Terrestrial Special
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techMEDIA TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION issue-i 15 • march 2013 Terrestrial Special Plus • NEW AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES • MISSION: INTEGRATION • INTERCOM INTEROP • MEET THE TLOS • SOLVING SATELLITE JAMMING • DIGITAL AGENDA IN EUROPE and more... tech.ebu.ch viewpoint Keeping tech the digital contents-i economy Issue 15 • March 2013 on the road 3 News & Events Lieven Vermaele 4 News & Events EBU Director of Technology & Innovation 5 News & Events 6 Audio Formats ntil ten years ago the world broadband is not there only because of 7 Binaural Audio of media delivery was simple. growing public demand, but also because it Broadcast networks, whether may be a strategic asset for purchasers. 8 Member Profile: SVT Uterrestrial, satellite or cable, were Undeniably, it can be a strategy to minimize central to the delivery of media (as indeed the relevance of the terrestrial broadcast 9 IMPS they still are). Though some broadcasters platform, and by doing so, make alternative 10 700 mhz Band operated their own terrestrial transmitter but more expensive media delivery methods network, normally there was a direct the only real solution in the market. 12 SP Update: Spectrum (contractual) relationship between the media Continuing with the transport metaphor, Management organization and the network whereby the in today’s digital economy more money is 13 Media Delivery network operator’s function was simply and made with road tolls than with the services solely the transport of media services. using the roads. A fertile digital economy 14 EU Agenda With the growth of IP and broadband should be built around the services that use internet, the world of broadband media was the roads, not with the roads themselves. 15 Satellite Jamming born. In this world there is logical We should have a framework in place that 16 Intercom distinction between the delivery of data (the makes it attractive to invest in services. Interoperability connection to the network) and the service It’s also useful to consider the net (mail, video, etc. from service providers). neutrality (OTT) debate in this context. Net 17 In My Opinion However in reality they are ‘tactically’ neutrality is about removing road tolls and connected. Telcos offer their own media trade conditions that hinder third party 18 Technical Liaison services, but they also provide media service providers in developing or offering Officers services over the top (OTT), offered by their services. As with spectrum use, 19 In the Spotlight: third party service providers. opposition to net neutrality can be a Klaus Illgner From a conceptual point of view this strategic issue, with the objective to exclude digital world is close to our physical world or control third party services. where people and goods are constantly in But if this is so clear, why is nobody at Cover Story: The Stuttgart TV Tower was the transit. If you want to deliver them from policy level taking action? A digital first of its kind in the world, inaugurated one place to another you need roads and economy needs digital roads, wired and on 5 February 1956. This issue of tech-i is service providers. And a digital economy wireless. These roads ask for investment particularly focused on terrestrial broadcasting needs digital roads. and returns. Telcos have come to the point and spectrum policy, from page 10. In transport logistics we have public and where their network connection services are © European Broadcasting Union 2013 private flavours. We use trains, buses, cars, offered at low prices – which in turn makes motorcycles, etc. The different transport it difficult to recover quickly the All rights reserved. The reproduction of technologies and methods are investments made. The easiest path to articles in tech-i is authorized only with complementary. For media it will be the ARPU growth is in (media) services. the written permission of the publishers. same. Public and private, broadcasting and So what is really at stake? Debates about The responsibility for views expressed in broadband, will all have their role to play spectrum, net neutrality, CDN tech-i rests solely with the authors. in future. developments, etc. are all part of a bigger Published by the EBU In this context the spectrum debate can question. In what kind of economic Technology & Innovation Department be seen differently. For a terrestrial framework will media organizations and 17a, L’Ancienne-Route, broadcast ‘market’, taking into account the network providers operate in future? Today CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex number of media users, usage and devices, we are defining the digital economy that we Switzerland. the cost of distribution per viewer is will live with as media organizations in the minimal. A rough calculation shows that future. Both operators and media Editor-in-Chief: Lieven Vermaele Managing Editor: Eoghan O'Sullivan this cost could be matched only when organizations need each other and need to Email: [email protected] universally available media CDN unicast respect each other. We have to find the right Tel: +41 22 717 2745 services are offered at costs lower than 0.1 balance and the “win-win” for the future. euro cent per GB. It will clearly be very The next phase of the European digital Design: Louise Tait many years before this is the case. agenda should include this as part of a Printed on FSC Certified paper The pressure to release spectrum for digital media agenda. by New Goff n.v. 2 tech-i | tech.ebu.ch | march 2013 news FORECAST 2012 DIGITAG CARING ABOUT SHARING NEW GUIDE The EBU’s annual FORECAST University presented his ideas TO DIGITAL seminar remains as popular as around Dynamic Broadcasting SWITCHOVER ever. In November more than 110 and LTE overlay, both involving participants drawn from public advanced network architectures A new guide published by and private broadcasters, to play to the strengths of DigiTAG, the Digital Terrestrial network operators, regulators, broadcast, mobile and fixed Television Action Group, provides academia and the telecoms broadband networks. However an overview of the key issues industry grappled with questions for these and for alternative that need to be addressed when surrounding the future of solutions put forward by undertaking the digital terrestrial broadcast technology. Ericsson, TDF and others to switchover process. While for Against a backdrop of succeed, would require an some European countries this uncertainty around how the 700 unprecedented level of process has already been MHz band is to be used in future, cooperation between the completed and for others it’s discussions focused both on how broadcast and broadband well under way, there are still spectrum is (and should be) sectors. Some delegates voiced many that have yet to begin. allocated, and on the doubts about whether this would Those in the latter category have technologies that might allow it happen. the opportunity to learn lessons to be used more efficiently in Aside from discussions about from those that went before future. whether spectrum sharing is for broadcasting to thrive and to them, and the new DigiTAG An analysis of feedback from feasible, there were also updates continue to fulfil its crucial role it guide gathers those lessons participants shows that the on the work being done by the will need sufficient spectrum. together. session on shared use of the EBU, DigiTAG and others to This issue of tech-i features a Digital switchover is the broadcast spectrum was of ensure that broadcasters can number of articles around the process of launching the DTT particular interest this time continue to have access to the topic of spectrum and terrestrial platform and switching off around. It included different spectrum they require. The broadcasting, starting from page analogue terrestrial television analyses of the issues involved demands of the mobile industry 10. The presentations from services. When the DTT platform along with proposals on possible for additional spectrum are FORECAST 2012 are available to is first launched, a transitional technical solutions. Prof Reimers unlikely to die down any time EBU Members from the website: frequency plan will be put in of Braunschweig Technical soon, but it’s equally clear that http://tech.ebu.ch/forecast12 place that can accommodate both digital and analogue terrestrial television services. It is CLOUD WORKSHOP not until analogue terrestrial television is switched off, that the final frequency plan will be implemented. This final plan makes optimal use of frequencies, with transmitter power and coverage to allow for a robust and universally available DTT platform. This new guide from DigiTAG examines the key regulatory, business and HARRY ZIMMER OF HITACHI technical issues, as well as the SPEAKING AT THE EBU CLOUD management of the analogue WORKSHOP, NOVEMBER 2012 switch-off process. DigiTAG has entered a BRINGING CLARITY TO THE CLOUD renewed phase of its existence There’s no sign of the buzz around the cloud dying involved before signing contracts with cloud and hopes to increase its already down any time soon, and thus last November’s EBU providers. strong membership during 2013. workshop on the topic was timely indeed. The Aside from these general concerns, there was also It is the only organization that workshop, titled “Out of the Cloud, into the light?”, much discussion about which broadcast-related brings together all stakeholders had the aim of demystifying the cloud for operations could realistically be handled in the cloud, involved in the launch, rollout, broadcasters. It attracted more than 50 attendees with an important distinction being drawn between implementation and evolution of who participated in various interactive sessions private, in-house clouds and third party providers that the DTT platform. This diverse designed to cut through some of the hype and work may not be optimized for many of the broadcaster membership reflects the different out how broadcasters can best move forward in this requirements.