MEDIA TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION ISSUE- 48 • JUNEi 2021
Getting a clearer view on the sustainability challenge Plus T&I Award 2021 – the nominees How RTÉ surfs the change-waves Advances in fake news detection and more...
tech-i | tech.ebu.chtech.ebu.ch/subscribe | June 2021 1 Issue 48 •- Junei 2021 4 7 Cover story: The inaugural EBU Sustainability Summit was held on Earth Day 2021, bringing together around 400 online participants. On pages 10–11, there is a report from ARTE on measuring the carbon footprint of digital systems; page 12 features on overview of some key presentations from the Summit.
Editor-in-Chief: Antonio Arcidiacono Managing Editor: Patrick Wauthier 9 14 16 Editor: Eoghan O’Sullivan [email protected] Design: Louise Tait Contents Printed on FSC certified paper by Graphius (FSC CO14767) 3 Keeping innovation alive through the next crisis Antonio Arcidiacono on creating a more resilient R&D&I © European Broadcasting Union All rights reserved. The reproduction ecosystem of articles in tech-i is authorized only 4 EBU Technology & Innovation Award 2021 with the written permission of the Which projects are in the running this year? publishers. The responsibility for views 6 Sharing video expertise and enthusiasm expressed in tech-i rests solely with Meet the people leading EBU work on video systems the authors. 7 Securing a place for television in the age of the internet Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg is piloting DVB-I 8 Finding the right transcription tool for the job A collaborative project helps Members to benchmark transcription tools 9 Faky: fighting the spread of misinformation RTBF’s new platform for fake-news detection 10 Measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of arte.tv New to measurement provide a more complete picture 12 Sustainability and media technology: start with an honest assessment of the facts TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Report from the inaugural EBU Sustainability Summit Get an edge 13 Content distribution and production in the UHF band: a virtuous circle for broadcasters • Our goal is to be an incubator to advance media technology. The EBU is calling for stability in how the UHF band is allocated • We catalyse innovations so they 14 Testing the production of Next Generation Audio in an all-IP deliver for all players environment • We stimulate active collaboration so SRF tests how Next Generation Audio can be produced efficiently that you get more than innovative technology – you get a real 15 Designing better audio experiences: put the user at the centre competitive advantage. Coming up with fresh approaches to audio user inferfaces 16 In my opinion: Surfing the change-waves Sign up to receive tech-i magazine, Director of Operations, Technology and Transformation at RTÉ, EBU Technology & Innovation newsletters or event alerts: tech.ebu. Richard Waghorn ch/subscribe 17 Partner Profiles: ITU How standards boost the benefits of broadcasting EBU Members are encouraged to follow and contribute to the work 18 Competitive pressures underscore the need for partnership at of our Strategic Programmes and European level Communities of Practice. The latest research from the EBU Media Intelligence Service 19 In the spotlight: Krzysztof Kucharski Visit: tech.ebu.ch/ourwork Senior Expert, Technology Department, TVP
2 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 EDITORIAL Keeping innovation alive through the next crisis Antonio Arcidiacono, Director of Technology & Innovation, EBU
Later this month we will name companies and reducing the winner of the EBU expensive medium–long-term Technology & Innovation Award investments that they, at that 2021 from among the 24 projects specific moment in time, would listed on pages 4–5. Looking not likely make. through the entries – the highest This new innovation effort number received since the award should receive substantial and was inaugurated five years ago urgent support from European – I take heart from the fact that funded R&D and national the spirit of innovation is clearly innovation projects. This is alive and well across the EBU explicitly indicated in the membership. The diversity of December 2020 action plan1 of topics and approaches is also the European Commission. A heartening, from remote specific reference is made to production and authoring tools “Recovery and Resilience Plans” to innovative devices, apps and providing national reforms and platforms, virtual studios, AI enterprises (SMEs) that represent investments to contribute to implementations, cloud, the vast majority of all businesses “strengthening European news sustainability and much more. (I in the EU do not have the media and audiovisual digital encourage you to make necessary cash for R&D and capacities, including through connections – a new innovation (R&D&I) and often live multi-country projects, such as collaboration may be just around on the brink of a funding crisis. co-productions of European the corner!) Even public structures, also content, EU media data space That many of these projects under the pressure of recurring infrastructure, or equity have come to fruition in the crises, are victims of reduced investment to foster European difficult conditions of the past funding and must almost audiovisual production or year is a testimony to the mechanically reduce their staff distribution.” Such support resourcefulness and resilience, and in particular their medium- should go beyond the and often to the passion, of the and long-term investments. development phase and also help technologists and creators in our Innovation only works in the with initially commercializing the community. Of course, in some medium to long term. And results of the innovation projects. cases it was specifically the restarting it, despite the best As I have previously observed2, pandemic that generated the political claims, is complicated. A the EBU is today the largest necessary momentum, but all of ‘normal’ company will often structure coordinating European these projects represent public prefer not to draw on funds for media R&D&I activities. I believe service media (PSM) innovating innovation if it risks financial it is thus the natural candidate to under increasingly difficult strain later, having to repay loans, lead such an effort targeting circumstances. however subsidized, or to innovation in media technology. continue paying the salaries of If we can take the innovative RECURRING CRISES people hired. spirit epitomized by the 2021 T&I The recurring economic crises of What, then, is the solution? Award nominees, working recent decades have pushed How can we unblock sustained alongside our counterparts in the many companies in Europe to innovation? private media sector, and fuse progressively stop innovating that with Europe’s deep pools of and to reduce investment in INNOVATION ON-DEMAND academic and industrial talent, research and development. While What we need are stable we can build a sustainable the COVID-19 crisis has served to structures with which companies, structure that will keep alive the spark and accelerate innovation public and/or private, can partner flame of innovation, sustain in some domains, in the longer for their R&D&I with an ‘on- growth, and develop a resilient term its deep budgetary impacts demand’ approach. We must join ecosystem that would also will also be felt – and PSM will forces to support the creation of generate the momentum not be immune. these flexible and modular required to survive through Large companies often look at structures. This is what would future crises. short-term financial results; the make it possible to innovate, 1 tinyurl.com/media-action-plan small and medium-sized limiting the risk for motivated 2 See tech-i 47, March 2021 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 3 NEWS & EVENTS T&I Award 2021: and the nominees are…
Now in its fifth year, the EBU Technology & Innovation Award provides an opportunity to shine a light on some of the most creative technologists, developers and researchers from Europe’s public service media community. A total of 24 projects were nominated for this year’s award; here we present a brief description of each one, along with contact details you can use to request more information or enquire about a potential collaboration. The winner of the T&I Award 2021 will be announced during the EBU Technical Assembly on 9 June after 16:30 CEST. For information on how to access the stream, visit: tech.ebu.ch/events/ta2021
Audio Orchestrator production tool for multi- device audio experiences BBC, UK • Contact: Jon Francombe, jon.francombe@bbc.co.uk A software tool for prototyping audio experiences that are orchestrated across multiple devices, opening immersive and interactive audio to a much wider range of listeners.
EAR (EBU ADM Renderer) Production Suite BBC, UK & IRT, Germany • Contact: Chris Pike, [email protected] A set of production tools that empowers in plug-in hybrid vehicles, reducing both operating broadcasters to create spatial and personalizable costs and emissions. audio using open standards, driving interoperability in production tools and workflows. Home Planet app to gamify sustainable living ITV, UK • Contact: Matt O’Shea, BBC Sounds: an integrated audio platform [email protected] BBC, UK • Contact: Lloyd Shepherd, This mobile application, built in-house using a no- [email protected] code platform, underpins a campaign to encourage Sounds is the new home for radio, music and all staff to live more sustainably, driving real cultural podcasts at the BBC, giving listeners a personal, change within ITV. relevant experience and offering them more control and flexibility. Remote cloud-based editing solution ITV, UK • Contact: Tim Guilder, [email protected] BBC News Virtual Production Tools The ITV Studios team accelerated its development of BBC, UK • Contact: Morwen Williams, remote and cloud-based editing solutions that are [email protected] both agile and scalable, reducing the carbon footprint Three transformational tools: Toucan for fast- and increasing productivity. turnaround remote TV interviews; Pre Rec for quality audio on pre-recorded distanced discussions; Virtual OBECA – evolving the 5G Broadcast ecosystem Audience for connecting audiences with studios. ORF, Austria • Contact: Stefan Babel, Low-cost mobile Augmented Reality production kit [email protected] France Télévisions, France • Contact: Christophe de OBECA (Open Broadcast Edge Vallambras, [email protected] Cache Appliance) is a modular The “JP Tech” kit – named after its inventor – uses open-source 5G Broadcast technology from video games and virtual reality to receiver platform enabling the community to develop enable low-cost production of live, mobile and tomorrow’s hybrid “broadband meets broadcast” interactive AR sequences anywhere. solutions.
Newsgathering vehicles with low carbon emissions Digital data hub ITV, UK • Contact: Tim Guilder, [email protected] ORF, Austria • Contact: Jürgen Schöner, The ITV Daytime team developed a lightweight, agile [email protected] streaming solution for remote newsgathering, housed A software stack to aggregate and transform the
4 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 huge amounts of programme-related metadata Reimagining the future generated by linear broadcast systems for use on of radio apps non-linear online services. SWR, Germany • Contact: Daniel Freytag, [email protected] Agile video editing The SWR mobile app gives users the ORF, Austria • Contact: Sebastian Blaha, ability to instantly replay and save both music and [email protected] segments to their personal playlist, all in an easy-to- A solution for remote editing of broadcast quality use radio service. video over public internet but rendered in the central broadcasting MAM. Already commercialized and in Virtual studio production using game engines use by other broadcasters. VRT, Belgium • Contact: Dries Tastenhoye, dries.tastenhoye@vrt.be Efficient production of companion screen Demonstrate the capabilities of a virtual studio based applications on COTS hardware, leveraging the power of game Rai, Italy • Contact: Alberto Messina, engines for high-value to small-scale live productions. [email protected] The RaiBridge system enables editorial teams to Automated metadata extraction from online videos efficiently author companion screen content, Yle, Finland • Contact: Pia Virtanen, delivered on a single customizable app, greatly [email protected] enriching the user experience. Implementation on the Yle Areena player of automated thumbnail selection and preview video An avatar for sign language applications extraction, reducing the manual work involved and Rai, Italy • Contact: Gino Alberico, increasing click-through rates. [email protected] A platform based on a virtual actor (avatar), enabling Automated subject indexing applications for LIS (Italian Sign Language) such as Yle, Finland • Contact: Irene Nikkarinen, teaching and automatic generation of weather [email protected] forecast reports. Adopting an open-source subject indexing tool called Annif has reduced manual work and improved the Producing live in “hyper sound” quality of Yle’s metadata, contributing to improved RTVE, Spain • Contact: Carmen Pérez Cernuda discoverability of content. carmen.perez.cernuda@rtve.es A concert streamed live from the Prado Museum was Monitoring regional TV news using audio mixed and encoded using Dolby Atmos, enabling fingerprints placement of sounds in three-dimensional space for Yle, Finland • Contact: Toni Ljungberg, total audio immersion. [email protected] This proof of concept uses audio fingerprinting to Pilot broadcast of 8K UHD over DVB-T2 automatically monitor regional news output, helping RTVE, Spain • Contact: Adolfo Muñoz, to avoid the wrong content being played out in a [email protected] given region. A broadcast in October 2020 demonstrated the feasibility of delivering 8K UHD services over get.it – a cloud-based metadata platform terrestrial networks with existing technology, using ZDF, Germany • Contact: Thomas Urban, HEVC video coding and DVB-T2. urban.t@zdf.de A solution to map and translate data from different 5G and cloud for multiplatform content production applications into a common ZDF-specific model, and distribution making it available to anyone, to support cross-media RTVE, Spain • Contact: David Corral, production and publication. [email protected] A live concert produced by Radio3 was delivered to HoLo Box: an all-in-one communication box both online and broadcast platforms in multiple ZDF, Germany • Contact: Michael Hoitz, formats using a multi-camera signal routed via 5G to [email protected] a cloud-based virtual mixer. Compact voice-guided system allowing journalists in the field to connect to ZDF’s infrastructure via LTE/ News values – the public service algorithm KA-SAT, enabling communication and secure access Sveriges Radio, Sweden • Contact: Jörgen Bang, to archives and drives. [email protected] The algorithm used to automate SR’s news playlists is centred on news values and gives prominence to stories rated as having high public service value.
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 5 VIDEO SYSTEMS Sharing video expertise and enthusiasm Video technology forms the basis of most of the EBU Members’ activities. It allows content and services to be created in ever higher quality, ever faster. At the same time available technical expertise is falling. Here is how the EBU helps.
Public service media organizations are a heterogeneous group. They vary in size, age, resources, R&D capacity, market position, and so on. Technical staff working for these companies typically share a great enthusiasm for video technology and its use, but the expertise to use it optimally is not always at hand or the scale to perform large testing exercises is missing. The EBU helps by pooling Members together, maximizing the sharing of knowledge, experiences and available resources. History has shown this model works very well, especially in times of crisis, but also that it needs continuous adaptation. Recently the EBU’s video work has undergone such changes. The liquidation of the German research institute IRT accelerated a process that was under way already, namely the shift to a larger set of smaller projects led by different Members. Here we present four leaders of such work. For more details, or to follow or contribute to the work, see: tech.ebu.ch/video
Simon Thompson (BBC) Kayatri Rangarajan Simon is leading the umbrella (CBC / Radio-Canada) group for the EBU’s video work, Kayatri is driving the creation Video Systems & Workflows. Its of EBU guidance on the use of main focus at the moment is on ‘non-standard’ aspect ratios in the measurement of production and archiving. professional video monitors, Social media applications often especially when used with HDR use 9:16 and even 1:1 aspect (high dynamic range) images. ratios, which has raised Simon has undertaken much questions about the optimum pioneering work in this domain, including many way of handling such material in editing and live HDR production trials, SDR <> HDR format archiving operations. An internal CBC study on conversions, colour/levels research and monitor the topic and an EBU Tech Roundtable have tests. The group is currently finalizing an update helped to define the main options and a set of to EBU Tech 3325, which helps Members measure do’s and don’ts. Besides writing up guidance for their own studio monitors. The new version will other Members, the work also includes be accompanied by new test material, including encouraging better support for non-standard more challenging test colours. aspect ratios in standards and production tools.
Karl Petermichl (ORF) Roberto Iacoviello (RAI) With his managerial background In April 2021, a new group and operational expertise as a covering work on subjective broadcast engineer, Karl and objective evaluations was understands the need for clear, created. This Video Evaluation practical guidance on complex group covers the quality- topics. This is exactly what the checking of codecs, the UHDTV Strategy Support group creation of test sequences, and is aiming to provide. This the testing of AI-powered initiative, which Karl leads, is algorithms. The latter are currently creating guidance for the contribution of especially relevant for the upsampling of content UHDTV material both in live and file-based form. from SD to HD and from HD to UHD. Leadership This will facilitate UHDTV content exchange and is in the trusted hands of Roberto Iacoviello help Members that are not yet using UHD and (RAI). His current research is on AI techniques NGA technologies to start putting future-proof applied to video compression and point clouds. practices in place. His energetic and to-the-point Roberto is actively involved in several codec style mean the group’s calls never include a dull standardization organizations. moment and the speed is high.
6 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY Securing a place for television in the age of the internet Public service media must use their existing reach to direct users to new platforms and services. Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (rbb), part of the ARD network, is exploring how DVB-I can help with this, writes Remo Vogel. After I saw the Eurovision Song Contest broadcast as a live stream in the late 90s, I was totally convinced that television would be devoured by the internet within 10 years. It didn’t happen that quickly. But today, those working on the transformation of public service media (PSM) distribution can see that we have a final window of opportunity for television to secure its place in the age of the internet. A smartphone showing an EPG delivered with DVB-I SERVING THE CORD-CUTTERS The digital transformation is still at a relatively early stage for homogeneous user experience. technology, you simply have to PSM. While other industries have Thus DVB-I allows a smooth try it out and gain practical already had to completely turn migration from broadcast to experience. That’s why we their business models upside broadband and gives control to decided in mid-2020 to start down, classic broadcasting PSM organizations over priorities with a DVB-I pilot at rbb. As we continues to work amazingly and quality parameters. use the DVB-SI (service well. At the same time, we are While the technology is still in information) playout for the experiencing a strong change in an early phase, several markets entire ARD network in Potsdam, user behaviour, especially among are examining the potential of we can provide the service lists younger generations. On the one DVB-I. In addition to the private and programme data for ARD hand, there is a tendency broadcasters, completely new and ZDF in our DVB-I service list towards consuming content on players are emerging. Therefore, with modest effort. We have demand, without regard for it is extremely important for us to been using MPEG-DASH linear schedules; on the other actively shape the start-up phase livestreams for other use cases hand, we also see a trend and to secure the interests of for quite some time. Thanks to towards the use of linear services PSM. This includes both service the DVB-I reference application via IP. While the big screen is prominence on future devices provided by the DVB Project, we booming, there is a growing and applications as well as the can concentrate completely on number of so-called ‘cord- availability of features like our role, the provision of cutters’ – users giving up entirely accessibility. ARD and ZDF are metadata and streams. on multichannel television collaborating on describing a We are at the beginning of our services – seeking only OTT- service scope that reflects our implementation and intend to device support, from big screens interests in a first draft “Profile expand it in iterative steps. We to smartphones. for DVB-I usage”. will ensure our activity aligns Up to now, live streaming has with developments in the global taken place in an unstructured DVB-I PILOT and national ecosystem and aim way using proprietary solutions. To really get a picture of the to support the market While the streaming technology potentials and weaknesses of a introduction of DVB-I. itself is (most recently with MPEG-DASH) very mature, there EBU HbbTV and DVB-I Group has been no standardized The HbbTV and DVB-I interoperability group is designed for approach for access on the big broadcasters to share best practices. It will also work to improve screen. This is exactly where the interoperability of HbbTV in the markets where EBU Members DVB-I comes in, combining are active. The group is chaired by Christian Klöckner (WDR) and classic broadcast with OTT in a Remo Vogel (rbb). See: tech.ebu.ch/groups/hbbtv_dvb-i hybrid approach and allowing a
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 7 SPEECH RECOGNITION Finding the right transcription tool for the job An EBU-led project helps Members to select the right transcription tools for different use cases. Eyal Lavi (BBC), Alberto Messina (RAI) and Alexandre Rouxel (EBU) explain how BenchmarkSTT is evolving.
Two important aspects of the public service media remit are accessibility and the preservation of language diversity. The burgeoning market for translation and transcription tools may not always sufficiently account for these needs, making it all the more important to pick the right tool for a given job. Automatic speech-to-text (STT) algorithms can have enormous operational value where large for benchmarking automatic speech recognition amounts of audiovisual content are processed. models, but it can be a blunt tool. It treats all words Examples include metadata generation and the as equally important but in reality some words, like production of subtitles, enabling new accessibility proper nouns and phrases, are more significant. services and for the more efficient use of archives. When these are recognized correctly by a model, Every language has its specificities. When it comes they should be given more weight. Version 1.1 of to using STT transcription services, special BenchmarkSTT, recently released, thus introduced characters, accents, capital letters and punctuation new metrics, namely the character error rate (CER) can all impact the meaning of a transcript. The large and – to address the problem just described – the number of commercial STT vendors and the rapid ‘bag of entities’ error rate (BEER). development of new algorithms make for a dynamic BenchmarkSTT is open source and available on and complex landscape. BenchmarkSTT was both GitHub and PyPI, where there is extensive developed as a simple and service-agnostic tool to documentation and a detailed step-by-step tutorial. help choose the best STT implementation for a The team is now developing metrics to evaluate the given use case. quality of speaker diarization, showing ‘who spoke This production-ready tool, first released in April when’. 2020, was created in response to requests from the BenchmarkSTT was developed by the EBU membership, where there is a huge diversity of Flemish Institute for Archiving (VIAA), BBC (UK), native languages. Unlike other tools in the area of AI Rai (Italy), Sveriges Radio (Sweden) and France and machine learning, this command-line tool was Télévisions, under the umbrella of the EBU. designed to be used by non-specialists. Visit tech.ebu.ch/production and click on AI The word error rate (WER) is the standard metric Benchmarking.
Who is using BenchmarkSTT? try to identify the content types for which the automated transcription gives the best results (e.g. Deutsche Welle, Germany news content). DW is evaluating transcription, translation and voice Sveriges Radio synthesis AI tools for the development of a cognitive The Swedish broadcaster contributes to the platform. Subjective and objective evaluation metrics BenchmarkSTT project with a view to having a better are combined, with BenchmarkSTT used for way to benchmark different transcription engines and evaluating transcription. help evaluate them. The use of WER and CER TV 2, Norway provides data to be used as part of ongoing Benchmark STT allows TV 2 to compare progress in evaluations of different vendors. quality development for different vendors. The Rai – Radiotelevisione Italiana broadcaster’s backend AIHub obtains transcripts In the context of a greater focus on integrating from different vendors for clips taken from an internal available AI cloud services in strategic production and FTP video receiver tool, using release 1.1 of publication processes, BenchmarkSTT is used for the BenchmarkSTT running on Docker to evaluate them. evaluation of different STT vendors. Radio France BBC BenchmarkSTT is used to assess the added value of BenchmarkSTT was used to compare various STT transcribing audio content into text to feed search algorithms used in the in-house transcription API as and recommandation features. Already using the well as for a small-scale study of subtitles as ground- WER for a rough evaluation of the transcription truth data. The study suggested that it may be quality, they plan to use the BEER feature to help possible to use subtitles, rather than expensive, improve performance with respect to the words manually created transcripts, as reference for selected by the recommendation engine. Finally, they calculating WER.
8 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 FAKE NEWS DETECTION
You can learn more An EBU tool about Faky at faky.be for fake news detection Alexandre Rouxel and Pierre Fouché (EBU)
Human performance in detecting fake news by analysing only the content without knowing the context and the facts is very poor – not much better than random choice. This has been confirmed through rigorous experiments by psychologists. At the EBU, we Faky: fighting the spread have developed our own AI models to detect fake news of misinformation using linguistic properties. As a complement to the A new platform from Belgium’s RTBF provides users with fact-checking approach, which access to a range of tools to evaluate online information. requires a thorough Grégoire Ryckmans explains what it offers. understanding of the context, the EBU eXplainable tagging In an effort to fight against Those articles from Le Monde tool uses natural language misinformation, which has been also form part of the second processing. The tool computes a on the rise in recent years, RTBF element of the platform, which is reliability score and explains has developed a fact-checking its feed of the latest fact-checking how the text’s lexical, platform accessible to everyone. articles published by partner grammatical, psychological and Faky offers several tools to help newsrooms. Alongside those semantic properties influence both journalists and citizens to published by RTBF journalists, the score. It also goes one step evaluate the reliability of a given there are also the articles from further by indicating the article, website or image. Les Décodeurs, and similar sentences or psychological traits There are four main features on services run by Franceinfo, TV5 of the text that most affect the the platform. First and foremost is Monde, France 24 and Radio- score. the possibility to submit for Canada, as well as from the We are developing an API, analysis any article (in the French collaborative platform Hoax Net. open for EBU Members, to language) by pasting its URL into As a third option, Faky also attribute explainable reliability the search box. Independent and offers a general search, allowing scores to their content. As we partner-developed tools then users to search for fact-checking design and train our models, we analyse the URL through different articles related to a given theme can quickly adapt them to new information prisms such as or based on keywords. For trends and emerging topics. We source, content, syntax or example, should a visitor want to are now collaborating with RTBF dissemination. know whether Bill Gates really to handle articles in French and The article’s reliability is said “we should eliminate three open our API to Faky. assessed by the Crowlingo billion people”, with a few clicks, We are also working towards platform; its content is analysed they will find the answer. (Hint: he exposing a new API for by an AI-based ‘disinformation didn’t!) authorship and source detector’ developed on behalf of Finally, there is an image attributions. [email protected] RTBF; and its subjectivity is verification tool. It uses a ‘reverse evaluated by Textgain, a tool that image search’ to help discover relies on natural language whether a photo has been MDN Workshop 2021 processing (NLP). Articles are retouched, hijacked or The projects described on this also cross-checked using two decontextualized. This feature page were presented by the products from the French allows the user to find the authors during the recent newspaper Le Monde, the different sites where the same Metadata Developer Network Décodex tool that checks the image has been published to find workshop. The slides and source of the article and the Les the source and see, for example, videos are available here: Décodeurs series of fact-checking whether it has been the subject of tech.ebu.ch/mdn21 articles. fact checking.
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 9 SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS Measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of arte.tv Existing measurement tools don’t provide a complete picture of the carbon footprint for online platforms, but new approaches are emerging, writes Kemal Görgülü, CTO of ARTE.
Sustainability is one of ARTE’s end-to-end stack within a core values. Not only have controlled environment. environmental issues always GreenFrame isn’t yet capable had a place in our programme of giving an accurate estimate catalogue, but they also play of the footprint of the arte.tv an essential role in shaping our system in production. It focuses in-house energy policy, technical on reproducing the digital infrastructure, and various system in a lab environment. other fields – including digital Furthermore, while it may But by doing so, it provides activities. By identifying potential be possible to quantify the precious and reproducible key for reducing our digital carbon environmental impact of server- indicators that make it possible footprint, we aim to induce a side infrastructure fairly easily, to assess the evolution of the sustainable change in mindsets doing so on the client side is all arte.tv carbon footprint over time and behaviours as early as the the more difficult. The only way as new features are regularly programming stage. But where to get accurate system metrics added by developers. It allows us to start from? like CPU or network consumption to raise awareness of good and An important first step towards on the client side is to have users bad development practices with prioritizing appropriate actions install third-party software with respect to carbon footprint. It was to get a clear picture of the administrator privileges – not also allows us to clearly highlight carbon footprint of our digital a viable option with regard to the link between sustainability, system, specifically our arte.tv security and data protection performance, and the user platform. However, existing requirements. experience on our platform. measurement tools proved to be insufficient to obtain a FULL-STACK MODEL HOW DOES IT WORK? comprehensive end-to-end vision The good news is that some On the frontend, GreenFrame of the impact. They evaluate the experimental solutions are conducts end-to-end tests by footprint of only one part of a emerging to fill this gap. We simulating typical user scenarios digital system – the client, the have realized a proof of concept (Fig. 1). server, or the network. In doing with one of them, GreenFrame It uses Docker to encapsulate so, they create an incentive to (formerly Argos), a promising each component of the system move emissions from one part of framework based on scientific in an isolated container. the system to another part that models and addressing the main While running the scenarios, isn’t measured, thus improving issues listed above. GreenFrame GreenFrame gathers technical the visible metrics but not the allowed us to measure the metrics (CPU, memory, network overallGreen footprint.Frame : Measuringcarbon the footprintdigital of footprint an entire of I/Os,a system disk I/Os) in real time, and
Running a user Collection of Component Our model calculates The analysis report scenario on the technical metrics isolation via the energy allows developers client desktop on system containerization consumption of each to find components component in Watt optimizations and hours detect best practices
Figure 1. How GreenFrame measures the carbon footprint of a digital system
10 tech-i |12 tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 2 Mois de collaboration Modules Open-source avec le Loria Marmelab 2013-2021. All rights reserved 4 Rue Girardet 54000 Nancy France Reducing our global carbon footprint means first and foremost reducing our client- side energy consumption. The challenge will be to find a balance between reducing the carbon footprint without compromising the UI/UX. As a positive side effect, this will also mean significantly improving page and video loading times.
WHAT’S NEXT? We will continue to use GreenFrame at ARTE and integrate it into our CI system in Figure 2. The client device and the network account for the vast majority of energy use. order to detect regression early in our development processes. We will also take the example of “The challenge will be to find a balance other important issues like web performance and security, and between reducing the carbon footprint determine a monthly ‘carbon without compromising the UI/UX.” budget’, combined with an internal set of rules to limit (and reduce) energy consumption. A further approach will be to give greater consideration to environmental criteria when choosing, for example, a new CDN provider, as this represents a large part of our video infrastructure. CDNs currently transforms them into the same LIMITATIONS AND RESULTS don’t provide CO2 emissions unit, watt-hours. Based on an For our proof of concept, led metrics, but they will if enough energy mix, watt-hours can by François Dume and Olivier customers require them. easily be converted to carbon Hoffschir, we were able to get Finally, we’re aware that emissions, which convey a clear the project started quickly optimizing the footprint of overview of the digital system because we were already in a service can lead to more footprint. Each scenario is run the process of converting all usage, and ultimately to greater a dozen times to get a strong, our applications to a container- emissions. We want to offer accurate signal and reduce the based infrastructure. Having this transparency to our viewers so standard deviation. kind of architecture in place is that they can make informed That means GreenFrame tracks a strong requirement for using decisions about how they watch the entire system: the frontend, this tool. But some services ARTE videos. the backend, the database, and (databases, APIs, CDN) proved Then, all requirements will the network. to be more difficult to integrate be met for a virtuous circle The process of running into this controlled environment. allowing us to induce sustainable GreenFrame tests is fully In some cases we thus had to business transformation automated and, thanks to its simulate services, for example at ARTE, thus meeting our container-based architecture, it using static text files, which may responsibility as public service runs smoothly in any continuous have led to underestimates. media to do our part in integration (CI) and deployment The initial results weren’t improving the environmental (CD) system. New analyses necessarily revolutionary impact of our industry. can be triggered each time a and basically confirmed our developer pushes a change assumptions that the majority of GreenFrame (greenframe.io) in the code, giving us the energy consumption is indeed was created by Marmelab possibility to detect any kind on the user side (browser, (marmelab.com/en). of improvement or regression screen, network, ...). They also EBU Members can view Kemal in the environmental footprint highlighted that video transit Görgülü’s presentation of the global system before and decoding form the bulk of on this topic at deploying a new feature to the carbon emissions of a media BroadThinking 2021 here: production. service like arte.tv (Fig. 2). tech.ebu.ch/broadthinking2021
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 11 EBU SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT
Sustainability and media technology: start with an honest assessment of the facts One key takeaway from the recent EBU Sustainability Summit was the need to base actions on hard data, writes the EBU’s Hemini Mehta.
The EBU’s first Sustainability Summit, aptly held on Earth Day (22 April), attracted more than 400 online participants from around the world. They came together around a shared commitment to finding ways to Tim Davis Roy Schwartz reduce the environmental impact of the media industry. Opening with a look at policy-driven approaches at the global and European levels, the programme moved onto foundational concepts Miguel Coma Katie Singer such as the circular economy, sustainability strategies and relying on fixed line internet. 5G ON THE WAY targeting net-zero impacts. A Data like this gives ITV a much A third technology of growing session on green tech – see clearer idea of where changes interest to broadcasters and below – was followed by parallel can have the biggest impact. where sustainability is increasingly workshops on green production, in focus is 5G. IT architect Miguel held in multiple languages. GREENER AI Coma summarized the likely Data is also key to research on environmental impacts as 5G rolls DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY making AI more sustainable, out: the biggest culprits in terms Kicking off the green tech presented by Roy Schwartz of energy consumption will be the session, Tim Davis of ITV (UK) of the Hebrew University of access networks and data centres, discussed the need to “design for Jerusalem. With this technology and the embodied energy (i.e., sustainability”. With a public goal becoming ubiquitous in many energy spent on manufacturing, of achieving net-zero carbon fields, including media (e.g. including the devices and emissions by 2030, and based for translation and in voice batteries, etc.). Impacts related to on the principle that “information interfaces), concerns include extraction of fossil fuels and rare generates insight”, ITV has joined the environmental impact of earth elements also need to be DIMPACT. This is a collaborative deep-learning models that accounted for. project that aims to take the grow bigger all the time, but It’s an area that requires an complexity out of calculating also the billions of smaller honest assessment, said writer carbon emissions across the AI-driven interactions that Katie Singer: “I live in the ‘I entire digital media value chain. happen daily with web searches, don’t know’ a lot; they are just It enables ITV to model the recommendations, etc. enormous problems, but unless impact of its digital offerings by The hardest challenge in we’re honest about the whole calculating energy consumption calculating the true carbon cradle-to-cradle situation, we’re both internally (e.g. data centres) footprint of AI is in how to not going to be getting honest and externally (e.g. when viewers measure it. This challenge is answers.” consume the content, with addressed by, in the first place, For 5G, the answers could lie, delivery bitrates being one key enhancing the reporting of for example, in deploying it only variable). AI success rates so that the where really needed, such as ITV found that, for digital achievement of different levels in small-scale private networks content, the delivery mechanism of accuracy is mapped against targeting Industry 4.0, or using made the single biggest a given budget level (where wired alternatives wherever contribution to the total carbon that budget could be stated in possible. emissions. Furthermore, while terms of electricity or carbon). cellular networks represented Dr Schwartz and his colleagues, Videos and slides are roughly 50% of the carbon who have been promoting available from: tech.ebu.ch/ generated for digital distribution, efficiency as a core evaluation sustainability2021 that related to only 2.5% of the for AI, have seen that there is a Find out more about EBU T&I actual content consumption, with growing awareness of this aspect activities around sustainability: the vast majority of consumption of using AI. tech.ebu.ch/groups/spsm
12 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 SPECTRUM POLICY
Content distribution and production in the UHF band: a virtuous circle for broadcasters David Hemingway (BBC), chair of the EBU strategic programme on spectrum, explains why stability in how the UHF band is allocated is essential to maximize innovation and public value.
For the last 50 years, we have content to be made and relied on the UHF frequency delivered to our audiences. That, band for delivery of terrestrial however, should not detract from television. The move from the continued importance of analogue to digital allowed the broadcast delivery of our release of some of the UHF band programmes. Consumption of AV to be used instead for mobile content is shifting to IP, but broadband systems – first 4G slowly, much more slowly than and now 5G. Broadcasters also many predicted. For public use the UHF band for service content, delivering high programme production social and cultural value across technologies, interleaved Europe, broadcasting remains between the television supremely important. More than transmissions: radio mics, 80% of our viewing and listening talkback systems and in-ear is still delivered through monitors. We have innovated in broadcast platforms: terrestrial those too: moving to digital (DTT, FM, DAB), satellite and systems, squeezing more cable. These numbers very channels into the same spectrum between countries, of course – and moving out of spectrum for some EBU Members, online earmarked for mobile broadband. David Hemingway delivery is higher but for many it Regardless of how we distribute remains low. our finished content or how important DTT is in our countries, CHANGES NOT NECESSARY we all use those production At the 2023 World systems for making programmes Radiocommunication Conference – without them, our content (WRC-23), national regulators offering would be much poorer. from Europe, Africa and the Middle East will discuss the YOUNGER AUDIENCES future use of the remaining UHF And we continue to innovate in data costs. Even better, it can be spectrum that we use for DTT. the technology we use to deliver used in the existing UHF band, The EBU believes that we can our content. We need to respond under the rules of the Geneva continue to innovate in our use to changing audience behaviour, 2006 Agreement, requiring no of this band, both to create and especially among younger new spectrum to be allocated. to deliver public value for our audiences. Reaching younger Broadcasters could (subject to audiences in new and exciting audiences is challenging, due to agreement with their national ways, without the need to make both the type of content they regulator, of course) swap out changes in the international enjoy and the ways we deliver it. DVB-based systems for 5G treaty that governs use of radio Their preferred viewing device Broadcast – this is especially spectrum. has moved from TV sets to attractive in those countries Broadcasters have created a smartphones and tablets. Direct where DTT take-up is low. For virtuous circle in their use of UHF delivery to those devices, in a those Members operating in spectrum: it allows us to both way that is both spectrum- and countries where DTT is distribute our programmes in a cost-efficient, is key. important, they could continue highly efficient way, helping to The EBU has been looking at to use DTT for as long as their ensure universal access to public ways to utilize mobile networks audiences demand it. service content, and we use it for that could be beneficial to One of the great innovations of programme-making applications, Members. To that end we have the last decade or so, of course, creating content that would not added elements into the 5G has been the ability to deliver be possible without it. standard that can enable a ‘5G content by IP. This isn’t just a Destabilizing this arrangement Broadcast’ system capable of great leap forward in technology, by amending spectrum delivering content to mobile but has enabled, and will management regulation is both devices efficiently and without continue to enable, new types of risky and unnecessary.
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 13 AUDIO PRODUCTION Testing production of Next Generation Audio in an all-IP environment Having embraced SMPTE ST 2110 for its new facilities, SRF is exploring how Next Generation Audio can be handled with maximum efficiency.Adrian Hilber, Andreas Weiss and Markus Brockmann describe a recent proof of concept. The use of object-based audio (OBA) allows us to kill two birds with one stone: we can offer personalized sound experiences while also optimizing the use of bandwidth. An obvious use case would be a movie or live sports event with one multichannel audio bed and a variety of different languages plus audio description. With OBA, an ‘object’ is essentially an audio stream with accompanying descriptive metadata. By using dynamic metadata, the end user can be given the freedom to choose how the available audio objects are played back in their Clockwise from top left: Faders on the desk controlling only metadata; specific listening environment. protocol convertor between desk and PMD Studio; Audio Metadata Viewer on For SRF, doing all of this with the receiver side; PMD Studio with different gains for the same IS input. ST 2110 IP-based workflows is critical. This was the driver a broadcaster, as technology is authoring tool. Here we had for our proof of concept in changing faster and faster. to develop our own protocol collaboration with Dolby converter to interface our Laboratories Inc. PROOF OF CONCEPT console with the PMD studio. In The solution takes the mixing Our test aimed to prove how our view, a good way to go is parameters of an audio console dynamic metadata could be the open sound control (OSC) and uses this data to control used for a sports transmission protocol with an S-ADM profile, an authoring tool (Dolby PMD where we have an ‘international as OSC is widely used in audio Studio) generating the desired sound’ (IS) object and three gear and, with a defined S-ADM metadata. Bringing these commentary objects (for profile, the vocabulary of each parameters into a standard different languages). Each object device would be compatible. protocol (in our case S-ADM) is only transported once but Our test environment used an allows the use and routing of the on the receiver side we have a ST 2110-31 stream to carry the metadata in any standardized different representation for each S-ADM dynamic metadata. This broadcast environment. combination of commentary plus worked well, even if converted Serial ADM – a new professional IS, with the mix controlled by to SDI and back. However, as ST audio metadata format derived generating dynamic metadata. 2110-31 is intended for bigger from the ITU’s Audio Definition This means that the IS object audio streams rather than very Model file format – seems to needs three different gains in small metadata streams, working be the right choice for OBA the metadata, one for each towards a solution that uses ST metadata. It is clear to us that representation, and each 2110-41, specifically intended for even in a modern facility there commentary also needs a ancillary data, seems obvious to is always a need for backward gain. As audio engineers, it is us. compatibility. And though a full important to be able to generate With the audio and the IP-based workflow is the goal, in metadata directly from a mixing metadata in separate streams, reality we often have to deal with desk. Control rooms are already care also must be taken to legacy SDI infrastructure and cluttered with controllers and ensure the indexing data in links. web interfaces, so having another the S-ADM stream that maps The use of open standards and UI for the metadata control audio objects to given channels protocols to ensure maximum should be avoided. remains intact during transport. interoperability between different The first challenge was to We’d be happy to share more products is becoming more get the fader positions from information about the tests. and more important for us as our console to the metadata Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
14 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 AUDIO USER EXPERIENCE Designing better audio experiences: put the user at the centre The EBU Audio Systems group hosted a series of sessions aiming to come up with fresh approaches to user interfaces and experiences for audio. Interaction design researcher Lalya Gaye led the process. Next Generation Audio (NGA) essential design rationales for the promises significant benefits interfaces and sketch out user to audiences, content creators interfaces based on Members’ and broadcasters. It uses use cases. This preliminary work metadata embedded in the is intended to form the basis for audio files and streams. Instead potential future development of creating multiple audio mixes, aimed at providing UI design producers can deliver a single, guidelines to TV manufacturers multi-purpose audio package, and app designers. which can then be rendered and The results of these sessions, played back appropriately on and a description of the process anything from mono devices to used, have now been published sophisticated and fully immersive as EBU Tech Report 061, User audio setups. Accessibility and Experience and Interface ideation personalization features are also for NGA (available via tech.ebu. enabled in this way, such as the ch/publications). The report ability for users to control the describes how interaction design relative playback volume of voice methods put the end user, rather commentaries over the rest of than the technology, at the the programme audio. centre of the thinking process While there is already a good and create interfaces that are understanding of the value more intuitively understood and of immersive audio, many Design sessions with several better adapted to the end user’s in the industry believe that Member representatives daily life. The report will be of personalization of audio has participating were held every interest to professionals working the potential to be even more two weeks. We dived into on designing any kind of media widely appreciated. For example, methods such as persona user interface, but especially the ability to adjust dialogue design, scenarios of use, those related to personalized and levels relative to other sounds bodystorming (brainstorming by immersive sound experiences. will address one of the most physically trying things out) and frequent complaints received by wireframing (drawing overviews Visit the EBU Audio Systems broadcasters. of interactive products to group page to follow and establish the structure and flow contribute to activies related INTERACTION DESIGN of possible design solutions). to audio technology and During a discussion among These sessions helped identify experiences: tech.ebu.ch/as members of the EBU Audio Systems group in the spring Go deep on NGA of 2020, the idea of revisiting A new publication from the EBU and FAME (Forum for Advanced the definition of the user Media in Europe) goes into detail on Ten things you need to know experience (UX) and user about Next Generation Audio. From applications and workflows to interface (UI) in the context costs and timelines, the report offers comprehensive overview of of NGA applications on both the state of the wider NGA ecosystem today. Download it from television receivers and mobile tech.ebu.ch/publications apps emerged. With a view to providing design pespectives for rich and meaningful user- centred experiences, and for more intuitive and enjoyable interfaces, it was decided to run a series of interaction design sessions. Having a background in interaction design and related methodologies, I was asked to guide this process.
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 15 IN MY OPINION Surfing the change-waves as a smart follower
Having adopted a smart follower strategy, Ireland’s RTÉ is better prepared for change, writes Richard Waghorn, Director of Operations, Technology and Transformation.
The pandemic forced us all to change, rapidly. At RTÉ, we implemented some changes in a matter of days, with new ways of working that were previously unthinkable: when choice is no longer an option, necessity drives innovation.
SELF-DISRUPTION Of course, relying on an external disruptor, such as a worldwide pandemic, to force change is not a sustainable model. We need to disrupt ourselves all the time to ensure that we are ready to face the next change-wave, and the one after that. If dealing with change is challenging, given resource constraints and the Richard Waghorn regulated environments we operate in, then failing to “While RTÉ doesn’t have a research and prepare for change is disastrous. When I first arrived at RTÉ, I development function, we do have teams of said to the technology teams people who want to push boundaries.” that we needed to be smart followers. We didn’t need to be the early bird that catches the such as our private cloud, our Accelerator programme: RTÉ worm – that risks wasting the content management system will co-champion five projects limited money and resources and storage platform, our this year, covering 5G, LEO that we have. Instead, we flexible TV studios and new satellites and AR/VR. Staff from needed to be the second mouse productivity solutions are doing technology and operations are that gets the cheese – the wily their job – they’ve disrupted the involved in various EBU groups, follower often secures the way we work, facilitated change and we continue to innovate sustained competitive and ultimately enabled RTÉ to with projects that will transform advantage. strengthen its game. the way we work. And, along Being the smart follower the way, we’ve picked up two required us to disrupt INNOVATION CULTURE IBC Innovation Awards. established norms. In order to And we’re becoming smarter Getting the smart follower be ready to surf the next innovators. While RTÉ doesn’t strategy right means we can change-wave we needed to be have a research and make the organization more agile, efficient, and clever in the development function, we do agile and efficient, and better way we invested and innovated. have teams of people who prepared for change. The proof Over time, we shifted the want to push boundaries. of the smart follower strategy is investment focus away from Using collaborative approaches, in our response to COVID-19. upgrades and maintenance to we are building an innovation Part of that response is down to transformative projects, projects culture that helps our staff the smart investments we’ve that are now delivering real to think beyond the current made, but part of it is also down value across the organization. horizon and see the waves to the building of a culture that We are unlocking efficiencies in of change that are coming is more conditioned to facing every area of the business, our way. and responding to change. The enabling us to better serve and We are now in our third year self-induced disruption has (so reach our audiences. Projects of participating in the IBC far) paid off.
16 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 PARTNER PROFILES How standards boost the benefits of broadcasting Headquartered within 2 km of each other in Geneva, the EBU and ITU have collaborated closely over several decades. ITU Deputy Secretary-General Malcolm Johnson describes some of his organization’s current top priorities.
For the last 71 years, the television and sound, HDTV, International Telecommunication UHDTV, and high dynamic range Union (ITU) has led global (HDR), while forthcoming work standardization across the examines the way forward for broadcasting value chain. digital terrestrial television Broadcasting and multimedia- broadcasting (DTTB). related standards, from advanced sound systems to ENSURING ACCESSIBILITY video compression, are as Media services, regardless of crucial as ever in today’s digital their underlying technologies, world. must be accessible to all. As we saw at our last Future of Universal design, affordability, Television for Europe workshop, and equal access to information broadcasting is a driving force and communication in the European creative sector. Malcolm Johnson technologies (ICTs) are key to Radio and television also bolster building inclusive societies, with disaster risk reduction. assistive technologies integrated such as DVB-T2 and DVB-SX2. A across the board. STANDARDS ARE KEY new task group is set to review In Europe, this means In the aftermath of the the spectrum needs of radio facilitating services in more than COVID-19 pandemic, new services in the UHF band in 200 European languages, as technical standards will underpin Region 1 (Europe, Middle East well as promoting gender equity global efforts to build back and Africa), assessing service and full inclusion for persons better and create a more compatibility in the 470-694 with disabilities, the elderly sustainable and prosperous MHz range ahead of the next and vulnerable groups. ITU, in future. ITU study groups and World Radiocommunication parallel, promotes comparable working parties – despite Conference, WRC-23. measures in developing radically curtailed in-person countries. interaction – continue their work BROADCASTING AND ITU As David Wood, previous to enable news, entertainment, Audiovisual output depends co-chair of ITU’s Intersectoral and education. Common on spectrum governed by Rapporteur Group on technical standards support the ITU-managed Radio Audiovisual Media Accessibility, openness and interoperability, Regulations. Broadcasting expressed it: “Those with helping to reduce costs through standards developed via the ITU reduced abilities can and will economies of scale. Radiocommunication Sector make a vital contribution to Yet increasingly stringent (ITU-R) are key to international society if we help them to share video and audio requirements, programme exchanges and the media experience. Let’s combined with competing quality assessment. start by working together as demand over naturally limited Two years ago, ITU member much as we can on the technical spectrum, pose a dual challenge states adopted two resolutions standards for the systems they for today’s broadcasting (ITU-R 70 and 71) on future deserve.” industry. In Europe, television broadcasting, calling for a I could not agree more. reaches 800 million viewers, roadmap for quality and Technologies to personalize accounts for annual turnover accessibility, audio and video media, reviewed through ITU of EUR 84 billion and employs coding, integrated broadcast- study groups with organizations 1 million people. Even so, the broadband (IBB), multimedia, like the EBU, offer a prime upper 700 MHz band and 3400- and emerging applications like example of public–private, cross- 3800 MHz C-Band downlink artificial intelligence. Other industry collaboration. are gradually becoming less initiatives study ‘5G Broadcast’ As partners in the available for use in broadcasting. systems for television reception standardization endeavour, we This double bind has spurred on mobile handsets. can make new technologies the industry to adopt more ITU has helped to set basic interoperable, accessible, and efficient distribution standards, specifications for digital available for the benefit of all.
tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 17 MEDIA INTELLIGENCE Competitive pressures underscore the need for partnership at European level A new report from the EBU’s Media Intelligence Service paints a stark picture of the competitive challenges facing European PSM and commercial media groups alike, writes Florence Hartmann.
The constant evolution of the global media landscape makes identifying and benchmarking the main competitors to public service media (PSM) an increasingly complex challenge. To help EBU Members gain a better understanding of their competitive environment, a report on “Public Service Media’s Competitive Environment” analyses the biggest tech companies and commercial media groups operating in Europe, providing insight into Revenue growth of selected audiovisual players (% 2015–2019) their activities and business models. The analysis covers 40 groups in four categories of conglomerates: internet and tech giants, non-European commercial broadcasters, European telecom operators, and European commercial broadcasters. By comparing their financial results, degree of internationalization, and investment in audiovisual markets, the report provides a wider perspective on where European PSM sit among these larger, highly diversified Diversification and globalization of revenues of selected audiovisual players international players. (EUR billion, % 2019) Sources: EBU based on Members’ data and companies’ financial statements. financial and companies’ EBU based on Members’ data Sources: MASSIVE REVENUE GAP Internet and tech giants’ revenues are skyrocketing, respectively 80% and 72% of of financial data, enabling increasing by 84% from 2015 their income on average. In a benchmarking of the main to 2019. Also, they are the clear much-changed competitive commercial conglomerates winners from the COVID-19 crisis environment, they no longer active in European media and the subsequent lockdowns. appear as PSM’s main historical markets. It also assesses the Furthermore, these behemoths competitors but rather as impact of the COVID-19 crisis are sitting on mountains of cash: natural partners. and highlights PSM’s positive over EUR 500 billion at year-end Indeed, the combination economic impact on media 2019. of a crowded competitive markets across Europe. On the other side, European environment, under the growing commercial media groups have influence of large extra- experienced limited growth in European conglomerates, with The full report is available to recent years: +0.9% between the impact of the COVID-19 EBU Members only, with an 2015 and 2019. They remain crisis makes the case for abridged public version highly focused on European building strong and innovative also available. Visit markets and on audiovisual alliances across Europe. ebu.ch/publications and business, representing The report includes a range select Research.
18 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021 OUR COMMUNITY Conference videos on demand A selection of recent additions to our rich library of videos from EBU Technology & Innovation events, available to Members from: tech.ebu.ch/presentations
HBBTV STATE OF THE ART SALTO: HOW TV AND SVOD DESIGNING FOR KLAUS MERKEL (IRT) CAN BE RECONCILED SUSTAINABILITY The latest developments, with a DANIELLE ATTIAS (SALTO) TIM DAVIS (ITV) focus on Germany A new OTT player on the French Measuring and reducing ITV’s market carbon footprint
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Krzysztof Kucharski is the EBU Krzysztof Kucharski Technical Liaison Officer for TVP SENIOR EXPERT, TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, TELEWIZJA POLSKA S.A.
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT technology progress that we see RESPONSIBILITIES? today, an increasing number of I am a member of the TVP IT-based and networked Technology team. My solutions, including those using responsibilities focus on technical cloud technologies, will change investments and technology television in a way comparable to topics in corporate strategy. I’m the transition to colour also involved in many fascinating broadcasting or to digital technology-related projects like broadcasting. We see more and the new building for news, the more exciting new opportunities first IP studios in TVP, and our but also new threats that require file-based deep archive. I am also competences that our industry is proud to be the EBU Technical still building. For this reason, in changes in media consumption Liaison Officer for my company. my opinion, media technology and new habits and preferences could do more to learn from the among viewers, so we find WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER AS experiences of other fields where ourselves strong in this new YOUR FINEST ACHIEVEMENT IT has been an element of the reality. To predict, try, create and SO FAR IN YOUR CAREER? core business for years, for lead seems to be the key to I believe that my finest example in the field of security. success here, not to just follow. achievement is still ahead of me! But so far, I am proud of my work WHAT, FOR YOU, ARE THE TELL US ABOUT SOME OF on a long-term mission to BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR YOUR INTERESTS AWAY FROM connect technology islands to EBU MEMBERS TODAY? THE WORKPLACE. create a single orchestrated We must learn and adopt the I love spending my free time with environment, including moving world of IT in broadcast my seven-year-old daughter, our archives to a file-based technology, including areas whose creativity, artistic and domain. where, until recently, solutions technical passions I try to other than classic changes in support. I have a lot of fun during WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS media consumption and new family cycling trips around FOR MEDIA TECHNOLOGY IN habits and preferences among Warsaw and doing DIY exercises THE FUTURE? viewers, so equipment were with her. I like to practice I expect a progressive unification unimaginable. The challenge for landscape photography, maybe of technologies for online and us, public broadcasters, is also to some day she will accompany me television production. The be ready to take advantage of on some photography field trips? 15-16 June 2021 tech.ebu.ch/events/nts2021 online
12-13 October 2021 tech.ebu.ch/events/mcs2021 online
16-17 November 2021 tech.ebu.ch/events/forecast2021 online
Join us and the industry’s leading experts for technology updates, strategic insights and real-world use cases, plus demonstrations and networking. tech.ebu.ch/events20 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | June 2021