Curious about which technologies are shifting the paradigm for broadcasters today?
The broadcasting industry is undergoing a seismic transformation. With new technologies upending the way content is created, distributed, and consumed, it has never been more critical to stay ahead of the curve or risk falling irretrievably behind.
Broadcasting equipment solutions and technologies have advanced dramatically in just the last few years alone. Previous norms for how broadcasting companies operated are swiftly being phased out.
This means the traditional workflows, infrastructure, and skillsets of yesteryear are quickly becoming obsolete.
In This Article, You Will Learn:
- Game-changing technologies in broadcasting
- The rise of cloud-native broadcasting systems
- Broadcasting services providers (BSPs)
- Why artificial intelligence is pivotal in broadcasting
- The role of 5G technology in broadcasting
The Broadcast Technology Revolution Is Here
Broadcasting technology is at an inflection point.
Legacy infrastructure is making way for a more agile, cloud-based architecture. Forward-thinking organizations such as Thor Broadcast are pioneering innovations in broadcasting equipment solutions that allow content creators to adjust to fast-changing consumer demand and technological possibilities.
The data speaks for itself. The global broadcasting equipment market is anticipated to approach $9.38 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. All this growth fueled by advancements in technology.
But what’s driving this change? The entire ecosystem that builds and distributes content is being reimagined using new technologies that redefine the way content moves from point of creation to the point of consumption.
Cloud-Native Broadcasting is the New Norm
Cast your mind back to the days when broadcasters needed mountains of equipment in-house.
Those days are long gone. Cloud-native broadcasting solutions have become the new normal. Broadcasters have been shifting to fully virtualized, off-premises solutions that offer dynamic resource allocation that scales with need, dramatically lower operational costs, enhanced disaster recovery, worldwide content distribution, and real-time content management from anywhere in the world.
You no longer need to be tied to heavy physical infrastructure that is costly and will be obsolete in a few years. You can easily upgrade your system and adapt to market shifts without tearing down an entire broadcasting infrastructure.
Embracing cloud workflows is the new trend as more broadcasters are recognizing the inherent benefits of cloud systems.
AI is Stepping Into the Spotlight
Prepare to have your mind blown by what artificial intelligence can achieve…
AI isn’t just hype, it is a rapidly becoming the go-to solution for broadcasters. What once required huge teams to manage is now done with systems aided by AI.
Artificial intelligence in broadcasting can power personalized content recommendations, automated highlight generation for sports, automated encoding optimization, and even predicting viewer behavior for content strategy.
An AI system can analyze vast troves of viewing data and make real-time decisions about what content to serve up. It’s a level of personalization that was unthinkable a few years ago.
Broadcasters that have embraced AI workflows are reporting greater viewer engagement, improved user satisfaction, and more efficient operations overall.
5G is the Game-Changing Connectivity Tool
You might be wondering…
What makes mobile broadcasting possible in the first place?
5G technology. And it is only just beginning. According to industry research, almost three-quarters (76%) of broadcasters already using cellular networks in their production operations use 5G technology.
Broadcasters are turning to 5G so quickly due to its three key benefits:
- Tremendously higher bandwidth than 4G to stream HD and 4K content.
- Ultra-low latency to make live broadcasting possible.
- Drastic cost savings compared to traditional connectivity options.
Broadcasters are no longer confined to fixed locations. You can broadcast crystal clear live content to anywhere from your mobile device without expensive satellite trucks. Sports broadcasters use 5G technology to stream from multiple camera feeds at once. News teams can go live from places never previously possible with 5G-enabled cameras.
Broadcasting Technologies Based on IP
Traditional broadcasting is filled with proprietary systems and solutions.
Modern broadcasting is all IP. IP-based workflows are the future of the broadcasting industry because they are interoperable with standard IT infrastructure.
Broadcasters can use existing network hardware and connect to cloud infrastructure with relative ease. IP workflows can easily route signals to different outputs.
Broadcasters can scale up and down their operations with relative ease without having to make significant infrastructure upgrades. It also easily integrates with modern tools for monitoring, analytics, and automation.
4K and 8K Resolutions Take the Main Stage
The viewing audience now expects higher resolution content every year. Broadcasters are delivering on that demand.
Broadcasting providers have all moved to 4K in some capacity. Broadcasters are at least planning for 8K content.
Transitioning to 4K content has been accelerated in the broadcast workflow, it’s more than just high-resolution graphics. Broadcasters are shifting their strategy to meet consumer demand in an increasingly competitive market.
Ultra HD and 8K content require significant more bandwidth, storage, and processing power, which has forced innovation in compression technology and standards such as HEVC and AV1.
Encoding technologies continue to improve at keeping quality while lowering file sizes.
Interactive and Immersive Features Lead Broadcasts
Broadcasting is no longer a one-way medium.
Interactive features are increasingly built into standard broadcasts. Viewers expect to be able to choose camera angles, access real-time stats, and engage with broadcasts beyond being passive viewers. VR and AR are taking the broadcasting industry by storm.
Broadcasters must consider interactivity when creating content. You must think about multi-platform coverage and viewer engagement across socials and more.
Broadcast Content Delivery Must Work Across Platforms
Broadcasting companies can no longer be beholden to linear television platforms alone.
Content needs to be functional across linear TV, OTT services, mobile apps, social media platforms, and everywhere in between. Each of these platforms have different requirements and different audiences.
Broadcasting equipment solutions need to be built with multi-platform distribution in mind. The work can be done once, but the finished product needs to be delivered in many different formats.
Automation Will Replace Mundane Broadcasting Tasks
Manual broadcast tasks are on their way out.
Automation is replacing manual broadcast tasks so that creatives can spend their time more usefully. Automated workflows for ingesting, transcoding, and quality control as well as metadata and file management all the way through editorial decisions.
This doesn’t mean fewer jobs in the broadcasting industry; it means better jobs. Automation can complete tedious and repetitive technical processes while creative staff focus on the fun stuff.
Broadcasting Technologies Is Changing Fast: Final Thoughts
The broadcast landscape has never changed faster than it has now. Cloud infrastructure, AI workflows, 5G connectivity, IP-based workflows, and ultra-high definition content are just a few of the factors that are coalescing to produce a brand new kind of broadcast environment.
The new, ever-evolving market presents a perfect storm for broadcast professionals who are in the know. This means modernizing your operations with state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment solutions.
Broadcasting technologies and tools have never been more flexible and powerful. Now is the time to act.
The future belongs to those who take action today. Broadcasters that want to succeed in the future will be those who adapt, invest in the best technologies, and never lose sight of what matters: delivering quality content to viewers no matter where they are. This is the future of broadcasting and the future is now.
