The past two to three years have seen a trend toward using IP-based networks for both contribution and distribution. Change has begun. IP Contribution networks offer a much more flexible, cost-effective, and increasingly a more available method of transport than traditional technologies.
Broadcasters must have multiple ways to deliver content. One important way they can both capitalise on the explosion of interest in video and the transition to digital is to open to new and wider audiences the huge video archives that already exist within their libraries.
Consider that it is not unusual for European broadcasters to uses couriers, mail, and other delivery services to distribute thousands of video tapes every day, year round. This requires a huge resource commitment. With IP delivery of content, distribution of these vast video resources can readily be improved utilising a digital media workflow platform incorporating an IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN).
By simply converting tape-based content to digital format, broadcasters can use IP-based networks to share and distribute content rapidly and efficiently, whether within their own facilities or to locations where it can be readily accessed. Because of the clear technological advantages it offers, IP has become the de facto open-standards-based network capable of delivering what’s needed. Moving multi-format, multi-sized content between the broadcaster’s own facilities (or to other broadcasters) is a further challenge that can be effectively addressed by the inherent flexibility of an IP-based network.
Easynet Global Services has successfully deployed this solution and used IP network to stream high definition (HD) video content around the world. The Easynet service formed part of Sky News' coverage of the Obama inauguration in HD, giving viewers’ around the world up to the minute content and better quality pictures.
Easynet’s Managed Network solutions enabled Sky News to relay part of their coverage of the event over Easynet’s Global IP VPN network directly from the United States to the Sky News Centre in London in less than a second. This was done without the need for much of the costly infrastructure often required for major live news events. In the future broadcasters will be able to make significant cost savings through leveraging the versatile delivery of IP networks.
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