The transition from analog to digital operations was originally seen as a relatively short process that, while sometimes painful in terms of cost or system integration, would help facilities comply with new regulations, perform more streamlined operations and better quality programming.
Recently, however, broadcasters have realized that abandoning analogous operations is only the beginning of a long road. Since the industry adopted the concept of digital facilities 10 years ago, the landscape of television production and broadcasting has changed dramatically.
New formats and capabilities flourish with advances in broadcasting technologies; engineers now have options for SDI, HD, surround sound, multi-channel broadcast, sophisticated compression schemes and 16:9 aspect rate.
The growing adoption of file-based IT infrastructure has also changed the map of broadcasting. In addition to resolving the relationships between new and existing gears, broadcasters must also adapt their facilities to incorporate new IT-based systems.
The increase in broadcasters with IT-based operations is evident by the standardization of MXF (Material Exchange Format) and the SMPTE RP-210 metadata dictionary. Similarly, the latest AAF editing protocol offers broadcasters the ability to build fully operational, multi-vendor systems. This, in turn, provides the opportunity to choose solutions with the best of each for the specific needs of the facility, moving away from expensive "proprietary" systems in storage and asset management.
Regardless of the size of an operation or the resources at its disposal, a single consideration will allow the broadcaster to move forward with the march of technological progress. This key consideration is the infrastructure on which its operation is mounted.
Bringing together the past and the present
The ability of any facility to combine old and new systems into effective workflows ultimately depends on the broadcaster's infrastructure. During the transition to fully digital operations, few broadcasters are able financially and logistically to fully refurbish their operations. Typical installations function as incremental improvements where new equipment connects to outdated systems for varying results.
As some stations have limitations in terms of the pace to upgrade or replace their systems, they have no choice but to integrate multiple generations of equipment. Analog, SDI and file-based systems both SD and HD require to coexist in harmony within the infrastructure that must operate in all domains at the same time. Through the broadcasting infrastructure, the gaps between these products can be bridged to achieve effective and improved operations.
An intelligent infrastructure is the best solution to handle unexpected twists and turns in the evolution of broadcast systems and their workflows. Such systems can be quickly adapted to enable fast and flexible configurations for the changing needs of the facility.
A new glue
The main concern before all the changes that occur in the world of broadcast, continues to be the quality of the image. While a legacy analog gear is combined with new digital products, the broadcaster does not take its eyes off the on-air signal. An unhindered fusion of the installation tools is an important part of preserving the high quality of the images.
To combine installed SDI systems with newer file-based technologies, broadcasters require a much more sophisticated product. This integration system, which builds bridges, must encompass everything from networking, auto-configurations and automatic monitoring, to metadata recognition and file transfer identification in the SDI plant.
Modular network infrastructure serves as a cushion between the old, the new, and the unknown. In this way, broadcasters can adapt to change without sacrificing the existing investment in equipment and training time.
Several manufacturers offer infrastructure solutions, and there is no one that is the same as another. The modules with which an infrastructure is built include numerous conversion devices, distribution, routing, video, MPEG processing, monitoring, audio, and test generators. All of these modules must demonstrate sufficient versatility to be used in conjunction with older systems and a vision of the future that will allow them to accommodate future technological advances.
How to select an intelligent infrastructure
When choosing the appropriate system for their operations, broadcasters must keep in mind some important factors. The first is the intelligence of the system itself or the ability to self-detect. When a self-detectable module is incorporated into an existing infrastructure, it can initiate acceptance by network control and monitoring and thus provide the user with a simple form of configuration for the purpose for which it was installed.
The telecaster network is the second important factor in establishing an effective infrastructure. An essential feature of well-designed networks is centralized control and monitoring functionality, which increases channel efficiency and provides valuable tools to leverage resources at full capacity.
Naturally, broadcasters must select a network model that makes sense to them, both from a financial perspective and from a practical implementation point of view. The ideal solution may include centralcasting multiple stations over a wide area network, or simply reducing it to the use of a few modules in a single location.
To obtain a functionally adequate network, telecasters must rely on common components, which operate when unpacked, while implementing a redundant system with backup connections such as parallel coaxial cable networks. When signals are routed simultaneously via IP and coaxial networks, the installation is secured in its control and monitoring functions.
A third consideration is the strategy of the manufacturer providing the broadcast system. This strategy must take into account the changing needs of the facility. A hybrid facility that works with SD and HD media, for example, or a broadcaster that wants to launch multichannel operations. Changes, large or small, can affect channel workflow, and a responsible manufacturer, with the ability to look to the future, will help their customers resolve these issues quickly and conclusively.
A final factor in selecting smart infrastructure for broadcast is the system's ability to accommodate old analog and SDI formats and standards, as well as new technologies including HDTV, multichannel audio, wide formats, MPEG, and file and metadata handling.
The ability to handle associated files and metadata is an inherent feature of today's IT-based systems. Selecting an intelligent system that can track assets in this way will allow the broadcaster to purchase and install infrastructure that it can continue to use in an IT-based facility for years to come.
IT Operations Adoption
The incorporation of IT-based technologies into the world of television may seem, to some broadcasters, a distant issue to which they will not reach for some time. But for many, it is already a reality. Naturally, each broadcaster has a unique strategy for incorporating IT systems into their operations, depending on their budgets, their growth plans, and the requirements of current workflows.
The evolution of technology, the continuous standardization of broadcast formats, the development of more open architecture systems and the increasing availability of generic IT firmware , all come together to make IT-based broadcasting a real possibility for many installations.
The reason for migrating to IT-based broadcasting has been proven to be the better economic performance of that model. In making this change, every broadcaster must understand that broadcast infrastructure is a mission-critical component within the television plant. Attention to quality, reliability, interoperability and manufacturer support will help broadcasters make decisions that will keep their operation smooth throughout the journey to IT-based digital broadcasting.
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