IBC Printed Guide - September 2014 - 14
www.inbroadcast.com PRODUCT GUIDE | Sept 12 - 16, 2014 The Future Of Wireless For 4K Broadcast A lot has changed in a year. 4K was a big trend at IBC2013, but it looks set to be an even bigger focus this time round and Vislink has a key role to play... By: Ashley Dove General Manager E ven though most people accept 4K delivery to the home is still some way off, a number of developments in the industry, and competition from overthe-top players, mean it's now increasingly important to get the hardware in place that will make 4K transmission a reality. Faced with spiralling data rates yet dwindling spectrum availability, the overwhelming feedback from broadcasters is they now need to do more with less, and are looking for equipment that will let them transmit higher quality video more requires a bigger slice of spectrum for transmission. However, as spectrum is a finite resource, this isn't always possible. To get around this problem the industry is taking steps to achieve more with less, focusing on developing new efficient coding standards like H.265 and aiming to make existing technology more versatile than ever before. Vislink has a key role to play in making this a reality, and the spirit of helping broadcasters do more with less is Vislink's focus for this year's show. 14 Vislink's Advent ADM5100 half-rack multifunctional encoder pairs with ND SatCom's MF-TDMA SKYWAN 5G modem. efficiently so as not to overwhelm existing infrastructure. With 4K firmly on the horizon, efficiency has never been more important. In today's content driven world broadcasters want to capture footage from a wide range of environments, not just a TV studio. To stay ahead of the game they need to transmit video from anywhere, whether that's a remote location for a news event or live from a race track. It's no surprise the industry continues to rely heavily on wireless equipment, but the move to 4K presents its own challenges. Broadcasters are starting to shoot content in 4K where fixed infrastructure is in place, which benefits from far greater capacity and can handle the increased data rates. However, a more permanent solution will be required before 4K transmission over wireless becomes feasible, without suffering from a drop in video quality. 4K is roughly four times the quality of 1080p HD, which 4K Challenges But getting ready for 4K is just the latest in a long line of challenges faced by broadcasters. There's a bigger threat they need to contend with. As revenues are being pinched by the rise of internet players and viewers are looking for more compelling television than ever before, broadcasters are faced with an uphill struggle to deliver on sky-high expectations. Today's viewers expect to feel like they're part of the action when it comes to live broadcast, which relies entirely on the right shot being shown at the right time. Efficiency is important, granted, as there's no room for distortion and delay is not acceptable, but ultimately it all comes down to the equipment; capturing the right image at the right time, then reliability transmitting it from anywhere. Vislink Highlights On the IBC2014 stand Vislink will be showcasing the latest The Gigawave MLV-HD3 with its modular design offers control and camera data over existing TRIAX infrastructure. addition to its Gigawave range, the MVL-HD3. A digital receive unit that brings together two-way diversity reception with the capacity benefits of TRIAX cabling, the MVL-HD3 makes it far more efficient for broadcasters to capture high quality video from multiple receive sites using a single camera unit. One of the key benefits of the Gigawave MLV-HD3 is its modular design; both control and camera data can be transmitted using existing TRIAX infrastructure, which halves the length of expensive cabling required. Vislink's NewSwift 2.4m 240 motorised vehicle-mounted system has also received a significant upgrade ahead of this year's show. Designed as a highly customisable and lightweight antenna, and available as either a single or three piece carbon fibre reflector, this latest upgrade means the NewSwift can now be specified to include auto-acquisition and auto-tracking capabilities, thereby maintaining a data link even when utilising inclined orbit satellites. It's also been redesigned to support a wider range of SNG vehicles worldwide, once again promoting Vislink's end goal of flexibility. Vislink's partnership with ND SatCom is also going from strength to strength. The agreement has led to joint development of the Advent ADM5100, a new half-rack multifunctional encoder, designed by Vislink, that's paired with ND SatCom's MF-TDMA SKYWAN 5G modem. The ADM5100 will see its official launch at IBC2014, but it is currently ready to ship and initial orders are being filled. The same modem is also available in Vislink's range of ultra-lightweight MSAT satcom terminals. The partnership will also lead to further joint development down the line and Vislink's technology will be integrated into ND SatCom's hardware in the future. Of course, once live footage has been captured and transmitted, it then needs to be run through a video playout platform to let broadcasters pre-programme clips, include ads, add channel logos or adjust audio levels. With the acquisition of Pebble Beach systems earlier this year, Vislink is now in a position to provide broadcasters with the whole package - from video to playout, from side-line to TV set, or as we like to call it, from scene to screen. Vislink's NewSwift 2.4m 240 motorised vehicle-mounted system has received a significant upgrade
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