New Technologies in Broadcasting

The broadcast industry is moving fast in a new direction now. With evolving technologies and services like direct-to-user, the media and entertainment industry is getting unified in a single platform. Broadcasting and telecommunication are now in one platform. Both data and content use the same bandwidth. It is now easier for users to have a single account for their TV, Internet and telephone, and even more paid services like games, shopping etc.

Video in IP
The most important technology is video over IP. When we talk about the infrastructure of a TV or radio channel, there has been use of a lot of audio and video cables for the signals to pass. The same has now been converted to IP, which also enables the broadcaster to give their content access directly to the user by means of telecom or cloud. This not only minimizes the infra cost of a channel, but also upgrades it to next-generation broadcasting technology. One of the main reasons to choose IP is to lower cost of production of 4K video. With the presence of the 10GbE cable, it is possible to take four HD-SDI cables to carry a single 4K signal.

Service-Based Industry
Broadcasting is all about a service now rather than creation and production. It is now about fast and reliable service to customers, who can get the immediate access of content in an easier and cost-effective method. From every broadcaster focusing on giving best services to consumers, the manufacturers and vendors in the broadcast industry shall apply the same principle. This as a result, makes the products differ only in aspect of value-added services from broadcasters rather than any other features in products.

Devices with AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the market since quite long. Now it is time to use it in the broadcast industry. AI is being used in content management, content consumption, and content delivery. All devices nowadays like smartphones and TV are coming with AI programming. The device can keep record of what the user is watching over the cloud and accordingly the broadcaster and even advertiser can know his region of interest. AI can not only track the interest of the consumer but also his comfortable timing for viewing content.

Apart from these technologies, the broadcast industry is also getting broader with the involvement of other sectors like education and the medical industry. Content production is not in the hands of the broadcaster anymore. Education sector is using the technology and creating learning content and putting it on the cloud for the easy access for students. Similarly the medical sector is doing the same. All medical students can access video footages of medical lectures, live operation theatres etc., in a world of limitless choice where almost anyone can acquire, create, and distribute content. The winners are those who use the fastest way of communication to consumers directly. Content is still the king in the broadcast and M&E industry.

The Indian M&E industry is a sunrise for the economy and is making high growth strides. M&E companies need to respond more to the evolving trend of the broadcast industry, which will dictate the future of television. M&E companies and broadcasters need to develop relationships with viewers, for which they need to invest in today’s technologies that will enable them to analyze audience data and deliver appropriate content to keep their viewers engaged.