5 Tips for Shifting the Efficiency of your Broadcast Operation into Overdrive

The concept of efficiency takes many forms. From bandwidth and business to space, energy and operations, the areas requiring efficiency to be optimized are seemingly endless. But in broadcast, efficiency is much more than an overused buzz word sitting smugly in sentences about streamlined workflows and end-to-end solutions. For broadcasters, the reality is that efficiency equals hard cash. As an industry, were challenged with moving into emerging delivery platforms with unproven business models, while maintaining primary revenue streams. A tricky endeavor under any circumstances, but doing it with sparse budgets and thinly spread staff requires considerable creativity. And an all-new focus on efficiency. Fortunately, the latest technology is up to the task. Here are five tips on how you can use it to drive efficiency (read: profit) in your business.
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TIP #1: Use back-office tools to drive front-of-plant efficiency TIP #2: Dont let a channel-in-a-box quick-fix end in buyers remorse TIP #3: Think beyond the sticker price when shopping for a transmitter TIP #4: Say goodbye to manual schedule changes and hello to efficiency
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TIP #5: Go hybrid Get the best of baseband and IP

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TIP #1: Use back-office tools to drive front-of-plant efficiency

The switch to digital broadcasting has made adding a new service on a transmitter or cable/satellite reasonably simple; however, finding new revenue models to align with the ever-changing set of distribution methods is not. Further complicating matters, we all have fewer resources to manage our existing legacy business which is the cash-cow that fuels our ventures into new business opportunities. Understanding this complexity and having tools to identify bottlenecks within our workflows and optimize efficiency is more critical than ever, and must become part of our daily routines. Business Intelligence (BI) has typically been dismissed by broadcasters as tools applicable only to the accounting side of the business. But newer BI tools have become broadcast-specific, capable of uncovering data such as inefficient workflows and generating actionable responses that can reduce operational costs and CAPEX on future spends. Additionally, BI broadcast tools supply real data that helps people focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the scheduling and ad sales processes and maximize sales. Lets consider a concrete example of how BI can significantly improve processes in a media-repurposing workflow that requires transcoders. BI tools can look at all available transcoders in real time. Should one go down, the tool rebalances the remaining load of files to those transcoders that are still online. BI reports utilization rates, allowing an operations manager to see which devices are operating at 100% and which are at much lower usage. This enables users to determine if they need to change workflows, buy more capacity to allow more throughput at the pinch-points in the workflow, or even use services from a third-party provider (e.g., a transcode service from a Cloud provider).

BI tools can also alert you to system imbalances and other issues either through Key Performance Indicator (KPI) monitoring or alerts sent to users once specific thresholds are past or met. Imagine a system that automatically notifies you when failed workflows exceed 3% for any trailing three-day period of time, or when a number of active workflows exceeds a preset limit. Using BI tools will enable you to determine the winners and losers of experimentation with new customer distribution mediums. Once all costs are identified (content management, editing, HW, content rights) for a new service, did you make enough revenue to meet expectations? Once you introduced a new service offering, was churn reduced? How can you minimize costs and maximize revenue by optimizing the mix of content available on linear, VoD, mobile and streaming platforms? The right BI tool can even insulate you from the inevitable changes an enterprise will experience during a period of rapid transformation. BI can enable the reports and dashboards that are used to run and optimize your business to remain the same, while at the same time allowing the underlying systems to change based on market need. BI systems can also archive and map historical data from multiple systems, enabling stable and accurate historical analysis tied with data from new systems. While theres no simple way to know what type of new service or delivery method will yield profitability, one thing we know for sure is that waiting keeping our systems as they always have been will result in failure. The right BI tools deliver operational efficiencies that accelerate speed and productivity across the workflow, while providing you with insight into new revenue opportunities.

For more information, visit: NetGain Business Intelligence and Analytics

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TIP #2: Dont let a channel-in-a-box quick-fix end in buyers remorse

As distribution channels increase and compression technologies advance, todays broadcaster has a spiraling number of options available for reaching consumers. However, the resulting program business models must work within the overall television advertising spend framework. PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that traditional broadcast and cable net advertising revenues will still be 90% of the spend in 2016. That means that 10% of the ad revenues must pay for the multitude of variations in new media delivery notably mobile, Internet and OTT. Based on these stats, it doesnt take a fortuneteller to predict the channel-in-a-box (CIB) market will grow, as content owners seek ways to reduce their operational expenses and deliver incremental channels at minimal cost. As with other technologies found in the broadcast and related spaces one size does not fit all. This idiom applies not only to the workflows that will leverage the technology now, but also to those that may use it in the future. While addressing current needs for efficiency and growth is obviously important, having an appreciation for where your channels may be headed is also a key consideration factor in the CIB purchase process. Often, the requirements of new channels are vague, or do not become well-defined until close to channel launch. In addition, requirements are typically amended once a channel is up and running. Therefore, choosing a solution that doesnt require you to reinvest in new technology within a year or two of the initial purchase is important. What if the venture takes off what would it take to operate 2 channels, 10 channels, 100+ channels? Scalability comes in various forms, including things like automation control, asset management, hardware and software monitoring and easy upgrading of software features. Knowing you can scale beyond todays needs creates a security blanket, and eliminates the need for costly system replacement if the channel count proliferates.

Sometimes the best-laid plans dont pan out, and equipment may become stranded. Again, the ability to repurpose what you own is a significant financial and operational benefit. This can involve reconfiguring, or even using the equipment to replace aging traditional play-to-air systems. Be sure the CIB platform you choose is flexible enough to ensure that option is available to you. Once up and running with CIB technology, you may identify other applications for the system, such as using it as easy-to-manage redundancy or backup for your primary channels. The right CIB solution can also help you automate some master control functions, or provide viable solutions for geographically disbursed channel deployments. The early strategies of closed CIB solutions were right for that time, but times have evolved. In order for CIB products to grow and become an increasingly vital part of the broadcasting solution, they must have the capability to be easily and fully integrated with existing equipment. This means that CIB channels must coexist in hybrid environments that contain traditional linear and new nonlinear offerings. When talking with vendors, be sure to check on both standard features and what is available via software upgrades. Also, make sure you know the potential enhancements coming for the product in the future. A view of the near-term roadmap will give you a good sense of what you can expect down the road. A scheme that enables blending of traditional and integrated playout channels will enable scale and simpler operations. Choosing the right CIB solution will ensure todays efficient (i.e., cost-effective) channel launch doesnt leave you stuck with a costly doorstop down the road.

For more information, visit: Versio Integrated Channel Playout

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TIP #3: Think beyond the sticker price when shopping for a transmitter

In planning the deployment of a digital transmission network, budget considerations typically center on the cost of acquiring the necessary equipment. But when it comes to transmitter investments, it actually pays to project and prioritize the long-term costs over the initial outlay. Thats because over the life of a typical network, the upfront costs are typically paid many times over by the ongoing operating expenses. There are many long-term costs to consider, including delivery and installation, floor space, site rental charges, lifetime maintenance and repair, and most importantly power consumption. Skyrocketing energy prices in some parts of the world have tipped the economic balance of plant operations. Many broadcasters find they are one of the top energy consumers in their country and could face possible carbon taxes in the future. And corporations around the world have realized that green operations are not only a statement in social responsibility, but can also dramatically impact the bottom line. Although the topic of power consumption seems straightforward, its often overlooked in the planning and procurement process in favor of purchase price, which can lead to elevated operating costs and reduced profits over the life cycle of the product. A recent evaluation of current digital transmission products found significant power consumption differences, which, in a few months, covered any price difference and, within several years, paid for the transmitter on the power savings alone. Multiply the savings per transmitter across a typical network, and the savings are quite large. Fortunately, transmitter efficiency has come a long way in recent years. New higher-efficiency power amp technology delivers multiple cost-saving benefits, including reduction in AC power consumption, reduction in physical size, reduction in cooling requirements and reduction of carbon footprint. LDMOS devices, crest factor reduction and advanced digital precorrection have all enabled incremental improvements in DC to RF efficiency. Doherty linear RF amplification and Drain Voltage Modulation further improved solid-state power amplifier efficiency by 10 to 18%, but the efficiency advantages delivered by these two techniques come with tradeoffs. Narrowband technologies like Doherty are very attractive from a simplicity, speed-to-market and cost standpoint; however, most users, for the sake of module interchangeability, prefer a wideband power amplifier technology that allows the transmitter system to be frequency agile across the entire VHF or UHF band. Wideband efficiency enhancement technologies like Drain Voltage Modulation offer full frequency agility across the frequency band of interest, but they are more complex and costly to implement. Today, a new, patent-pending amplifier technology is set to deliver unprecedented DC to RF efficiency without the accompanying compromises of other techniques. The simple, RF palate-based design offers full broadband coverage with no tuning, motors, or adjustments of any kind required; one PA module to consolidate network spares and simplify maintenance; and no costly new hardware required for channel changes. The technology is innovative and intriguing, but the bottom line is savings. This next-generation technology can reduce energy costs by 20-30% over other currently available transmitters. Factor in lower cooling costs, and your new transmitter will pay for itself in reduced OPEX in 3 to 5 years. After all, policy and politics aside, when it comes to energy efficiency it really is all about the green.

For more information, visit: Radio Transmission Television Transmission

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TIP #4: Say goodbye to manual schedule changes and hello to efficiency
In an increasingly fragmented media landscape, station groups are continuously seeking ways to grow advertising revenue. From reality show finales to heated political debates to high-profile sporting events, whats hot on TV is always changing, compelling advertisers to demand high-visibility placements at the last minute. Broadcasters want to deliver on that demand, but are limited by todays tedious manual amendment processes. In a typical broadcast operation, employees in traffic and master control departments often act as couriers, trudging up and down the stairs with slips of paper to communicate each and every change throughout the scheduling workflow. The inherent inefficiencies of this manual system significantly limit a broadcasters ability to capitalize on last-minute changes in the market resulting in missed revenue opportunities. In a competitive, multiplatform era, you can no longer afford to confine traffic to the sales office. Today, new technology leveraging the industry-standard BXF communication protocol allows seamless integration between traffic systems and master control, enabling broadcast operations to eliminate manual transactions, reduce error rates and quickly and easily capture last-minute revenue opportunities. Using BXF data exchange, traffic and billing software can be effectively tied to automated content management and distribution systems. The tight integration ensures that staff can make intelligent decisions on ad placements and scheduling

changes from the business office, with the confidence that all changes will be automatically translated to automation in time for broadcast. Connecting traffic and automation enables the traffic schedule to communicate bidirectionally with a running playlist. Changes to the log can be made up to 15 minutes before airtime. After playout, the system reconciles content updates between the traffic department log and the automation playlist and down the line to accounting for reconciliation. In the day-to-day operations of the master control department, operators no longer need to dedicate huge chunks of time to manipulating playlists and manually inserting spot copy changes. The edits can be performed by the traffic department and communicated electronically throughout the workflow. Broadcasters no longer have to lock their logs well in advance of air. You now have the flexibility to accommodate late orders that you previously didnt get or declined because you couldnt process them in time. Provided the spots arrive ready for ingest on the playout server, the order can be processed automatically from within the existing traffic and billing workflow. As advertisers realize broadcasters now have the technical capability to support this, it could be a real game changer converting last-minute avails into revenue.

For more information, visit: Live-Update Live log editor for OSi-Traffic and ADC

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TIP #5: Go hybrid Get the best of baseband and IP

it multiplatform or multiscreen our broadcaster is doing it. To complicate things further, hes got different audio configurations for the different feeds. So using traditional broadcast equipment with at least a degree of redundancy, what kind of infrastructure investment would our broadcaster have to make to pull this off? For starters, 45 separate functional items are required. Were talking frame syncs, video converters, Dolby E decoders, MultiMerge processors, loudness processors, video and audio compression encoders, multiplexers, IP processors, Ethernet switches, and redundancy management controllers. Configuration, management and monitoring of all this equipment present an additional operational challenge. Our overworked, overwrought broadcaster ends up with a total of 25 rack units, more than 130 cables and around 2,500 watts of power consumption. By taking a functional convergence mindset on the project, our broadcaster can go to his Chief Financial Officer with a better plan. Now, all 45 functions are consolidated into a single, high-density, integrated platform. Power consumption is reduced from 2,500 to 600 watts. Rack space is reduced from 25RU to 3RU. Cables are reduced from 131 to 14. Overall, space, power, cabling and operational complexity are reduced by approximately 75 percent. With media convergence technology, our broadcaster has all the functionality he needs to run his business efficiently today and a clear-cut, cost-effective growth path to an IP future.

Traditional television infrastructure is undergoing its first major architectural shift in more than 30 years. Through the economic incentives of IP-based and IT-based infrastructures, many workflow processes that were traditionally built upon a baseband video infrastructure are now carried out in IP data networks or acting on stored files. The underlying infrastructure of the plant needs to also shift as these technologies evolve and become even more pervasive in the television industry. Baseband video will become less prevalent. Compressed, networked storage systems and streaming systems will become the new norm. These new technologies are key to delivering more versions of more channels and more content to an increasingly fragmented audience, while maintaining profitability through improved operations and throughput. Advances in computational power and networking technologies have made it possible to gain significant operational improvements in the television plant by keeping the video and audio signals in a compressed and networked format whenever practical. But doing this requires the next generation of television plant infrastructure to be equally fluent in IP networking and SDI video. One example of technology bridging the baseband/broadband gap is Harris Broadcasts Selenio media convergence platform, which combines traditional baseband video and audio processing, compression and IP networking features in a single 3RU frame. Lets look at a concrete example of how a typical ATSC broadcast operation might benefit from media convergence technology. (Note: DVB-T2 broadcasters can achieve similar efficiency improvements.) Our typical broadcaster has three programming channels prepared for distribution lets say, two HD entertainment channels and an SD news/weather channel. His distribution is wide: terrestrial transmitter, local cable headends, IP mobile feed, internal monitoring IP feeds and Internet distribution feeds. Call

For more information, visit: Selenio Media Convergence Platform

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