IP-based interactive DSNG:
The missing link of tapeless TV news production
In the tapeless revolution of TV news
production, Digital Satellite News Gathering
is lagging behind. This article shows that
the existing gap between the fast evolving
news production technology and the more
classical DSNG infrastructure can easily be
closed with off-the-shelf Newtec products.
The migration is smooth as these products
support simultaneously the new and old
ways of working.
The end of the tape
Over the past years, most television news production
facilities have undergone tremendous technical
evolutions. What was yesterday a bulky combination of
expensive tape decks, analog editing desks, large libraries
of video tapes and webs of coax cables is today a slick IT
environment where all content is stored as computer files
on compact hard disk servers, exchanged in IP format
over standard Ethernet cabling and edited on regular
desktop PCs. Modern cameras even capture sound and
image directly on an onboard hard disk or memory card,
so that the good old video tapes seem to be bound for
the media museum for a well deserved retirement next
to vinyl records and computer diskettes.
DSNG “the old way”
Tapeless video production always use original media
content. Editing is in fact virtual, as only low resolution
previews are used during the manipulations. The final
consolidation is only performed at the very end of
the process, at play-out time, using the original high
resolution material stored on the servers. And because
they are computer files, the digital duplicates are of equal
quality as the originals.
New work flows in the studios
This new type of environment induces significant changes
in the work flows and processes of journalists and editors.
Access to years of archives is made instantaneous and
is assisted with sophisticated metadata and voice-
recognition search engines. Archives can be accessed
over the Internet and exchanged with other broadcasters.
Content can be contributed or distributed via the Internet
and wireless networks. Regional offices are virtually
integrated in the editing infrastructure of the main TV
studios. Video sequences can be edited and previewed
simultaneously by several people. Changes and voice-
over can be added up to the very last minute before final
play-out.
In summary, the migration towards a tapeless news
production increases productivity, reduces costs and
increases the speed preparation and delivery of news
content.
Continued
9
PRODUCT NEWS
 Tapeless Interactive DSNG
But what about DSNG?
Until now, satellite contribution and digital satellite
news gathering (DSNG) seem to be lagging behind the
rest of the production environment. Most DSNG uplinks
are still operated as real time transmissions using
hardware MPEG2 encoders and IRDs. For live broadcast,
this is still adequate, but for news clips, it often implies
tape recording at the uplink and/or downlink sites. The
editing capabilities in the truck are limited and the edited
content cannot be transmitted as a file to the studios.
This implies that the satellite capacity must always be
reserved for at least the duration of the video sequence,
with enough bandwidth to sustain the required video
quality. The DSNG van is not connected to the main
IT infrastructure, so the interactivity with the studios is
limited and often based on expensive wireless roaming
calls. The crew members have no access to their e-mail
or Intranet and their productivity is limited while they
are on the road.
Video files also on satellite
10 Newtec has a range of transmission equipment and
IP software that allows the true integration of DSNG
in the tapeless IT environment. The Azimuth DVB-
PRODUCT NEWS
S2 modulators, modems and receivers include both
transport stream and Ethernet interfaces, with all the
necessary on-board features to encapsulate IP data and
transmit it over a satellite link. The Tellitec IP software
can be used to transfer video file efficiently and securely.
With these products, both real time transmission and file
uploads can easily be operated from the DSNG van. For
file uploads, the transmission can be operated faster or
slower than the actual clip duration, depending on the
available bandwidth and/or urgency of delivery.
Virtual Editing from the DSNG van
But this is not all: if a modem is used in the van instead
of a modulator, a satellite link can also be implemented
from the studio to the DSNG van. This second satellite
link can be used to download archive material (or
previews thereof ) from a central video server to a
laptop-based editing station in the van. The journalist
or operator in the van can therefore work with the
video material produced locally as well as the material
stored in the archive database located in the studio. This
seamless integration allows the video material to be
entirely edited in the DSNG van, therefore increasing the
productivity of the people on the road. When the edited
file is ready, the editing script and the raw material are
uploaded to the video server in the studio. At play out
time, the video material is consolidated using the high
resolution archive files and the raw material uploaded
from the DSNG van.
Bandwidth optimization
The return channel from the studio to the van can be
shared among several SNG units, which allows statistical
multiplexing of the traffic and minimizes the required
bandwidth. But the return link can also be used for
another very efficient way to optimize bandwidth: it
can be used to convey information over the satellite
receive conditions at the studios. This information can
be used by the DSNG uplink to modify dynamically its
modulation scheme and error correction code, so that
it always optimizes the bandwidth efficiency in function
of the weather conditions. This mode of operation is
supported by the DVB-S2 standard under the name
Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM). In essence,
it allows the system to operate with a minimum rain
margin, providing the maximum throughput when the
Continued
sky is clear and automatically reducing the data rate
when it rains. This means that the upload time of large
files is always kept to the minimum.
True interactivity
Having a return link from the studio to the DSNG allows
real two-way network connectivity between the DSNG
van and the studio. This connectivity is also enabled by
other Tellitec software products such as TelliNet, which
provides traffic enhancement features and IP security.
Two-way connectivity in the van offers many other
advantages:
• Voice over IP (VoIP) for coordination channels,
telephone calls, live interviews, etc…
• Broadband access to the Internet and Intranet
• E-mail access
• Remote management of the uplink equipment
In other words, each DSNG van becomes a virtual remote
office fully integrated in the overall IT and news editing
infrastructure of the main TV studios. These advantages
allow operating the van with a smaller crew and increase
the productivity of the team
members.

Are you ready?

PRODUCT NEWS
Newtec has solutions as
simple as the replacement of
equipment or as complex as
the complete integration of
satellite contribution networks.
For an in-depth analysis of
your own requirements, please
contact your nearest Newtec
office.

Interactive DSNG Infrastructure

Kris Warreyn
new Vice President In a continuing effort to build a sales organisation that best serves its
customers, Newtec has appointed Kris Warreyn as Vice-President Worldwide

Worldwide Sales Sales, reporting directly to the CEO Serge Van Herck. From this position Kris 11
Warreyn will lead all four Sales divisions of the Newtec group (regional sales
offices, global accounts, channels and sales support) and will focus on further
COMPANY NEWS

building up a well-balanced sales structure adapted to the considerable

perspectives of the company.

Prior to joining Newtec, Kris Warreyn was the General Manger of the French
branch of Scientific Atlanta and the Sales Director for Southern Europe and
Africa. Kris Warreyn holds an Master Engineering Degree in Electronics/
Avionics and began his career in France working for Dassault Electronics.
He moved on to assume a number of sales management positions in E2S, a
Belgian Software company (Aviation and Space projects) and Sick, a German
company (Optical Sensors and Security systems for the industry). He joined
Barco Communication Systems (BCS) in May 97 as Market Development
Manager for different regions of the world. In 2000 he became general
manager of a system integrator acquired by BCS in France, a function he
continued to exercise when BCS was acquired by Scientific Atlanta in 2002
Kris Warreyn and later by Cisco in 2006.