The Challenge:
Today, broadcasters and production companies alike have ever-growing tech estates. These tech stacks are silo-dependent (radio, web, TV, podcast, …) and are typically multi-vendor, multi-format, and a mix of on-prem and cloud.
These tech stacks would often dictate the workflow of the users (producers, journalists, directors, …) instead of the other way around!
This should be changed. In this 2023 IBC Accelerator, the team proved how one workflow could connect and control any device and any gallery.
They set out to control a common control layer for these sprawling tech estates - in order to make complex media production as easy as making a TikTok.
Making live television and content should be more gallery and device agnostic, which will help broadcasters adapt to budgets, technical possibilities and a variety of circumstances, like a sudden change in venue or location.
Important factors are the ability for producers & editors to control a variety of devices, tech stacks, … from one common interface. This will allow for easy adaption to venue-changes, OB-truck interface and help producers to adapt to different budgets, types of shows etc…
The consortium placed a core focus on the fast-paced pressures of live-to-air. So, in this IBC Accelerator they proved how we can control any tech stack in any gallery, while keeping the editorial producer workflow consistent and at the center at all times, and the user interface the same.
The POC consisted of several things:
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Proven results to connect to any device over API
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Established the Rundown as the common Workflow
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One Rundown then automated and controlled three different set-ups:
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a fully on-prem studio
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a fully cloud-based studio and…
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a remote production using just a laptop
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A re-imagined newsroom: can it be a collection of laptops or even… VR/AR/MR Glasses?
The POC results showed that the producers are no longer a slave of the tech stack, but that the workflow is always the same, no matter what’s in the back-end. This allows them to produce easier, faster and smarter.
Finally, this project concluded that a standardized and structured approach to API can ensure interoperability and connectivity of devices.
As part of this, an Open Call to broadcasters and vendors alike was proposed at IBC2023, and will continue to be explored into 2024.
Champions: ITN, YLE, BBC, TV2, TRANSMIXR, TALK TV
Participants: Tinkerlist, Singular.live, Techex, Grass Valley, ZIXI
Kickstart Day Pitch:
Objectives:
Let’s demonstrate how making any show could be as easy as 'making a TikTok’.
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WORKFLOW FOCUS
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The Editorial & Production Workflow remains the same - journalists & producers can build the show, without needing to know the technical devices or set-up in the back-end, all they know is that assets will make it on-air.
DEVICE AGNOSTIC
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Ability to connect your script / rundown to any device. Send your assets directly to any type of device (play-out, GFX, prompter, …) and control them.
AUTOMATIC FAILOVER/ DISASTER RECOVERY (DR)
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When a device loses connectivity, have the ease to switch to cloud and/or on-prem back-up. Device per device, not a full set-up switch needed.
GO HYBRID
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We showed how any show can be made fully remote and/or in the cloud (5G).
NO PHYSICAL GALLERY
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We demonstrated how there is no need for a physical gallery to run the show.
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We showed AR for full control of a studio - must the gallery be a physical space? What happens when AR/VR glasses or a set of laptops are used?
(GRADUAL) SWITCH ON-PREM
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We switched between ON-PREM and FULL CLOUD gradually or instantly.
NEED FOR STANDARDIZED API
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One of the POC objectives was to promote an industry conversation around the importance of structured/standardized API framework in an increasingly software defined world.
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This was to ensure connectivity and interoperability without the need for heavy integration/transcode trajectories.
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An Open Call to join are exploration will still in effect after IBC, and into 2024.
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