs and expectations are met. of services available – a mixture of local different parts of the value chain. Last This can be hard to maintain and and regional. So rather than fighting for year, Henke Erichsen, the CTO of rapidly drain resources.” local viewership, European broadcast Canal Digital, issued a rallying cry, “This is a particularly hot topic at the SVOD services should expand their calling on broadcasters to unify and moment,” reckons MacAvock, who offering to be available in more than consolidate certain elements of the notes that the EBU runs a range of one country. VoD and streaming technology stack services to help its members in the It is also worth pointing out that (especially commodity features like online space: a recommendation co-productions have been steadily rising transcoding and player APIs), which system, single-sign-on, analytics, multi- in the last few years, and not just would then allow them to compete and CDN services, among others. between PSBs themselves, but also differentiate in other ways. “Could this be extended to a wider set between them and the likes of Netflix “I think it’s time that the broadcasters of products? Sure, but we need to be and Amazon, with the co-funding model in the Nordics take more collaborative mindful of individual characteristics in representing a mitigation of cost and approach to a lot of the aspect of the each media company that has led to the risk for high quality content. The reality value chain,” said Erichsen, speaking at individual ways in which they have is that PSBs will have to accept that the Northern Waves TV summit in developed their products. Does it conflicts of strategic interests will Oslo, an event organised by Norigin extend to standardising the interfaces occur if they want studios to continue Media. “We like to think of ourselves as between the OVP (Online Video being prolific producers. And the big; we are not. If we join forces we can Platform) elements? Could EBU same applies to other area of most likely come a lot closer to what Members work together to develop potential cooperation. they [the GAFFA and other large some other elements of the system digital players] are achieving and much as they have done with the Technology cooperation, including teaching our customers.” existing portfolio without compromising analytics and algorithms While there are areas in the on their characteristics, performance The response over the last few years has technology stack that can benefit from and timing? EBU is working through been to launch joint products and greater cooperation between these questions with some urgency services (see table). OTT collaborations broadcasters, it’s not essential for given the heightened downward of public broadcasters and local every part. pressure on budgets of late,” commercial groups have sprung up all “The parts that will benefit from MacAvock says. over Europe since VMMa, VRT and cooperation are those that impact the Broadcasters these days need to offer SBS Belgium brought its joint-venture to end-user’s equipment or system more tailored user experiences, which market back in 2013. Similar offerings components, which often need deep requires making good use of data then launched in the Netherlands, integration and standardisation across mining for personalisation. The Swiss Germany, Spain, and the UK with video formats and encryption,” agrees Media Commission earlier this year Britbox, but the success of these remain Johan Bolin, chief product and suggested that broadcasters use different unclear. Collaborators have different technology officer, Edgeware. “For algorithms as a way of differentiating identities and strategic priorities, and other parts in the stack that focus on from the large global US media

22 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com Public Service Broadcasting

companies. Can the idea succeed Reaching – and growing older – in practice? services like Netflix, rather than with younger viewers MacAvock argues that it does to an fighting them.” extent already. Some years ago, the In a competitive TV landscape Bolin also recommends harnessing EBU focused attention on the whole crowded by online video platforms influencer commentary to enhance question of ‘big data; and developed a and streaming services, PSBs can their existing content can present set of tools now used by a number of suffer if they abandon the younger a quick and cost-efficient way EBU Members. The group has a demographic, as the future is in to maximise brand exposure with mechanism of sharing best practices their hands. younger audiences, while eliminating and incorporating these into a set In the UK, a recent Ofcom report the need to create new programming of tools that are in use around revealed that children aged 12-15 had entirely. the membership. greater brand awareness of Netflix and For Hamza, the approach should “One of the lessons we have learnt is YouTube than for the BBC, which be equally considered: “The debate that these systems are very complex, causes a potential long term problem about younger demographics should and EBU Members are still on the as younger viewers grow up to be its not be restricted to eyeballs, as learning curve, but at least they are adult audience. the purpose of PSBs is not to using their own systems targeted “Therefore, it’s essential to put a follow the latest zeitgeist or pander towards their own propositions of TV, targeting strategy in place sooner to a typical YouTube viewer or radio and online,” says MacAvock. rather than later to gain their interest Netflix subscriber. Public media needs Targeted advertising will also be and loyalty before it’s too late,” to connect with younger people in a critical as a means of offsetting the argues Bolin at Edgeware. “The way that they understand its purpose, drop in advertising revenues and is key ingredient is visibility. PSBs what it offers and where to find it, another area where DVB offers a should work with digital video building lifetime relationships with standards-based approach. platforms like YouTube and streaming the PSBs.”

Survival of the fittest The EBU’s take is that the most will not be enough to stay relevant and One thing that has emerged out of the sustainable way of delivering content is retain audiences,” thinks Bolin. Covid crisis is that broadcasting and the through intelligent use of the unique “Adopting the mindset that ‘TV is public service media organisations have characteristics of both broadcast and created with the internet, rather than some life left in them. Covid-19 has broadband networks. for the internet’ empowers broadcasters reinforced the European values that see “How this journey unfolds in the and content owners to take advantage public service media at the centre of the different markets will depend on of the creativity and reach the internet cultural identities of Europe. many factors, and the length of the offers and mix it with their own “As we have seen with the global journey will also vary. It’s therefore messaging and programming,” he says, pandemic, the role of PSBs as a trusted too easy to suggest that it will be OTT- echoing MacAvock’s earlier sentiments. provider of factual news and only in 2030 and it’s unlikely that Finally, we are in the early stages of information has only grown. In a world public service media organisations will permanent cooperation between flooded with fake news and false have transitioned to this future by 2030, broadcasters with signs of commercial information, people turn to broadcast at least in the majority of European consolidation at European level, TV to educate themselves on the latest markets”, surmises MacAvock. according to Hamza, who points to goings-on in the world,” says Edgeware’s DVB’s Dubs agrees that a switch to Mediaset’s MediaForEurope initiative Bolin. “This isn’t a significant jump full OTT-based services, relying on IP as a key development. This aims to away from PSBs purpose before the native formats, could happen beyond gain international competitiveness pandemic, but it’s certainly reminded 2030, but there is still value in through a cross-border merger the public – and industry – of broadcast delivering some of those services between its Spanish and Italian assets, TV’s role in distributing high-quality over broadcast. coupled with an investment in news and information. We remain While it doesn’t make commercial ProSieben.Sat1. optimistic that this has provided a good sense to dismiss broadcast just yet, The end game might be local public foundation for the future of PSBs.” change is afoot and getting to grips with broadcasting (irrespective of how Similarly, a combination of OTT and the question of what television is. it is technically delivered) and a handful linear services is likely to persist and “Continuing to produce TV in the of pan-regional European commercial co-exist for some time, with continued same way and use the internet to deliver groups against big tech and the major relevance for traditional broadcast. the same content they always have done US media conglomerates.

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 23 Remote production

following are the main considerations The compelling case that still need to be noted. 1. Network architecture for remote production A key part of building robust remote production circuits is to strike the right balance between delay jitter, bandwidth, in a post-Covid world and buffering, and to do it at a cost- effective price point. International data By Steven M Dargham of Telstra costs are driven by market demand, and for the largest-scale events, Broadcast Services pricing can be an issue that warrants closer scrutiny. ne of the unforeseen The catchphrase at Telstra is ‘From This has to be done more than once consequences of Pandemic to Permanent’; with remote too, as at least two separate signal the Covid-19 production workflows that seemed paths are required for diversity. pandemic has optional in 2019 now considered While shorter paths are always the been its role essential. Indeed, given the requirement most desirable, the back-up path can as catalyst for for socially distanced production often be considerably longer. For various production environments, they are often the only instance, in our work setting up circuits Otechnologies. International way that sports and large-scale live between the Rugby World Cup stadia remote production has events can be covered safely and in Japan and the international undoubtedly been one of the even legally. production hub at IMG in London, main beneficiaries, with all the Nonetheless, we are not yet at the England, Path A took an Arabic arguments already been made point where this can be offered as a route via the Suez Canal while Path in its favour – from lower plug-and-play technology. From our B was sent via the Pacific and costs, improved quality to experience at the forefront of running Los Angeles. key environmental benefits – successful Tier-1 international Jitter — the variance in time delay taking on a new urgency. remote production projects, the between data packets over a network — is important as productions need to maintain hitless switching between both paths. And buffering, of course, needs to be minimised wherever possible. The requirement for the director to be able to tell the camera operator to pan right or left, and the camera operator to do that instantly with no lag, is vital to the whole concept of remote. Our experience is that use of IP over subsea cables minimises this to the greatest extent, such that the transmission delay between Japan and London during the tournament was measured at 223.1 milliseconds. Jitter, meanwhile, was in the microsecond range (ie one-millionth of a second). No two jobs are, of course, the same. For example, in Australia we have wired up all Tier-1 stadia for 60GB connectivity and are looking to roll out

24 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

24-25_Telstrabyline.indd 2 27/08/2020 12:41:48 Remote production

productions typically using far fewer cameras than those prior, and the increasing use of remote production, the number of crew travelling to each event can be sharply reduced.

The future of remote production We anticipate that technological advances in the next decade will make it possible to have a single box at a site, into which productions plug their cameras and everything else is taken care of seamlessly behind the scenes. With a large degree of automation also included in the process, we envisage this becoming a genuine plug-and-play service that will be as simple as making a phone call now. Apart from the ability to spin up a remote production network more quickly than ever, productions may also have a greater choice of the program to Tier-2 arenas. However, the same OB environment at a remote production hubs to connect to, as the last-mile connectivity can often be an production hub. The conditions are service becomes effectively issue on the ground when working arguably better as space considerations commoditised and outsourced in a internationally. Equally, telecoms no longer apply. As mentioned, this global marketplace. providers can on occasion be may well be a crucial factor in making This requires greater flexibility on the obstructive and/or slow to deliver. lockdown workflows practical. part of telcos, especially where there is When working overseas, especially for no purpose-built connection inside a the first time, detailed planning — and 3. Workflow venue and an operation is reliant on preferably working with an organisation The remote production hub is fast them for last-mile connectivity. The with on-the-ground experience — is the becoming the most efficient production hope is that market forces will make key to avoiding last-minute issues. model. This can replicate the full such issues a thing of the past. functionality of an OB truck and more, We expect the number of remote 2. Technical considerations and brings several advantages, not least productions to rise as the year To a great extent, these have now of which is the ability to produce more progresses, even if the necessity for all been addressed as vendors have than one event a day from the same them is reduced in the event of an moved on to their fourth or fifth space with the same staff. improved outlook for the Covid crisis. generation of IP kit, and there has been For example, a crew in an OB truck We estimate that the cost savings for stabilisation on the SMPTE ST 2110 can produce an event at a venue over an remote production are in the region of standards suite. eight-hour shift. In the same amount of 20 to 30 per cent, and this number will We are now at the point where the time, multiple events can connect into a only grow as workflows become more gear required to remotely produce a remote production hub and be optimised and centralised. large-scale live event has shrunk from produced by the same set of staff and Remote production was already a an entire truck to a mere two or three equipment for broadcast. The technology and a workflow whose time rack units required onsite, as more efficiencies realised with this optimised had come at the start of 2020. As we processes get steadily folded into resource use can be game-changing. move into the backend of the year, the remote workflows. There is no need Equally, it is worth paying attention arguments it makes for deployment are for EVS, audio, or any of the processes to the workflow at the remote location. even more compelling. traditionally taking place inside an Rather than having separate rigging and OB vehicle to be onsite. All you need camera crew, for example, in most cases Steven M Dargham is now is a box to connect the cameras to it is eminently practicable to provide Business Development – and with efficient two-way training so that the same individual can Executive, Telstra communications, you can replicate fulfil both functions. With post-Covid Broadcast Services

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 25

24-25_Telstrabyline.indd 3 27/08/2020 12:42:03 Executive interview Q&A Manuel Balsera of AMCNISE shares a content owner’s perspective on some key industry developments, a new ecosystem and the evolution of viewer engagement

We’ve been operating in Iberia for more age or cultural background. In Portugal, than 20 years and we have been the linear consumption continues to be leading company for quite a long time. significantly more relevant than Over the past five years, we’ve on-demand. We believe there will be strengthened our position in Iberia shifts, but we believe there will continue thanks to an increase in distribution to be several types of consumption

Manuel Balsera, Executive Executive Manuel Balsera, VP/Managing Director, International AMC Networks Europe Southern through our affiliates models. The new ecosystem will Telecommunication operators in each generate alternatives that will allow us Michael Crimp, CEO, IBC Crimp, Michael one of our markets are key to bringing to engage in different ways with brands consumers a compelling entertainment we love. Sometimes, instead of endlessly What would you say are the unique experience and they in turn recognise searching for something, it’s easier to characteristics of countries where our value in providing diverse quality hop from one channel to another to AMCNISE operates as far as media content and thematic channels to their easily discover content. Diving into & entertainment are concerned? subscribers and increasingly making it OTT or VOD services has the potential And how do you go about meeting available in new ways, such as our AMC to be overwhelming for consumers due those needs for localisation to Selekt offering. to the amount of choice. make sure that what you offer is relevant for the region? Some of these operators are Is there a particular type of content The characteristics of the countries we highlighting content aggregation that you will prioritise going operate in are very different. Spain has via AMC Selekt. What do you see as forward or is it always about have experienced dramatic growth over the the value of aggregation from an a mix of genres? last five years. However, there is room industry perspective but also to Our strategy is to provide distinct for further growth with our affiliates as viewers/end-users/consumers? brands and a compelling mix of genres. we aim to increase the number of AMC Selekt is a platform that makes it For example, we’re very active in series, people subscribed to pay TV. In easier for users to discover a wide range movies and lifestyle but we also supply Portugal, the penetration of pay TV is of our content that caters to their children’s programming and music. This high, reaching 90% of the population. specific tastes on-demand, a perfect kind of diverse portfolio has proven to The French market is already mature example of the kinds of products we be very appealing and valuable to our although there is still potential for can offer our affiliate partners that uses affiliate partners because it greatly growth. For each one of these countries, new technology to meet the changing enhances their subscriber offering. our objective is to provide a diverse needs of their subscribers. high-quality channel portfolio to What original programming do you support the needs of audiences You also recently launched a new offer and has the importance of and clients. channel in Portugal. Do you still this kind of content increased to therefore still see the value in the point of being essential today AMCNISE has recently been linear TV channels as consumption in such a competitive marketplace signing distribution deals with models shift towards SVOD as Disney+ and other new large operators like Orange, (and AVOD)? entrants appear? Vodafone and NOS, so presumably Through our experience we know that Original programming is very relevant this means that you still see a key there are certain types of users that feel for many of our channels. In our role for service providers in a more engaged through linear lifestyle channels we produce hundreds changing television landscape? consumption, sometimes due to their of hours yearly of new formats and

26 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

26-27_AMCQ&A.indd 1 26/08/2020 10:06:23 Executive interview

programmes that create a distinct prolific periods in recent history. local identity. Similarly, AMC or SundanceTV’s Discovery Communications CEO original content, with years of unique David Zaslav said that search & and award-winning titles, also provides discovery and the curating of our channels with a seal of quality. We content are the biggest challenges also believe that it’s not only about facing programmers (especially original programming but also about SVOD) in the 2020 decade with so creating a curated, highly engaging much content out there and environment for our content through fragmentation. Do you agree? our marketing and positioning. A strong I agree with David but believe there is brand, from our perspective, is just as an additional challenge, which is the compelling as original content. role of the brands we build within these ecosystems. I think brands will become What is AMCNISE’s strategy with extremely relevant in search and regards to OTT streaming and discovery. I feel that the relation we direct to consumer propositions? have established up until now between We have two strategies when it comes our linear channels and the audience to OTT. The first is the launch of OTT will have to mutate into a situation in platforms originated in the US, which we have a more direct including brands like Acorn TV. The relationship with our consumers other is the development of our original technology. We’ve also shown through social media and other OTT strategy, including Planet Horror, leadership in the field of virtual reality, initiatives that engage the audience. our Spanish on demand horror movie which we started three years ago for our I believe that engagement will become service, and Microcanales, a free VOD channel Odisea/Odisseia. This has increasingly more relevant. sampler app that allows anyone to allowed for documentaries to be discover our channels’ content. experienced not only in the best quality How do you see the TV industry We’re also exploring new initiatives possible but also via an integrated VR evolving in the next few years that will target specific themes and side experience. We continue to explore and what can we expect as the create an even more compelling offer. new technology in our production big trends? Cocina On, the largest on demand and distribution. I think there are going to be three service specialised in Spanish-language major trends. Firstly, industry food content, was developed in Has Covid-19 had a big impact on consolidation will continue to take partnership with AMCNI Latin AMCNISE’s strategy, or is it simply place in the coming years. America. It was successfully launched business as usual? A second trend will be the in Latin America and the US, with Yes, it has had a huge impact on our importance of being agile. Innovative Sling, Amazon and other affiliates industry, but fortunately during this companies with agile processes that can and is proving to be very popular in time we have been able to accelerate identify trends and the needs of their these markets. our growth. We’ve developed a number clients and audiences will become of new projects, such as new linear and more relevant. Is there a particular technology on demand launches in Iberia; Finally, the third trend will be the that excites or interests you that integrated our OTT service Planet expansion of alternative content. The will help you achieve your goals? Horror via two affiliates; and developed audience’s interests will evolve, going We were one of the first companies to corporate campaigns exported to beyond film and series, towards new broadcast in 4K and we’re currently other AMCNI territories, helping us formats and products that will appeal distributing three of our channels in increase our positioning beyond TV to smaller but very engaged and Spain and Portugal using this and making this one of the most active audiences.

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 27

26-27_AMCQ&A.indd 2 26/08/2020 10:06:35 Satellite backhaul

ccording to the ITU, almost half of the The new economics world’s population lacks access to the internet. In an age of satellite of digital reliance, there is a clear Meeting higher network demands Aneed for improved connectivity – especially in remote and rural efficiently and affordably. By Stephane areas. In doing so, billions can be provided with access to vital Palomba, VP Asia Sales & CBH, Speedcast resources and information, stations in locations powered by significantly bettering their quality nothing but batteries and solar panels. of life. For global MNOs, this By replacing existing network presents a new opportunity to infrastructures such as long fibre runs expand beyond their already and microwave shots with these cost- saturated core markets. To be effective satellite links, the new profitable, satellites with cellular economics of satellite backhaul made it backhaul services have been possible to extend services and meet adopted and, as worldwide demand higher network demands efficiently and foundation from the start, guaranteeing for greater data connectivity affordably. This has proven effective in reduced costs. In practice, early-stage increases with the rise of 5G, it is both connecting population pockets deployments of cellular satellite clear that satellite-based cellular scattered across rural markets to the backhaul will be first adopted in high- backhaul will have a huge part to wider network and reinforcing existing density markets where small cell play in the networks of the future. services in higher-density urban markets technology can help to deliver 5G to its The satellite sector has come a long to ensure full coverage. So far, benefits full potential, as promised to way since the launch of the first high- have been realised across community consumers. In the move to suburban, throughput satellite (HTS) in 2004. facilities and rural population centres exurban, and eventually rural markets, Despite the increase of bandwidth which experience steep peaks in the new economics of satellite will capacity with the transition from the demand – for example, when passengers provide a welcome addition to backhaul C-Band to Ka- and Ku-band frequencies, gather at a bus stop or train station or and fronthaul options. limitations still existed which made when village populations swell during In the future, we expect to see the rise satellite backhaul unaffordable for the holidays. While building additional of very high-throughput satellite MNOs, both in capital and operating microwave capacity to handle this (VHTS) technology following its launch expense, including ‘rain increased demand is not cost-effective, in 2021. This will increase network fade’(interference from water droplets) the implementation of a small-capacity capacity significantly, decreasing and connectivity over harsh satellite solution can offer far more average pricing for satellite capacity at geographical terrain in rural areas such affordable capacity surges. In doing so, an accelerated rate as the market as canyons. With such considerable the range of markets that MNOs can diversifies in the coming years. obstacles in the way of the profitable access is greatly expanded. The dynamic nature of mobile expansion of mobile networks, it was network traffic and its subsequent believed that Ka-band services would Facilitating the revolution of 5G issues requires a dynamic solution. By never prove sustainable in rural areas. Because it made its recommendations utilising satellites with cellular backhaul Since then, technological innovation at the beginning of standards services to replace or supplement in ground systems has allowed Ku- and development of 5G, the satellite existing telecoms infrastructures in rural Ka-band services to withstand even industry has ensured that the network is areas, operators can achieve greater heavy rainfall and made it possible to ‘satellite-friendly’, eliminating the need coverage and remain competitive owing install sites with smaller antennas and for companies to undergo complex to the introduction of HTS. lower power consumption at a fraction adaptations to function compatibly. As worldwide demand for greater of the cost of larger systems, while Instead, a drastically simplified data connectivity increases, satellite optimising efficiency. Power interface has been formed in the backhaul solutions will have a huge part requirements were also reduced, creation of base stations and modem to play – even in the harshest and allowing MNOs to establish base equipment, incorporating satellite as a remote environments.

28 September 2020 www.csimagazine.com

28_SpeedcastByline.indd 2 26/08/2020 10:09:47 Q&A Q&A Metin Taskin, Chief Technology Officer of AirTies, talks about Wi-Fi 6 technology and service migration

Access) which allows a Wi-Fi 6 Access peoples’ homes for years. Our own data Point to be able to communicate shows that over 40% of home devices multiple Wi-Fi 6 clients simultaneously. are still run on 11n (Wi-Fi 4), just over This allows a Wi-Fi 6 AP efficiently 50% are on 11ac (Wi-Fi 5), and there is share its large capacity with many less even a small percentage of homes with Metin Taskin AirTies CTO, capable Wi-Fi 6 clients. devices running 11g (Wi-Fi 3). As such, Wi-Fi 6 was also specifically designed it’s critically important for service to allow communication with low providers to have the tools in place to Michael Crimp, CEO, IBC Crimp, Michael power, enhanced battery life IoT devices best manage legacy devices along with by using a feature called TWT (target new Wi-Fi 6 devices. Can you briefly remind our readers wake time). A low power, low speed about AirTies, and its role in the IOT device can be in sleep mode for How can service providers advancement of Wi-Fi? longer times and it will have much less simultaneously manage older For more than 15 years, AirTies has overhead to reconnect and send or Wi-Fi legacy devices and Wi-Fi 6 to been focused on helping service receive its data quickly. ensure that all devices are providers enhance and optimize their Another important benefit that Wi-Fi achieving optimal performance? customers’ home Wi-Fi experience. 6 offers is to be able to avoid Guaranteeing that users get the most Today, AirTies is the most widely interference from neighboring Wi-Fi 6 out of Wi-Fi in mixed-use environments deployed provider of managed in-home networks by reducing the sensitivity to requires smart management of the Wi-Fi solutions to more than 50 service interfering signals. It is done in a smart whole home ecosystem. providers around the globe -- such as way by a feature called “BSS coloring” First, service providers should deploy AT&T, Singtel, Sky and many others. which detects the interfering Wi-Fi 6 smart software on their gateways that We provide Smart Wi-Fi software, a networks and re-uses the same channel can intelligently directs consumers’ cloud-based management platform and with the ones that are sufficiently far devices to the best available channel Mesh extenders. Our newest products from each other. This way same and band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) in real- are a portfolio of Wi-Fi 6 devices. frequency channels can be utilized time. Second, they should deploy cloud without effecting each other. management software that can provide What makes Wi-Fi 6 significant The number of connected devices is insights and analysis on connected when compared to earlier Wi-Fi increasing at an accelerated rate, and devices and data consumption patterns technologies? trends such as UHD video, online within the home, in order to take In addition to increased speed and gaming, smart home IOT and working proactive actions and mitigate issues. capacity, Wi-Fi 6 products are designed from home are all placing more Finally, we believe that service providers to support the growing density of demands on home networks that will be must look for solutions that adopt a connected devices within the home. better served with Wi-Fi 6. hybrid cloud-edge architecture that Previous Wi-Fi standards are utilizing leverages embedded intelligence from TDMA (Time Division Multiplexed What is the common misconception both CPE and the cloud in order to Access) based MAC (Medium Access you hear about Wi-Fi 6? maximize responsiveness and Control) mechanism which allows only The most common misconception performance. This approach is one Wi-Fi device talking at a time. about Wi-Fi 6 pertains to the time especially critical for homes that Wi-Fi 6 has brought a totally new access horizon for adoption. If we have learned demand high-band low latency technology called OFDMA (Orthogonal anything about Wi-Fi, it’s that previous applications, such as gaming and Frequency Division Multiplexed generations of Wi-Fi devices persist in UHD video.

www.csimagazine.com September 2020 29

23_Airties.indd 2 26/08/2020 10:10:58 TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid The leading media for video delivery technology Buyers Guide 2020

Media in the cloud

The essential listing of cable, broadband, telco and satellite suppliers

BuyersGuide_Cover-v2.indd 1 27/05/2020 13:36:05 Buyers Guide 2020

TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid The leading media for video delivery technology

3 Screen Solutions (3SS) Germany Broadpeak C: Thilo Herbst (CSO) Easel TV Limited France T: +49711219508 0 United Kingdom C: Fabrice Bellanger E: [email protected] Contact Name: Joe Foster T: +33222740350 https://3ss.tv T: +447985 807528 E: [email protected] Satellite, Cable & Broadband E: [email protected] https://broadpeak.tv http://www.easeltv.com Agama Technologies Satellite, Cable & Broadband Broadband Sweden C: Anna Amnell Broadpeak designs and Streaming Media/OTT: Complete T: +4613240330 manufactures video delivery streaming media video service, a E: [email protected] components for Content Providers full suite of cloud services (CMS, www.agama.tv and Network Service Providers CRM, Marketing, etc.) AND a full Satellite, Cable & Broadband deploying IPTV, Cable, OTT and set of device apps (website, iOS Mobile services. Its portfolio Anevia and Android mobiles & tablets, of solutions and technologies France smart TVs, Apple TV, Amazon Fire powers the delivery of movies, C: Silvia Candido TV, Roku and TV Operator STBs). television programming and T: +33141983240 Streaming Media SaaS: Our other video content over managed +33181945095 SaaS service covers the complete networks and the internet for E: [email protected] service fl ow from content ingest, viewing on any type of device. www.anevia.com formatting and storage, content The company’s systems and Satellite, Cable & Broadband protection (multiple DRMs), services help operators increase content distribution (using Asia Satellite market share and improve multiple CDN options) through Telecommunications Co. Ltd. subscriber loyalty with superior to templated and tailored fully quality of experience. Hong Kong branded apps globally. C: Broadpeak supports all of Raymond Chow Streaming Media Professional T: its customers worldwide, from +85225000888 Services: We support an off- E: simple installations to large [email protected] the-shelf advanced and mature delivery systems reaching www.asiasat.com cloud streaming media/OTT capacities of several million of Satellite SaaS service which can be complemented with tailored simultaneous streams. Axonista professional services, getting you Ireland to market rapidly with a robust, Broadpeak is headquartered in C: Claire McHugh feature-rich, fully-branded Netfl ix Cesson-Sevigne, France. T: +35316766251 or iPlayer like service to fi t your E: [email protected] needs perfectly. www.axonista.com

Broadband Clients include: NBCUniversal, TiVo, Virgin Media and Curzon Cinemas.

page thirty one CSI magazine • Buyers Guide Buyers Guide 2020 www.csimagazine.com

CSI-BuyersGuide-mattsV6.indd 3 25/08/2020 11:00:58 Buyers Guide 2020

TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid The leading media for video delivery technology

B E

BBright Edgeware France Sweden C: Laurent Harmonic C: Andy Hooper T: +33299121765 United States T: +46736126840 E: [email protected] T: +1.408.542.2559 E: [email protected] www.bbright.com outside the U.S. https://www.edgeware.tv/ Satellite, Cable & Broadband +1.800.828.5521 Broadband inside the U.S. Blonde Robot Ekioh Ltd E: [email protected] Malaysia United Kingdom www.harmonicinc.com C: Azrina Jane T: +447799765095 Satellite, Cable & Broadband T: +60124870487 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.ekioh.com Harmonic, the worldwide leader www.blonde-robot.com.au Satellite, Cable & Broadband in virtualized cable access and Satellite & Broadband video delivery solutions, enables G C media companies and service providers to deliver ultra-high- Globecast Cleeng quality streaming and broadcast France Netherlands services to consumers globally. T: +33155952626 C: D.S. Serafi mov Whether simplifying OTT video E: [email protected] T: +31611473502 delivery through the innovative https://www.globecast.com/ E: dime.serafi [email protected] cloud-based VOS®360 Live Satellite & Broadband Broadband Streaming Platform or powering the delivery of gigabit internet I D cable services with its CableOS® offering, Harmonic is changing the INKA ENTWORKS Diversifi ed way media companies and service Korea United States providers monetize live and on- C: Govindraj Basatwar C: Phil Bernal demand content on every screen. T: +822262785717 T: +19082454833 E: [email protected] E: pbernal@diversifi edus.com Phone: +1.408.542.2559 https://pallycon.com www.diversifi edus.com outside the U.S. Broadband Cable Phone: +1.800.828.5521 INSYS VIDEO TECHNOLOGIES inside the U.S. DOTSCREEN Switzerland Email: [email protected] France C: Ernest Kalaczynski Website: https://www. C: Stan Leridon T: +48722302700 harmonicinc.com/ T: +33146666192 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] https://insysvideotechnologies. www.dotscreen.com com/ Broadband Broadband

page thirty two www.csimagazine.com Buyers Guide 2020 CSI magazine • Buyers Guide

CSI-BuyersGuide-mattsV6.indd 4 25/08/2020 11:00:59 Buyers Guide 2020

TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid The leading media for video delivery technology

Jump Data- Driven Solution Spain HDMI Licensing Administrator, C: Jerónimo Macanás NAGRA Inc. T: +34605938091 Switzerland United States E: [email protected] C: Ivan Schnider C: Brad Bramy www.jumptvs.com T: +41217320311 E: cablecertifi [email protected] Broadband E: [email protected] www.hdmi.org JUMP Data-Driven Video https://dtv.nagra.com Satellite, Cable & Broadband Satellite, Cable & Broadband España C: Jeronimo Macanas HDMI Licensing Administrator, T: +34605938091 NAGRA, the digital TV division of Inc. (HDMI LA) is the agent E: [email protected] the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), appointed by the HDMI Forum https://www.jumptvs.com/ provides security and multiscreen to license Version 2.1 of the Satellite, Cable & Broadband user experience solutions for the HDMI Specifi cation and is the monetization of digital media. agent appointed by the HDMI K The company provides content Founders to license earlier providers and DTV operators HDMI Specifi cations. Kinow worldwide with secure, open HDMI LA administers two France and integrated platforms and special certifi cation programs that C: Pierre ANTOINE applications over broadcast, are critical for verifi cation and T: +33972464710 broadband and mobile platforms, authentication of HDMI cables; E: [email protected] enabling compelling and the Premium High Speed HDMI www.kinow.com personalized viewing experiences. Cable Certifi cation Program to Broadband ensure compliance and support M for 4K@60Hz, and the Ultra High Kurb Kut Studios Speed HDMI Cable Certifi cation United States M2A Media Program to ensure compliance C: Darryl B. Dalton United Kingdom to the HDMI 2.1 Specifi cation and T: +18508128905 C: Hamish Muiry support for 8K@60Hz/4K@120Hz E: darrylbarkleydalton@yahoo. T: +442038138582 and up to 48Gbps bandwidth. com E: [email protected] Email us to learn more about ww.kurbkutstudios.com www.m2amedia.tv HDMI cable certifi cation. Broadband Broadband L Matrix Solutions Irdeto United States United Kingdom Lindsay Broadband C: Brenda Hetrick C: Jeremy Maddocks Canada T: +14126973020 T: +447881918132 T: +17057421350 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.matrixformedia.com www.irdeto.com www.lindsaybb.com Satellite, Cable & Broadband Satellite, Cable & Broadband Cable

page thirty three CSI magazine • Buyers Guide Buyers Guide 2020 www.csimagazine.com

CSI-BuyersGuide-mattsV6.indd 5 25/08/2020 11:01:01 Buyers Guide 2020

TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid The leading media for video delivery technology

MediaPower Italy C: Francisco Fronda T: +390105530177 Never.no E: [email protected] Nextologies Limited United Kingdom www.media-power.it Canada C: Ed Abis Satellite, Cable & Broadband C: Christian Morsanutto, T: +447585774635 SVP Business Development E: [email protected] N & Operations www.never.no T: +14163013100 nanocosmos Satellite, Cable & Broadband E: [email protected] Germany www.nextologies.com C: Oliver Lietz Powered by our cloud-based Satellite, Cable & Broadband T: +493043032411 audience engagement platform E: [email protected] Bee-On, we provide broadcasters Nextologies operates multiple https://www.nanocosmos.de and advertisers with the tools to teleport and data centers around Broadband deliver rich captivating content – the world. Providing ﬁ bre, IP and including comments, pictures and O satellite transmission services videos, live data and poll results for broadcasters, Nextologies – to drive viewership and audience OMNIWAVE Ltd. is an industry leader in signal engagement across linear TV Greece acquisition and delivery. broadcast, digital, OTT and live C: Nectarios Labadarios Nextologies specializes in high- streams on-demand. T: +302102834000 quality broadcast-grade video E: [email protected] connectivity and is currently the Enhance your content with: www.omniwave.gr only solutions provider that can • Real-time social graphics Satellite & Broadband give instant access to over 55,000 • Social moderation linear TV channels, downlinked • Polling and voting One World Technologies, Inc. from 75+ satellites strategically • Creative strategy United States placed around the globe. • Competitions & compliance C: Lynn Rowe Over 3,000 clients have already • Social campaign management T: +15614147650 chosen Nextologies to deliver • Dynamic advertising E: [email protected] their services to major operators www.oneworldtech.com worldwide. Nextologies has the We work with international Satellite & Broadband world's largest broadcast video broadcasters and brands to delivery network. S engage audiences, personalise Nextologies also provides content, increase TV viewership, custom end-to-end services Suitest s.r.o. and extend campaigns to boost to meet all other broadcasting Czech Republic revenues. needs, including custom IPTV C: Mirko Nedeljkovic and OTT platforms, in addition to T: +420739811228 www.never.no video-centric applications across E: [email protected] all platforms. https://suite.st Broadband

page thirty four www.csimagazine.com Buyers Guide 2020 CSI magazine • Buyers Guide

CSI-BuyersGuide-mattsV6.indd 6 25/08/2020 11:01:03 Buyers Guide 2020

TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid The leading media for video delivery technology

THEO Technologies Belgium C: Steven Tielemans T: +32477973641 TiVo E: [email protected] Verimatrix Global https://www.theoplayer.com United States/France E: [email protected] Broadband T: +18586777800 https://business.tivo.com E: [email protected] ThinkAnalytics Satellite, Cable & Broadband www.verimatrix.com United Kingdom Satellite, Cable & Broadband C: Head offi ce TiVo Corporation (NASDAQ: TIVO) T: +441415723030 brings entertainment together, E: [email protected] Verimatrix helps power the making it easy to fi nd, watch www.thinkanalytics.com modern connected world with and enjoy. We serve up the best Satellite, Cable & Broadband security made for people. movies, shows and videos from We protect digital content, across live TV, on-demand, transteluniversal.pt applications, and devices with streaming services and countless Indonesia intuitive, people-centered and apps, helping people to watch C: saeful anwar frictionless security. Leading on their terms. For studios, T: +62811926215 brands turn to Verimatrix to networks and advertisers, TiVo E: [email protected] secure everything from premium delivers a passionate group of Satellite, Cable & Broadband movies and live streaming watchers to increase viewership sports, to sensitive fi nancial TTI and engagement across all and healthcare data, to mission- Taiwan screens. Go to tivo.com and critical mobile applications. C: Woody Liu enjoy watching. Verimatrix helps partners to T: +88636661586 get to market faster, scale E: [email protected] easily, protect valuable revenue www.tti.tv Synamedia streams, and win new business. United Kingdom Satellite, Cable & Broadband C: Head offi ce T: +441784774774 V T: +33606637511 E: globalmarketing@synamedia. E: [email protected] V-Nova com www.witbe.net www.synamedia.com United Kingdom Satellite, Cable & Broadband Satellite, Cable & Broadband C: Adriana Martinez ciutat T: +447799289802 Y T E: [email protected] www.v-nova.com Young Hollywood TELEWIZJA POLSAT LTD Broadband United States Poland C: Barry Cohen C: ARTUR CICHOWICZ W T: +13104812282 T: +48225144207 E: [email protected] Witbe E: [email protected] www.younghollywood.com www.polsat.com.pl France www.younghollywoodtv.com C: Broadband Etienne Hoegeli Broadband

page thirty five CSI magazine • Buyers Guide Buyers Guide 2020 www.csimagazine.com

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