InBroadcast - June 2023 - 30

30
www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 13 - Issue 6 | June 2023
InMedia
The multiplexity of moving
playout to cloud
While the shift to cloud is inexorable broadcasters face a multiplicity of challenges from cost
and integration to security and training. One constant is the need for a technical partner to
guide the way. Leading vendors tackle the issues head on - by Adrian Pennington...
T
ransitioning to cloud
involves
several
challenges
Mark
Strachan, Head
Practice for Telstra
Sufficient
is
and
crucial
playout
common
for broadcasters.
Media
of
Broadcast
Services lists these as:
Bandwidth and Connectivity:
cost-effective
bandwidth, both to and from the
cloud,
and
and
for
of
playout
offers
scalability
file-based
live broadcasts. Availability
affordability
high-speed
connections can be a hurdle.
Cost Considerations: While cloud
and
flexibility, compute storage costs
and data transfer expenses (egress)
can be significant.
These costs
may impact the overall total cost of
ownership, potentially favouring onpremise
broadcast models.
Vendor Management: Successful
migration to the cloud
requires
seamless
integration of multiple
vendors. Managing these
relationships and ensuring smooth
collaboration can be complex.
Monitoring and Quality Control:
Cloud-based broadcast necessitates
effective monitoring and
quality
control systems across diverse cloud
resources
to maintain broadcast
standards. Real-time monitoring
of
multiple cloud
resources,
performance metrics, and content
delivery requires specialised systems
and skill tom implement effectively.
Skill Requirements: Cloud-based
operations
broadcast
a new skill
set
demand
from traditional
broadcasters. This requires upskilling
or acquiring additional talent with
expertise in cloud technologies.
Mark Strachan,
TBS
Strachan points to
various
TBS' cloud
native Media Production Platform
as a solution. This platform caters
to
broadcast workflows,
including playout, remote
production, asset management, and
media/standards conversion.
" By
leveraging
connectivity
TBS's
extensive
solutions, the Media
Production Platform enables
seamless transmission of live and
file-based content from the source
into the cloud and onward to its
final destination. As a fully managed
service, TBS acts as a single point of
contact, handling integration with
underlying vendors and mitigating
complexities.
" Moreover,
operational
TBS
reduced
costs
on
leverages
various
its
scale to negotiate
cloud
components, helping broadcasters
optimize their expenditure. With
the Media Production Platform,
customers
can rely
on
expertise, minimising the need to
upskill their workforce for managing
cloud-based broadcast operations. "
One of the key
challenges
moving broadcast playout
to the
cloud is cost. Many broadcasters still
invest in on-premises
technology
because they think the TCO is lower
than cloud-based solutions.
Like most
things
application to playout will
cloud, its
have
different implications and benefits
TBS's
for each user. But if you are moving
playout to the cloud, then it makes
sense to consider moving the other
functions
involved
of
in preparing
content to the cloud, too.
Explains
had
Stephen Tallamy, CTO,
EditShare, " Traditionally, you created
content next to the point of playout:
broadcasters
large studio
complexes and multiple edit suites.
While production and
post may
have become outsourced, the idea
of completing projects close to the
playout facility is still relevant in the
cloud era. "
Cloud editing is now a reality, he
says, and it delivers the fundamental
benefits of timeliness and security:
there is no chance of content being
delayed, corrupted or pirated if you
are simply moving between cloud
processes.
" Perhaps the most
important
benefit
of the move to softwaredefined
architectures for media is
the opportunity to take a completely
fresh look at workflows. Take time to
really consider what balance of onprem
facilities, remote working and
the cloud will deliver on your creative
and commercial goals.
" It follows that, if you have content
storage and workflows in multiple
locations,
you need to
have a
management layer that looks across
all these sites and provides a single
Stephen Tallamy,
EditShare
TBS' Media Production
Platform caters to various
broadcast workflows, including
playout and remote production
EditShare's FLOW workflow and asset management platform

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