Shared Playout Facilities - Time to Reconsider?

Maybe it's not a question, maybe it's a statement?

The model of having a separate dedicated 'master' control room for every broadcast television station may be going the route of impractical and potentially obsolent. Go to any television market in the U.S. - and you'll find the 'factory' portions of the industry replicated with complicated infrastructures dedicated to collecting, arranging and preparing for transmission essentially the same types of content on a station-by-station, market-by-market basis.

This activity, deeply anchored in similar hardware compliments (switchers, routers, graphics, video servers and monitoring equipment) requires a dedicated operations staff that essentially performs the same function at each location day in and day out. With the majority of these systems considered mission critical, the stations depend upon this operational model for their revenue streams. This in turn forces a leverage of redundancy and/or disaster recovery - all in turn driving the costs of deliverying the content upward in both OpEx and CapEx perspectives.

So why continue this model? It keeps hardware and software vendors in business for one - and that's a good thing. But the anxt of continually staffing, repairing, upgrading or improving the systems to 'keep up with the Jones' is a never ending challenge, one that is counterbalanced by the emphasis to reduce costs, improve services and simplify the operations.

If one took off the blinders, and dropped the guard just a little, one would see that protecting the assets and competitive advantages of broadcaster #1 vs. #2, etc., could still be maintained regardless of the where or how the factory side of the program assembly and delivery business was run from. Not unlike the re-emergence of hub-casting or central casting or centralized command-and-control --- putting the play-to-air mechanisms together in a shared location with a common set of tools (fully redundant and protected) --- is not beyond the technical capabilities of any set of hardware or software available today.

Broadcasters have located transmission equipment (transmitters, antennas, towers and support infrastructures) in a common setting for decades. Why? The cost to build separate towers and buildings (not to mention the impact on the environment) mades no economic sense. So what is the difference between the equipment that delivers the signal and the equipment that assembles the signal's content?

If a group of stations in a market shared a common facility with common components such as video and network routers, video and graphics servers, redundant critical components, and the like; the cost of operating and maintaining that equipment (including upgrades and performance improvements) for each individual station goes to zero. That's a number bean-counters understand! The risks become no greater than those of the TV transmitter site. In fact, the operational risks actually deminish if the centralized playout center is properly built, staffed and operated.

So why not share the services and reduce the headaches?

The answers are SIMPLE!

First, one must remove the fear of loosing a station's local identity - but isn't that a myth? I'd bet 99% of the viewing public has no idea how or where the content is aggregated. They might think they know from where the signal is transmitter (but only if they're in that diminishing percentage of over the air - OTA - viewers). The station's identity is established by the programs and/or on air talent that those viewers see and become loyal to. Certainly that has no relation to asembling bit streams for television transmission pruposes.

Second, the station accepts it will not and does not loose it's presence. If they do news, they still do news - from the same location they've done it from all along. If there do commercial production, they can still do commercial productions. If they have a web site, it stays the same. In other words, nothing has to change except where the master control staff works and where the bit buckets reside. They can maintain the store front of the local station, but they relocate a portion of the services to another place. Not unlike adding a news bureau.

Third, drop the fear that another station will learn what the other is doing (aka 'security'). Oh come on now ... "learn what the other channel is doing??" keep that one for the news department! It's rediculous in today's digitally connected world to think you can't isolate data, signals and even operators from one another - and keep the integrity of the product sound and valued. Do you think any user cares (or knows) that their Internet traffic lands in nearly every provider of network services' NOC every day? So protecting the operational workstations for a common set of broadcasters is as simple as setting up a firewall. Fabricating an environment that definitely segregates one station's pristine content and functions from another is not rocket science. And if one wants the added protection of completely isolated systems, then they just make that request and it goes into the cost model for their services.

And what does it take to get this ball rolling? It takes guts and broadcasters in the same market with the sensibility and innovation to break the mold and reduce their costs for ever! It also takes a third party entity to step up to the plate and capitalize the venture in exchange for a committment from those broadcasters with the stomach to try the endeavor.

Any takers?

Understanding Issues in Disk Drive Latency

"Seeking Hard Disk Drive Latency" - The latest installment in my column at TV Technology (http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/80556) discussed the issues with disk drive latency, how latency is calculated and briefly highlights the history of the HDD.

by Karl Paulsen, 05.05.2009 -- The year 1956 marked the beginning of an era that would dynamically and dramatically alter the landscape of technology forever. It was in San Jose, Calif., where the first hard disk drive (HDD), called the IBM 350, was invented by a group of by IBM scientists under the direction of Reynold Johnson. The 350 HDD would accompany the IBM 305 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) computer and had a total capacity of five million 7-bit characters. A single head assembly with two heads accessed all 50 24-inch diameter platters, and the average access time was just under one second.

Be sure to look up other articles in the Infrastructure Section at http://www.tvtechnology.com/ under the features column 'Media Server Technologies'.

Mobile DTV Elements

To be successful, the broadcaster's deployment of Mobile DTV (aka 'Mobile M/H' or 'Pedestrian Handheld') requires a harmonization of technology, marketing and revenue generation. Besides the hardware and software suppliers, those two organizations most involved [to date] have taken the lead in the technological development and the roots of the marketing approaches. These two organizations are discussed from a broad perspective in this segment:

The Advanced Television Systems Committee or ATSC - in its role as the conduit for the creators of the digital terrestrial broadcasting standard - has developed and is in the final dimensions of the balloting and adoption processes for a revolutionary new approach to distribution and reception of the digital broadcasting signal to mobile/pedestrian handheld devices.

The Open Mobile Video Coalition or OMVC is an alliance of U.S. commercial and public broadcasters formed to accelerate the development and rollout of mobile DTV products and services. The OMVC is committed to maximizing and developing the full potential of the digital television spectrum.

The following is a general overview of Mobile DTV ....
(portions courtesy of the OMVC)

About Mobile DTV

The Power of Local TV on the Go
Mobile Digital Television (DTV) represents a significant new revenue stream for the broadcasting industry as well as a new way to reach more customers. Affordable transmission facility improvements allow broadcasters to extend local programming to a vast audience of viewers with portable Mobile DTV devices.

As the US digital conversion, as mandated for completion in the one June 12, 2009, Mobile DTV will emerged as an important way for broadcasters to extend their franchises.

Consumers Seek Mobility

Mobile DTV makes local, digital broadcast TV portable.
With Mobile DTV, consumers can tune in to live, local news, traffic information, weather, sporting events or entertainment programs from the convenience of their car, at the beach—wherever they may be, using a variety of mobile and video devices.

For consumer electronics manufacturers and automakers, extending broadcast-quality TV to portable devices opens up a vast new market. Improved picture quality and access to more programming choices and local content will drive consumer interest, which makes Mobile DTV a great opportunity for consumer electronics manufacturers and automakers to develop the cool devices that will capture a major share of this market. Indeed, studies have predicted a range from 25 million to 100+ million mobile broadcast end-users worldwide by 2010.

Additionally, Mobile DTV makes public safety information accessible from virtually anywhere. Consumers will be able to receive their normal TV fare on a mobile device, delivered in full-motion video and complete with local news, traffic and weather updates.

The broadcasting industry has embraced Mobile DTV as an enhancement of the conversion of its TV signals from old-fashioned analog transmission to modern digital transmission. This conversion clears a considerable portion of the airwaves, now devoted to the analog signal, for new services. Full-motion, mobile digital television is the most prominent of these services currently being developed. Broadcasters reap the benefits of Mobile DTV’s crisp picture, high-speed mobility and a wealth of new multicast choices – all made possible through the digital broadcast signal.


For Broadcasters

Integrating Mobile DTV
The process of integrating Mobile DTV transmission with an existing ATSC plant is not difficult; these are the basic devices required for local origination and network services

* A video (AVC or H.264 also known as MPEG 4 Part 10) and audio (HE AAC v2) encoder for each added program stream
* An IP path into the facility (for remote component ingest)
* An IP encapsulator to encapsulate all program streams and non-real-time files into the appropriate transport protocol
* A service multiplexer to multiplex the conventional ATSC stream with Mobile DTV data
* A Mobile DTV enabled exciter to replace the existing exciter in the ATSC transmitter

The Mobile DTV architecture provides full compatibility with all industry-standard ATSC equipment. Additionally, the system is compatible with all current microwave and fiber STL systems.

Mobile Benefits

When a Mobile DTV system is implemented, broadcasters can expect the following operational and financial benefits.

* Leveraged investment in ATSC transmission
* Delivery of robust DTV signals to Mobile DTV receiving devices
* Extension of local branding to mobile users
* The ability to redirect local news, weather, sports and traffic information to “consumers on the go”
* The addition of up to eight program (streams) of mobile content per station

New revenue opportunities based on subscription, advertising and sell-through transactions
Mobile Phone - Almost always on hand, the mobile phone is an essential device for connecting to millions of viewers.

Portable Media Player - Live, local broadcasts make the traditional mode of watching video on-the-go even more mobile.

Laptop Computer - The laptop is the perfect device for bundling broadcast television with a large screen viewing area.

Navigation Device - On-the-road or in the park, this increasingly popular device is used by millions today for their day-to-day activities.

Automobile-based - Whether after-market or stock, Mobile DTV is the perfect addition to the family vehicle.

Business Model Opportunities

Market research firm In-Stat recently conducted a survey with this resulting data: Consumers are increasingly willing to view ads as part of a mobile media experience, highlighting the potential for a smooth transition of local broadcasting’s free-to-air value proposition to mobile. The potential for subscription-based services is also strong, as demonstrated by markets around the world.

With the availability of these new programs for “consumers on the go,” broadcasters can develop new formats for their marketplace, or augment their existing format by adding a mobile version of their main channel. This offers advertisers new opportunities to reach mobile consumers. Additionally, new brands can be leveraged by offering 24-hour news, traffic and weather feeds for mobile users. Broadcasters are local community stakeholders, and the sky is the limit for what they can offer to viewers, such as expanded sports coverage for avid high school and college fans, or a music-based children’s channel for backseat viewers in the family minivan.

Mobile DTV can reignite and excite audiences—plus the added channels can translate into additional revenue with an expanded product available for sale.

If a station does not have extensive local programming or production capabilities, there are a large number of program providers who can offer high-quality content services that can be easily automated for playback and minimize a station’s operational requirements. Stations can also benefit from leasing out bandwidth and providing a delivery “pipe” for content providers.

Non Real Time Services
The system enables delivery of content for local storage in the Mobile DTV receiver for playback/display at a later time. For example, local advertiser locations and sales could be sent in advance; when a device determined that it was close, a promo could be displayed. Another example might involve the Mobile DTV receiver in the vehicle gathering content for playback on a trip.

Going Mobile

Smart Phones offer new opportunities
If, or rather hopefully when, smart phones, handhelds and other cellular-based devices incorporate ATSC M/H receiver-applications and systems -- the broadcast industry will be provided with a new platform by which to expand services to what is a diminishing 'in the home' audience. Intelligent mobile devices will allow broadcasters and their advertisers to tap into new opportunities - but they have to be smart about it.

Although regular 'broadcaster originated' programming is not yet available on mobile technology in any, except a minute few trial markets - handhelds should ultimately be able to offer both stations and their clients a means to reach consumers through directed advertising, focused marketing campaigns, local or regional promotions and other services including local news and information, traffic, emergency notification and targeted gaming (sports, and others).

Winning Strategies for Media
The BIA's "Winning Media Strategies" conference in Washington this past week provided a conduit for understanding how to make mobile technologies a part of the broadcast industry agenda. One immediate opportunity - paraphrased by Michael Boland, program director for mobile local media, The Kelsey Group - is that by utilizing mobile distribution technologies (i.e., ATSC A/153 compliant over the airways signaling) the ability to promote and market both station and advertisers' products can extend those businesses' reach. The more dramatic impact will be when mobile, with the proper feedback mechanism, provides the broadcasters and advertising communities with 'quantifiable evidence' that their efforts work.

As evidenced, when one advertiser in the auto-repair/service industry offered mobile users a coupon for services, 50% of those redeeming that coupon were first-time customers of that service. When a Detroit station ran a contest for a shopping spree an estimated 91,000 mobile users responded.

Tapping Local Resources
Smart phone consumers already are or will use their devices to tap local resources. Concepts including the finding of local businesses or other entertainment/recreational opportunities; or impulse purchasing based upon geographically specific locations. Broadcasters can maximize those opportunities by providing the information that local users want or need.

The users of smart phones have yet to be tapped. Since only about one fifth do anything more than talk or text, that leaves the remainder of the users potential candidates for directed programming, advertising and other related attention getting activities.

Making Money at it
Revenue models for such activities are only beginning to emerge - they are mostly still in the dream stage. However, the capabilities already conceived for digital terrestrial data-broadcasting can now be extended to a new and evolving audience. Since consumer displays with DTV (ATSC) tuners never took advantage of the 'designed in' technologies (e.g., directed channel change, zip code specific targetted messaging, etc.); it is time for broadcasters to get prepared to really challenge the technology and put it to a use that can be monetized and will be profitable for a diverse set of businesses.

Acknowledgments and Further Reading
Note: The inspiration for this topic came from "Words To The Wise: Go Mobile And Local" http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/05/21/daily.12/ by Diana Marszalek (TVNEWSDAY, May 21 2009)

DTV in 30 minutes or less

Save your analog televisions from the landfills -- adding a DTV converter isn't rocket science.

This weekend I watched the Indy 500 on a 25 year old 12" black and white NTSC set in the garage, and I used a cannibalized set of indoor rabbit ears as the antenna.

I couldn't get the program at all on the NTSC (analog) tuner from my local ABC affiliate WTAE. So I striped the 300 ohm antenna lead connection to the attached rabbit ears dipole; added a 300-to-75 ohm balun and plugged in the NTIA coupon converter.

Since I couldn't find a "UHF" loop antenna in my junk drawer, I used the old VHF dipole with a twin lead connection and without any balun adaptor from the converter box (about as bad a mismatch as you can get).

The Pittsburgh PA TV transmitters are 20+ miles from my home, and I am at an elevation about the same as their broadcast antennas - but with lots of hills between. The bottom line, I had a better wide screen picture without ghosts, and without any major disturbances - and 22 channels of FREE TV.

....and it took less than 30 minutes to cobble it all together.

So get real, if people want to watch good image quality FREE television, they'll make the effort.

Let's not delay the June 12 conversion to digital terrestrial broadcasting any longer or continue to make excuses that just show apathy or ignorance.

Content Interchange and Rights Management

A recent discussion on the LinkedIn Broadcast Professionals group forum (http://www.linkedin.com/) got me thinking about the topic of interchange for properly owned or licensed content between eligible platforms.

The discussion title "a simple question on content" was inspiring. While it dealt mainly with the traditional 'content' definition (text, video, audio, etc); the undertoned message was extensive.

For several years the telcos (Verizons, AT&Ts) of the world have promoted an overhaul to the network that would enable the seamless hand off of communications, data and information where ever the user is. Whether you're in the car (on Bluetooth to your handset), move into the home (where you transfer from wireless to wireline), back to the office (from wireless to Voice over IP telephony), etc.

The success of this so named 'NextGen Network' (NGN) depends upon interoperability - not just in content, but in DRM interchange and the successful use of 'owned' or 'right-to-use/right-to-share' content. If portability is not permitted, there is no purpose to the target of any-where/any-time/any-place networks.

My suspicion is that each content provider will (or already has) faced such challenges, and is as perplexed as the end user. Anyone dealing with iTunes, Zune or the like, knows the issue and can't solve the problem. Once the CD becomes a relic - what will the casual user be forced to do?

Extending the thought process to social networks, which continue to expand - ebb and flow, we need to consider just how 'owned' content will survive and prosper. One concept is an exchangeable Conditional Access key, ones that can be secured and portable among registered owners. The so called portable-CA-key could still enable the rightful exchange of content, leaving the DRM-requirements to continue without hardship.

Consider the current evolution of books (both printed and electronic) in such a discussion. The crisis may come to a head as publishers begin a move away from the printed book to the eBook (e.g., Amazon/Kindle or Sony/Reader Digital) platform. An interesting question was raised this past week on National Public Radio, i.e., "what happens if Kindle goes bust after you've spent hundreds on digital books?" According to the commentator, it appears you are restricted from moving 'owned' or 'licensed ULA content' from any platform to another. So how will the user/purchaser feel if their original content delivery company goes out of business - will you lose your investment entirely?

NPR pointed out that publishers may battle the authors, especially little known authors, who thrive on the sharing of printed (or digital) works for exposure.

All food for thought as we move further away from 'exchangeable' physical media to the dimension of the digital file.

Hollywood Post Alliance Tech Retreat

It's officially closed - but is yet another over arching success.

Some 375 industry whose-who professionals attended this past week in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs), California.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this event - especially Mark, Eileen, John and the entire HPA staff and members.

For those who've not previousy attended, the HPA Tech Retreat includes its usual wide range of relevant topics - including, but not limited to:

• Broadcasters Update
• New Display Technologies
• 3D (Stereoscopic) imaging
• High Frame Rate Video
• Video Consumer Marketplace
• Digital Content Protection
• Acquisition
• Rights Management
• Hardware and Software Storage

New Tools, New Methods for---

• Compression
• Digital Post Production
• Processes
• Infrastructure

...and of course more features, such as:

• Legislative and Regulatory Update
• Test & Measurement
  Psychophysics
• Digital Projection Technology
• Digital Television and Picture quality
• Large-Format Imaging
• Image Enhancement
• Asset Management
• HD Finishing

This week long in the desert technology retreat is the industry event of the year. HPA continues to offer a more focused look at the current and future areas that impact the production, broadcast and media/entertainment communities.

For complete information on the 2009 conference, and to become a member of HPA - go to:

http://www.hpaonline.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=62874&orgId=hopa