Making Light Work of Fiber Optics January 10^th 2017 - 10:00 AM

Engineers facing the need to upgrade a facility have a choice, copper or fiber. There may be good reasons to choose either. However, as this tutorial reveals, the key benefit of installing fiber optic links include its wide bandwidth, which almost makes fiber future proof with regard to new formats.

Understanding IP Networks - Forward Error Correction January 3^rd 2017 - 12:05 PM

In the last article, we looked at the monitoring packet delay in real-time. In this article, we continue the theme of looking at a network from a broadcast engineers’ point of view so they can better communicate with the IT department, and look at FEC (Forward Error Correction).

Future-Proofing Broadcast Plants December 28^th 2016 - 10:00 AM

A few years ago, on a visit to the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, a visitor and host were walking a hallway that seemed longer than a crosstown Manhattan block. Both sides of the hallway sported heavy cable races hung from the ceiling, each with a cross section…

Understanding IP Networks - Benefits of Audio Over IP December 12^th 2016 - 12:30 PM

In the last article, we looked at Quality of Service in IT networks. In this article, we continue the theme of looking at a network from a broadcast engineers’ point of view so they can better communicate with the IT department, and look at the benefits of sending audio over I…

Re-Imagining Routing Switchers December 9^th 2016 - 10:00 AM

As the mission of television stations evolves, the underlying technology of routing video, audio, data, sync, time of day, tally and metadata through broadcast plants must also evolve. But does that mean you need an all IP infrastructure? Maybe not.

Understanding and Preventing Network Problems December 8^th 2016 - 01:50 PM

How does one prevent network problems? The first thing is to understand what’s going on in the network. That may sound obvious – but, in fact, for anyone coming from the world of SDI, it presents more of a challenge than might be expected. The fact is that IP is a v…

DVB Approves Next Step For Standardization of Adaptive Bit Rate Streaming For Live Applications December 6^th 2016 - 10:00 AM

At its most recent meeting, The DVB Steering Board approved initial specifications for the Commercial Requirements for ABR (Adaptive Bit Rate) Multicast. It also approved the latest specification for Ultra High Definition Television, called UHD-1 Phase 2.

European Broadcasters Play In The Sandbox To Further IP Adoption December 6^th 2016 - 08:00 AM

For the past two and a half years Belgian broadcaster VRT—in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and iMinds (a digital research and incubation center)— has hosted an in-house R&D testing lab called VRT Sandbox. The project allows broadcast engineers and product vendors to test new IP-…

Arena TV Strengthens IP-enabled 4K OB Van With VSM Control System December 1^st 2016 - 12:05 PM

Arena TV, a UK-based broadcast production company, has upgraded its entire fleet of OB vans with Lawo’s VSM control system. The VSM system creates a familiar workflow for users, and is the only control system on the market that is able to work in a fully IP-based environment as w…

IP’s Next Frontier—Virtualization and “Elastic Production” November 30^th 2016 - 01:00 PM

The broadcast and production industry is at the beginning of a historic shift to IP environments. The real benefits of an IP environment come from virtualizing live production technology—video production servers, switchers and camera processing. That is where we reap IP’s true benefits.