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.

If you are one of those people who think that all HDMI cables are the same, you are not only wrong, but you may be missing out on some major features of 4K television like HDR, high frame rate and the lack of a wide color gamut.

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?

At the recent 2018 IBC Show, two different, yet similar, technology showcases were hosted that addressed the increasing need for interoperability of third-party companies around a common set of specifications that leverage the internet protocol (IP). As more broadcasters seek to embrace IP, these live demonstrations and industry “plug-fests” serve as important proofs of concept.

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?

The impending clearance of the 700MHz spectrum band will bring about a significant change not only in what frequencies will be available for wireless microphone operations but also how equipment is designed and used. This contentious topic was discussed at AES New York 2018 during a conference panel featuring product specialists from leading radio mic manufacturers, RF technicians and audio engineers.

The studio migration to IP-based equipment is well under way. Yet, when it comes to contribution links, the many advantages that IP can bring are less-well understood. An IP backup program link can be inexpensive, rapidly deployed and easily manged by a local staff. It might save your next broadcast.

Innovation in technology is rarer than you’d think. What is the mark of ‘good’ technology? Technology that endures, inspires and enriches?