As more broadcasters move to IP the thorny issue of video compression is once again raising its head. But could the implementation of compression be a positive change?

As IP becomes a way of life and COTS is no longer a buzz word but instead a reality, the subject of security is raising its head once again, if it ever went away. But where do we start when we need to make systems secure?

Real-time live sporting events stretch broadcast technical systems to their limits. Our constant fight with latency further amplifies our challenges along with increased bandwidth and maintaining accurate timing. As well as these usual culprits, the unexpected implications of social media are heavily influencing how we address latency.

For many years users have been reluctant to pay for software maintenance, especially when they include bug fixes. But is this a bit unfair to the vendors? A plethora of media file specifications and formats are available to broadcasters, from XDCAM to IMF. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them, and all must be supported and maintained. Is SaaS the solution?

I would be the first to support the assertion that SDI is incredibly secure. However, my view only extends to true SDI infrastructures, similar to those I worked on before IP became the ubiquitous communications medium of choice for monitoring and control.

As broadcasting hurtles at unprecedented speed to IP, exposing antiquated working practices, laying bare integration issues and questioning our very understanding of how television should work, are we a bit guilty of looking at SDI through rose-tinted spectacles?

When discussing IP, I often hear pundits advising that networks must be “zero packet loss”. This is more of an aspiration than a reality and I would ask why so many accept this contradictory assertion without question.

Accurate timing continues to be central to video, audio and metadata delivery. But as we progress to IP, do we need to be so obsessed with nanosecond tolerances?

With the massive increase in OTT viewing, how will traditional broadcasting using RF transmissions continue? OTT has the benefits of being bi-directional and available to any hand-held device, but are we relying too much on the internet as a method of live streaming?

As more copyright owners are using litigation to take on the might of the machine learning commercialization, what will be the future for ML?