Media production workflows have long used satellite for contribution of broadcast content. It’s commonly used in contribution workflows where video content is captured at a location and then encoded and transported to the studio to be prepared for a program. Satellite is used for contribution of all sorts of content from sports broadcasting and news content to chat shows and reality shows. Its reliability and global reach make it ideal for use in certain use cases, such as very high value live sports events, which are broadcast to a large audience.
However, as consumer demand for content has increased and the broadcast industry has evolved, the industry has become increasingly competitive. And so broadcasters and content providers find themselves having to produce more content than ever before, in less time, all while keeping costs low. This is driving many media companies to adopt new ways of working including IP delivery and cloud-based workflows.
Comparing satellite and IP
Although satellite is still the preferred choice for some use cases where it makes commercial sense to use it, for others, IP delivery may be preferable. With IP based delivery, video is transported over the internet rather than by satellite or fiber. While IP-based contribution was not deemed adequate for broadcast content in the past, the technology has improved significantly in recent years, making it a reliable, efficient and cost effective way of transporting video content.
Using satellite for transporting content is generally hugely costly, with prices ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 for a single event to cover uplink and downlink services, satellite transponder rental, and additional fees for technical support and setup. Conversely, when using IP, video content can be moved at a significantly lower cost: base cloud costs could well be below $200 per hour, for triple redundancy, per hour of programming. There are of course other costs to factor in such as software costs, as well as cloud storage and processing costs, but even then, overall costs are far lower than traditional satellite transmission.
Additionally, satellite also lacks the flexibility that many media production workflows now require, making it difficult for broadcasters to adapt quickly to changing demands. This is another reason why broadcasters are increasingly turning to IP-based delivery as an alternative to satellite, because unlike satellite, IP can be quickly set up and is easy to update as required in response to last minute changes to production and broadcast requirements.
Benefits of cloud-based workflows
Along with adopting IP delivery, media companies are also increasingly leveraging cloud technology because it delivers a whole bunch of cool benefits. Workflows can be streamlined and automated where it matters so that media teams can process content faster, to deliver to the audience in less time. When content is captured direct to the cloud using cloud-ingest tools such as Cinedeck’s Capture2Cloud, video can be captured and saved direct to the cloud in edit ready formats. This way of working removes a lot of the bottlenecks associated with traditional workflows because media operators can begin editing straight away. And with tools like Cinedeck’s ConneX, media companies can easily modify content on the fly so that the journey from record to delivery is faster and easier without the need to write code or invest in expensive software.
Other operational benefits of cloud-based workflows include flexibility, scalability and reduced spend on equipment and physical infrastructure. Increased flexibility comes because media professionals can operate from any location and collaborate in real-time. Additionally, media companies can work in a flexible way in terms of the solutions and components that are used to produce and process the content. Cloud-based workflows allow media teams to select the right service or solution that best meets their needs without having to purchase and install costly hardware.
The cloud also provides levels of scalability that hardware-based infrastructure simply cannot match. When workflows are cloud-based, media companies can quickly and easily scale up storage and processing capabilities as needed for a large project, without having to invest in costly hardware as would have been the case pre cloud. This makes for a much more cost effective and efficient way of working.
Example cloud-based workflow in action
Using the example of a TV show production which could be live or recorded, let’s explore how full cloud approach can work using a public cloud provider such as AWS. Video streams are captured at location, and a cloud-based ingest tool such as Cinedeck’s Capture2Cloud, enables content to be contributed direct to the cloud with a transport protocol such as SRT. The use of a cloud ingest solution means that content producers are also benefitting from adaptable tools for enhanced data processing; for example, hi-resolution formats can be recorded that can be transcoded downstream, proxy versions can be created for faster remote post-production workflows, and the system can be configured to support the addition of department-specific metadata in the required format.
The media footage is now sitting in the cloud ready for the necessary post-production tasks to be carried out. If the production is live, AI-based cloud tools can be leveraged to add captions in real-time. Editing, preparing and validating tasks that need to be completed prior to distribution can also be carried out using cloud-based tools. With the media workflow sitting in the cloud, the entire process can be managed through a web interface, meaning that media teams working across different geographical locations can easily manage and process the content.
Making the transition to IP and cloud
There’s no doubt that successfully transitioning from traditional workflows to IP and the cloud requires careful planning and execution. Content providers must evaluate their existing infrastructure, workflows, and technical requirements to determine the best approach for migration. A phased approach will usually be the most sensible way forward, and moving entire operations to the cloud will not always be right for every business. Many broadcasters and content providers have opted to take a hybrid approach where certain workflows sit in the cloud while some parts of the operation continue to use the traditional hardware based infrastructure. There certainly is no uniform strategy to follow. Leveraging comprehensive solutions like those supplied by Cinedeck can take a lot of the pain away from the migration to cloud process. Its solutions offer cloud-native capabilities and seamless integration with other cloud tools using flexible and well-constructed RESTful APIs.
When you combine the cost savings of using IP-delivery over satellite with the operational benefits of cloud-based workflows, content providers can unlock new levels of efficiency and flexibility, paving the way for a more dynamic and future-proof ecosystem. Those who embrace this change stand a much better chance of remaining competitive and relevant as the M&E landscape continues to evolve.
Streamline your workflow with Cinedeck’s solutions
Here at Cinedeck, we’re dedicated to helping you make your workflow the absolute best it can be. With Cinedeck’s powerful solutions, you can create a comprehensive and cohesive video workflow that connects powerful, automated workflows with capture, conform, and media processing technologies.
To find out more about how Cinedeck can enhance and streamline your workflow, get in touch now.