Life may feel in stasis for many at the moment, but the broadcast industry remains in a constant state of flux. Specifically, transitions to IP and the Cloud are the number one priorities for broadcasting professionals, according to Haivision’s Broadcast IP Transformation Report 2020 which is packed full of interesting insights.
The video streaming and encoding company conducted a poll of broadcast professionals to understand this state of transformation across the industry, and is sharing its compelling findings in a new report, now available to download for free.
The transition to IP is the number one concern faced by broadcasters
Perhaps the most significant finding, when asked to rank the challenges they face by importance, respondents placed the transition to IP as their top priority. More than three quarters also shared that they have begun transitioning to the Cloud or are planning to start migrating within the next two years.
Of those surveyed, almost 15 per cent of broadcasters are already fully IP or Cloud enabled. Budget limitations, lack of available bandwidth and unreliable networks were cited as the biggest obstacles to migration.
Hardware is here to stay
With the percentage of respondents using the Cloud for storage and transcoding floating around the high 20s, the findings were conclusive for those using hardware encoders, standing just shy of 90 per cent.
“It’s clear from this study, broadcasters are still very much reliant on hardware as edge devices to support their IP and Cloud-based workflows,” states the report.
Broadcasters agree: 5G is the “next big thing”
Respondents were also asked to assess the importance of new technologies and their impact on the broadcast industry over the next five years. 5G came out top, followed by 4K UHD, artificial intelligence/machine learning and SMPTE 2110.
As two-thirds of those surveyed rely on the internet for streaming video to OTT services, 5G looks poised to enhance video contribution over internet workflows. Meanwhile 22 per cent said they are already using SMPTE 2110 within their production facilities. For the rest of the industry, content security and network reliability pose considerable challenges.
At the same time, Haivision is well-positioned to smooth the rocky road ahead with its high-quality, low-latency video streaming and encoding solutions so that broadcasters can proceed with confidence.
“The pace of change looks set to continue enabling broadcasters to deliver exciting new content and services to end viewers no matter where and how they are watching,” concludes the report.
Download the Haivision Broadcast IP Transformation Report 2020 for more fresh insights into the state of IP and Cloud adoption in the broadcast industry.
