In Broadcast - September 2016 - 54

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 6 - Issue 9 | September 2016

InMedia

Broadcast Connected IP
PlayBox
Technology
will
demonstrate at IBC2016 a full
production version of CloudAir. Based
on the concept of virtual playout,
CloudAir is totally software-centric
and able to provide full-scale playout
with graphics on any enterprise-class
blade, rack or tower server. Once
the software is installed,
no auxiliary hardware is
required at all. This is an
ideal structure for thirdparty
service-providers.
Virtual playout frees broadcasters
from the need to possess, operate
and maintain their own hardware.
The savings in space and operating
overheads can be substantial,
especially for channels located
in urban centres where business
premises and staff both come at a
premium. CloudAir is a development of
the EdgeBox remote playout concept
which is used by many broadcasters
around the world.
Switch Media's AdEase pulls
content from any existing platform,
adds commercials and forwards the
result. It is claimed to overcome

cont'd...

ad blocking software on desktop
and mobile devices by integrating
programmes and commercials into a
continuous video stream. Operators
can tailor ad insertion policies by
the type of event, time of day, user
location, or by specific rules dictated
by a sponsor or broadcaster.

system designed for use
by television content
producers,
content
owners and broadcasters.
It is aimed at highvolume users and will
be available within an
efficient
operational-expenditure
framework.
Vidchecker
OnDemand licences can be
deployed in burst mode,
either across a public cloud
Telestream's
Lightspeed Live Capture
(such as Amazon Web
Telestream's
Lightspeed
Live Services or Azure) or across virtual
Capture allows capture of real-time SD, machines forming an on-site private
HD, UHD and 4K video and encoding cloud. The burst mode concept allows
into the most common high-quality customers to employ elastic computing
mezzanine formats in use worldwide, to accommodate practically any scale
while simultaneously supplying a proxy of workflow. Vidchecker is designed
for each channel being processed. for checking file-based video, audio
Operating standalone or as part of the and related metadata before and after
Vantage Media Processing Platform, distribution. Vidchecker can test and
it combines dual CPUs, a GPU and an correct multiple files simultaneously,
optional HEVC hardware encoder for providing a highly efficient alternative
encodes to H.265. The formats created to checking conformance by eye and
are completely compatible with hand. It can also automatically and
Vantage Open Workflows.
intelligently correct video and audio
Vidcheck's Vidcheck OnDemand levels. Sub-SD, SD, HD, UHD, 4K, 8K
is an automated quality control and mixed workflows are supported.

Vidcheck Task Monitor showing IMF
status information

The Vidchecker GUI is accessed
through a web browser either on the
local machine or remotely over a
network.
VisualOn is a multimedia software
company that enables high-quality
audio and video playback across
connected devices. Its OnStream
MediaPlayer+ is now compatible with
Android TV, Android M, iOS9, Windows
10/IE11, Windows Phone and Google
Chrome PPAPI.
Zappware has added voice control
capability to its DVB/IPTV/OTT
platform. Using a microphone built
into the remote control device or
into mobile devices, viewers can now
search for specific content or instruct
the TV to play specific content. The
technology for voice recognition is
provided by SemanticEdge.

CloudAir Makes Broadcast
Playout Easier
P

layBox
Technology
will
demonstrate a full production
version of CloudAir at IBC2016.
Based on the concept of virtual
playout, CloudAir simplifies the entire
business of putting a new television
channel on air.
"Most virtual playout offerings and
nearly all graphics applications require
dedicated
processing
electronics
or other hardware to be available
on the cloud server," explained
PlayBox Technology President Don
Ash. "CloudAir is totally
software-centric
and
able to provide full-scale
playout with graphics
on any enterprise-class
blade, rack or tower
server. Once the software
is installed, no auxiliary
hardware is required
at all. This is an ideal
structure for third-party
service-providers.

running on a proven server is
located at the broadcaster's choice
of remote playout centre, typically a
24/7 service provider in whichever
"Virtual playout frees broadcasters town, city, country or continent the
from the need to possess, operate broadcaster prefers. Management of
and maintain their own hardware. programme schedules, ad sales, media
The savings in space and operating management and monitoring are all
overheads can be substantial, performed in the usual way on the
especially for channels located broadcaster's premises, usually at its
in urban centres where business headquarters, via a fire-walled IP link."
premises and staff both come at a
"Available on a software-as-a-service
premium.
basis, CloudAir allows a 24/7 channel
"CloudAir is a development of the to be up and running in far less time
EdgeBox remote playout concept than is needed for traditional serverwhich is used by many broadcasters plus-software or dedicated hardware
around the world. Core software systems," added PlayBox Technology
CEO
Pavlin
Rahnev.
"Once a broadcaster is
settled into this mode
of operation, a new
channel can be activated
within
minutes.
This
level of flexibility also
makes virtual playout an
ideal basis for transient
content streams, such
as 'red button' channels
PlayBox Technology CloudAir Graphic Editor
created
to
provide

supplementary information during a
specific programme series or outside
broadcast event."
Rahnev said that integral to CloudAir
were templates which customers could
preconfigure.
Flexibility was equally vital, he noted:
"Every clip in a playout schedule,
except the one which is currently
playing, needs to be accessible for
trimming, editing or repositioning.
CloudAir gives operators the freedom
to change playlist order on the fly
using commands such as skip-to-next
or jump."
Rahnev concluded: "When funded by
the client as an operational-expense
service, virtual playout frees a channel
owner's investment capital to meet the
overheads of originating, acquiring or
refining content. It additionally offers
broadcasters a basis for very costeffective, space-efficient and reliable
disaster-recovery. When specified
correctly, CloudAir allows cloud-based
ingest, quality-control, title graphics,
clip trimming, playout, backup and
disaster recovery to be achieved all-inone via the cloud."

http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.vidcheck.com/products/vidchecker.php http://www.telestream.net/vantage/lightspeed-server.htm https://playboxtechnology.com/solutions/cloud-solutions

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - September 2016