Is WiMAX Good Enough for Broadcasters?

Sprint Nextel promises “a secure wireless channel” with broadband communication first quarter of next year.  WiMAX is here and Wayne Ward, vice president of Sprint’s emerging solutions unit, said the wireless provider is testing a technology to deliver the quality of service broadcasters require.  Ward described a secure transmission over a wireless and public network.

Where would the WiMAX standard with secure channels place microwave and satellite transmission of live video from the field?  Wireless technology remains far behind the quality microwave or satellites provide. TVNewsCheck reports Fred Fourcher, chief executive of Bitcentral described the capacity of wireless broadband transmission as “a constant juggling between how much time you have and how much quality you can submit."  Speed and quality of transmission of standard and high definition video is still best handled by microwave and satellite.

When expense and acceptance of lesser classes of transmission enter the decision process WiMAX would become a feasible method to send video from the field for broadcast news operations.  TVNewsCheck applauds KIFI TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho as pioneering WiMAX in television news coverage by using the technology along with two microwave trucks. 

In the same article Streambox project manager Benjamin Larson said “a dedicated line is essential for suitable transmission” with WiMAX.  Streambox provides compression technology for KIFI.  More is required to compete with microwave and satellite.  Broadcasters demand a quality of service beyond the value cell phone users accept from high speed broadband. 

News production uses a number of technologies to deliver video and audio to an audience.  Some methods are best and some are just good enough.  The transmission path chosen depends on immediate advantages specific technology offers in speed and cost compared to quality.  Cost, timeliness and quality make WiMAX Sprint is expected to deliver in the next four months one the three best choices to be weighed in transmission decisions.

Next week Broadcast Newsroom Computing offers SMART goals as a success factor in getting the job done.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Sprint Nextel,WiMAX,TVNewsCheck,BitCentral,KIFI TV,Streambox,m icrowave,satellite,broadband

Web TV – The Race is On

The holiday shopping season kicks into high gear in a few days and television set manufactures hope the biggest selling products will be Internet enabled sets.  A recent USA Today technology article looks hard at changes in the consumer market for Web TV.

The national newspaper for the United States predicts this might be the year false starts end.  The paper reports Sony, Vizio, LG, Samsung and Panasonic will all market new television sets incorporating Web content and television programming.  Randy Waynick, senior vice president at Sony’s Consumer Group, told USA Today "When we all open up the newspapers on Jan. 1, and they talk about the hot items from the holiday selling season, Internet-connected TVs are going to be at the top of the list.”

Like computer software there are many possibilities for convergence of television and web content.  Who has the answer?  That is yet to be determined.

Comcast, the cable provider, is ready to introduce an On-Demand Online service during the holiday season.  Comcast Interactive Media President Amy Banse said at the recent NewTeeVee Live conference “The key to the On-Demand Online service is not that users will be able to access content on their PCs, but that they will be able to view the content whenever and wherever they want.”

A New York Times report suggests advertisers will spend a great deal of money online for video content.  “Digital video amounted to $477 million in revenue in the first half of 2009, up 38 percent from the same time period in 2008, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

Set manufacturers are betting on consumers unwillingness to give up their sets which are being sold with larger and larger screens.  There is more to consider than this forum can offer about choices viewers will make as to where and when they watch most video content.  There is revenue growth in whatever they choose.  Perhaps New Year’s Day will bring news of the leader.

Next Broadcast Newsroom Computing examines new ways of delivering video captured in the field.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Sony,Vizio,Samsung,Panasonic,Web TV,USA Today,LG,Comcast,NewTeeVee,New York Times Online

Working Hard to Work Easier

Many broadcasters, particularly journalists, have expressed frustration about understanding what a technology solution offers.   I navigated to four vendor sites proffering solutions to broadcasters and made note of my comprehension after reading a few paragraphs at each site.

Broadcast Newsroom Computing focused on merchants with automation solutions.  Attempting, the impossible, to make observations close to scientific and fair.  So here’s the list

• Adobe
• Grass Valley
• Avid
• Dalet

I’ve had conversations with colleagues about solutions from each aforementioned vendor.  Everyone has a different favorite.  The honest answer, I have found, is the one with the best fit for your production environment.  Variables in that respect are myriad.  BNC sought only to gather who best communicated their solution.

In my humble opinion Adobe nailed it.  Their broadcast solutions page begins with a Flash presentation for which Adobe is noted.  The text was plain and simple.  Everything communicated with ease and less work on my part.

Grass Valley’s page rates behind Adobe with me.  The pitch however was easy and required little to understand.  I got a real sense of what Ignite brings to the table right off the top.  GV requires you to drill down to get to videos and other tools to learn more about their solution.

Avid’s page for broadcast solutions begins with the company’s mission and makes you search to learn more about their products.  You’re required to work hard and read a lot to gather benefits you might gain purchasing their solution.

Last place goes to Dalet which produced the geek speak riddled brochure raising our attention to communication success.  The vendor cleaned up its act on its page but still left BNC working to hard to determine whether they sell watches on city streets or solutions for news production.  However, Dalet gets a lot of praise for new products from those with whom I’ve spoken.  Too much work was required to learn directly from Dalet.

Your comments and opinions are invited, appreciated and needed.

Next week, Broadcast Newsroom Computing considers revenue growth in online video.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Adobe,Avid Technology,Grass Valley,Dalet

I Want My TV Anywhere

Mobile TV broadcasts are expected in 28 major United States markets by years end according to the Open Mobile Video Coalition.  The voluntary association of broadcasters made the claim months ago.  The coalition announced recently it is “All Systems Go” for a new era of television service on mobile devices.

The Advanced Television Systems Committee adopted the final mobile digital television broadcast standard a few weeks ago.  The committee said its members overwhelmingly approved the A/153 ATSC Mobile DTV Standard.  The standard defines the technical specifications necessary for broadcasters to provide new services to mobile and handheld devices using their digital television (DTV) transmissions.

Television on a telephone, a personal video device, a laptop, in the back seat of the car or some new  device yet to be introduced.  Free and over the air television.  The discussion about Mobile DTV has been going on for some time.  The reality of the discussion is here now.

OMVC reported “stations will experiment with a variety of services and business models, including traditional and interactive video, and ad supported and pay services.”   The manufacturers of devices for consumers are experimenting as well.

Years ago ION Media Networks presented the ATSC with some numbers on consumer devices for Mobile DTV.  Competitors AT&T and Verizon are good examples of the fight for screens.  Makayama has a different strategy for consumers eyes.  All the players are seeking to make a profit with Mobile DTV.

The ION presentation offers some insight into the fragmentation of platforms and the associated numbers of devices sold.  What will viewers want to see and where will they want to see it?  More questions soon to be answered with the availability of television where and whenever the viewer desires.

The new Mobile DTV standard is going to “awaken US consumers to the value of mobile video,” claims Steven J. Wilson of ABI Research.

Next week Broadcast Newsroom Computing tries to make sense of gibberish about media technology.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Open Mobile Video Coalition,Advanced Television Systems Committee,Mobile DTV,ION Media Networks,AT&T,Verizon,Makayama,ABI Research

Reinventing Communication

Google Wave proposes to reinvent the way we communicate and collaborate.  Wave’s hype claims to take email to exponential heights.  It’s all yet to be seen because Wave is still in test stages.

Email has evolved as an essential tool in newsrooms and the communication form’s contribution to news production is immeasurable.  Coupled with the smart phone email has changed communication between the newsroom and the field.  However, the rundown is still the event list for a news program.  The assignment list continues to be the game plan for news coverage.

Rundowns or run orders and assignment lists will likely remain as the basis for broadcast news production.  How these foundations are utilized could change drastically with Wave.  Google calls Wave conversation and document.  Let’s say the conversation is either the assignment list or the rundown and both of the lists take on the form of a document in a Wave.

From the initial conversation or Wave on assignments everyone involved has a copy of the document – the assignment list – in their mail box.  The assignments conversation breaks out stories into separate assignment Waves for every one associated with a specific report.

So from an initial all encompassing Wave comes another round of Waves parsed out according to specific assignments.  Everyone can then look in their mailboxes for updates and materials or rich content related to the story concerning them.  They also are linked by a Twitter like email string to everyone involved with the assignment.

When the show producer decides on the slug for the associated story they join the appropriate Wave.  Now everyone knows immediately the assignment with which each producer’s slug is associated.  All content, in acceptable form (video, text, graphic, contacts, resources) can be associated with the proper story or Wave. 

Google Waves can be used to track stories from current status all the way back to assignment.  Using a single resource to follow many paths.  It’s just one of the ways I believe Wave could be used in news production.

Next week, Broadcast Newsroom Computing looks at taking television mobile.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Google Wave,How Stuff Works

Start A Wave

Google Wave news has two top posts.  One from the starting announcement of the next gen communication tool.  The top and most recent post regards new invitations to experiment with Wave.

Wave developers recently invited 100-thousand early adopters to test the personal communication and collaboration tool.  Think of waves as Gmail messages with rich content updated in real time. 

The latest information on the subject tops the message or wave and the string of related communications is referenced and reviewable.  Everyone on the wave or message gets immediate updates of changes, additions, and new information entered.  Add history play back of waves for each new invite or recipient.

However, waves are still waiting to make a prime time real world debut.  Announced last May with a more than 80-minute video, Wave’s next move is more invites.  Those lucky enough to enjoy invitations to try out Wave get to experience communication that is "equal parts conversation and document" according to Google. 

There are satirical YouTube videos demonstrating Waves for the movies “Pulp Fiction” and “Good Will Hunting.”  The presentations are funny but informative as to how Waves communicate.

Read Andy Ihnatko’s Chicago Sun Times’ column on using Google Wave to write his piece.   SAP presents a business case for Wave  and gets you thinking about applications.  Filmmaker Jonathan Poritsky writes about using Waves to streamline the moviemaking process. 

Now get a preview of Wave from the official site and consider the information gathered from these links presented by Broadcast Newsroom Computing.   You then begin to understand how Waves might be applied to broadcasting.

I call Waves “wikis gone wild.”  Real time collaboration and communication offers what fax machines, email, two way radios, pagers, and cell phones were most often used. 

Next week, BNC continues on the wave and considers applications for Google Wave in news production.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Google,Google Wave,Andy Ihnatko,Chicago Sun Times,Jonathan Poritsky

Online Video Editing

The time has come.  Although quite a few tried and gave up offering simple video editing online.  Software as a Service falls short in a robust and secure environment required for news production.  But SAS offerings are a good way to get up to speed on what can be done with video and a browser.

For almost a decade broadcast newsrooms have expressed interest in browser based viewing and editing of video.  Cloud computing and SAS bring video viewing and editing to the public and professionals.  Wide area access to privately owned video and the ability to manipulate video is here for both consumers and pros. 

Avid Technology introduced its proxy workflow over wide area networks for high end production at IBC last month. Editing across station and geographic boundaries improves possibilities for production.

Broadcast Newsroom Computing uses a couple of web sites to introduce online video editing of the kind vendors might offer news production.  To get a list of what’s available for pros and consumers search cnet.com.  The reasonable list presented supports BNC’s contention “quite a few have tried.”

The utility of editing video with a browser on the Internet has intriguing workflow implications.  The extent of freedom it offers the production process is yet to be understood.  As soon as news operations grow accustomed to editing video over the Internet the possibilities will reveal them self.

Pixorial is directed toward so called memory makers – average people interested in video production.  The Pixorial demo of free services and online video editing delivers an excellent description of the collaboration and production simplicity news operations should expect. 

• Video available to all invited to have access.
• Everyone with privilege can edit the same video.
• Drag and drop production.
• Ease of publishing options.

Its a file based workflow.

JayCut is another of the survivors of online video editing.  Take a look at the simplicity and functionality of JayCut’s Video Editor 2.0.

Pixorial and JayCut are free services for consumers but examples of features enterprise users should expect on their newsroom desks or remote locations.

Google certainly has the newsroom abuzz about Wave.  Broadcast Newsroom Computing gets on board next week.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Avid Technology,Pixorial,JayCut,Google,cnet.com

Resetting Television

The Financial Times calls itself  “one of the world’s largest business news organisations.”  The global financial trade source recently lead a report about television executives’ views on the state of broadcasting with the following sentence.  “Broadcasters have marked 2009, their worst year in recent memory, by seeking a term other than ‘television’ to describe the business of captivating couch potatoes.”

The new term for what the world’s television broadcasters produce is “video” according to FT.com.  The article cited Chase Carey, chief operating officer at News Corp’s Fox TV. “…stations could act more like cable networks and demand fees from distributors to retransmit local TV signals and for prime sports programming.”  The publications second authority on the global state of television broadcasting is Europe’s Gerhard Zeiler, RTL’s chief executive.  He’s quoted saying “in the future, advertising will not pay all the bills.”

Zeiler’s words continued to point out “every free-to-air group will have to think about, for example, pay-TV, about online services, about video-on-demand.”   Where’s the revenue coming from in the future?

Nielsen claims to be the world’s leading marketing and media information company and their most recent “Three Screens Report” maintains television viewing in the United States is at an all time high – some 141 hours per month.   Further Nielsen’s  document suggests digital or online viewing has taken little of the audience.  The numbers of people watching videos on the Internet and mobile devices grew 70 and 46-per cent respectively according to MediaDailyNews which reports significant online and mobile growth actually had little affect on traditional television set viewing in the US.

"Although we have seen the computer and mobile phone screens taking on a significant role, their emergence has not been at the cost of TV viewership," said Jim O’Hara, president, media product leadership of The Nielsen Company, in the MediaDailyNews post citing a Nielsen news release.

The Financial Times however concludes online video viewing is how television decision makers will reset income opportunities in the future.

Next week Broadcast Newsroom Computing looks at a new tool – online video editing.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: Financial Times,Nielsen,MediaDailyNews,News Corporation,RTL

New Tools for Tough Times

The Radio Television News Directors Foundation  conference in Atlanta, GA last weekend displayed the marquee “New Tools for Tough Times.”  The two day meeting at CNN reviewed affordable digital technologies. 

RTNDA Chairman Stacey Woelfel blogged about learning to use some new digital tools to cover the Atlanta workshops.  He wrote about using Cover It Live to report and record the leadership sessions.  Woelfel included a link to their recordings when he typed “In all, we did three different Cover It Live sessions of the event.”

I’m sure live blogging coverage of the workshops on new tools for news gathering fall short of the actual event.  However, the recordings are good for a sense of what was captured and information on tools the news industry requires.

Broadcast Newsroom Computing’s perusal of the three sessions indicated most discussion involved understanding social media.  The Cover It Live format gathers rich multimedia content for consumption.  It shows it can deliver on education and in comprehending social media in the RTNDA presentation. 

Reviewing events is reading microblogs.  It is new communication in the style of Twitter.  So the learning begins in practice.  The most popular microblogging site was discussed during the sessions as well as Facebook, according to live reporting or blogging. 

There are nuggets of good information in the sessions.  Example – a video from The Economist offering a lengthy examination of social media.  The numbers bring perspective. The video concludes “what used to fit in a building now fits in your pocket.”  It promotes a sense of how people live and use electronics.  In understanding social behavior news professionals learn how to serve needs of their audience.

The RTNDF meeting considered news consumption and personal presentation of news as well.  The site newsmap was covered – there you get news gathered by geographic proximity.  The inclusion of personal interests media such as Chip Mahaney’s site covers citizen media.  Mahaney was a presenter for the weekend.  The RTNDA leadership reportage gives an idea of the breadth of change in how people use media. 

Next week, BNC looks at a Financial Times report on resetting television.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: The Economist,Financial Times,RTNDA,RTNDF,Cover It Live,CNN

IBC2009 Hottest News

There apparently is little hot news out of Amsterdam  and the long weekend gathering of international broadcasters there.  IBC2009 is history.  The trade show’s chief operating officer opined IBC is more than a trade show.

“IBC is about the quality of the exhibition and the conference. We’re not just a trade show, but an event where people can see the results of all the hard work in our industry. We call this the IBC content experience,’’ said Michael Crimp, IBC COO.

Forty-seven thousand attendees traveled to The Netherlands and the convention for “the experience.”  Official attendance reported numbers were seven per cent less than last year. 

Prior to the gathering the IBC web site heralded 3D television from Sony.  There is still a lot of space on the web site touting Sony’s future plans.

So what is the hottest news from IBC2009?  The organization itself notes a forum given by IBM executive Saul J. Berman as “hottest news.”  The Global Strategy and Change Services Leader for IBM Global Business Services poses a question regarding how to earn revenues in the new economy and changing broadcast industry.  Berman queries “Given that we know what consumers want, what are the requirements that will allow us to be successful in this digital world?”

More “hottest news” from IBC points to their new concept – Innovation Arena – where IBC representatives considered new ideas in “British Idol” fashion.  They chose five innovators and four are listed here:

• ShoZu  – with a new way of moving around social networks
• Ymogen – with Create.tv, the social network theme to help people get together in collaborative projects
• Metaio – showed some augmented reality ideas to place virtual 3D content into the real world
• Instant Effects – showed a simple and fast way to add 3D to advertising

Vapor like news from IBC2009 in my humble opinion. 

Next week Broadcast Newsroom Computing gives you a preview of the upcoming Radio and Television News Directors Foundation conference on new tools for news gathering.

James Rowe

Rowe and Company, LLC

Technorati Tags: IBC2009,IBM,ShoZu,Ymogen,Create.tv,Metaio,Instant Effects,Radio and Television News Directors Foundation