Synchronizing became extremely important with the growth of AC power systems, which ended up being used to synchronize all sorts of equipment, from Radar to television.
As IT-centric production workflows continue to become more connected, the Vizrt Group’s NDI company is introducing new features and capabilities as part of the latest software version of its IP-based networking codec and transport protocol that enables connection with compatible devices anywhere in the world. Users can now easily discover devices on disparate networks, whether local or global.
The power and flexibility of cloud computing is being felt by broadcasters throughout the world. Scaling delivers incredible resource and the levels of resilience available from international public cloud vendors is truly eye watering. It’s difficult to see how any broadcaster would run out of computing power or storage, even with 4K and 8K infrastructures.
Core to any successful television production is the effective application of clear and precise communications. Camera operators, sound assistants, playout, slow-mo operators, and floor managers all need to hear direction from the production teams. Without comms, the production would soon degenerate into a chaotic cacophony of incoherent images and sounds.
In this second instalment of our extended article looking into the practical applications of SDI and IP we look at how SDI is naturally plug-and-play and works with well-defined formats whereas IP is dynamic and more versatile but requires greater thought in making it work reliably.
Rapid growth in AvoD streaming services across developed countries has been predicted by a spate of recent analyst firms as media giants such as Comcast, ViacomCBS and Fox invest heavily in their advertising supported platforms. The latest report from Digital TV Research predicts that AVoD expenditure for TV episodes and movies will climb by 144% between 2020 and 2026 to reach $66 billion across 138 countries.
TV engineers are always busy behind the scenes, monitoring and maintaining technical quality to make the station and those in front of the cameras sound and look their best, and thinking of ways to make it better.
If there’s one thing the production community has learned during the pandemic, it’s that ensuring the safety of the crew on site or in the studio should always be first and foremost in people’s minds. The second takeaway is that sending less people on site and implementing more remote support is the new normal that the industry is, somewhat begrudgingly, coming to terms with.
