The world of channel playout platforms is evolving at an astonishing rate. Software-based systems have taken over the market, while the rise of IP and the move to the cloud promise to revolutionize how broadcasters deliver their channels. Many broadcasters are looking to move away from heavy-iron-based infrastructure in favor of virtualized-playout solutions. In addition, integrated-channel-playout (ICP) systems are integrating third-party software more than ever in an effort to serve customer demands for automation and a streamlined workflow.
Florical's Shawn Maynard: On the IP playout front, we are going to be in a hybrid [SDI and IP] mode for a while. There are still people that are going to have a coax plant mixed with IP where it makes sense for production flow.
In the lead-up to NAB 2017, SVG sat down with Shawn Maynard, VP/GM at Florical, one of the leading vendors dealing with these channel-playout and master-control demands. In addition to its flagship Acuitas ICP product, Florical offers AirBoss automation technology, SMART Central cloud applications, and other products. In this SVG Sit-Down, Maynard opens up about how the transition to IP will impact this sector of the industry, the growing demand for third-party-product integration, the future of cloud-based playout and virtualized infrastructure, and what to expect from Florical at the show in Vegas next month.
How do you see the transition to IP impacting Florical and its customers?
There is no question in my mind that IP is going to shift the game, so we have to be ready. We also have to realize where we are on the arc of IP technology. Right now, there is a lot of focus on SMPTE 2022-6 as the production IP workflow [standard]. But, within 2022-6, there is not a playout-to-air format, so there are some limitations. SMPTE recognizes that, which is why they've been working on the SMPTE 2110 standard. ST-2110 takes TRO3 as its basic infrastructure and builds upon that using PTP for clocking, AES as audio standard, and so on. So, there's no way you can offer a comprehensive 2110 end-to-end solution right now, but you can you start that journey.
On the IP playout front, we are going to be in a hybrid [SDI and IP] mode for a while. There are still people that are going to have a coax plant mixed with IP where it makes sense for production flow.
Today, the industry is demanding integration of third-party products into channel-playout systems more than ever. How is Florical serving this demand?
Graphics is the big [third-party integration] that customers are asking for, because you are beholden to a certain graphics package and workflow within your facility and operating environment. Integrating [playout and graphics] I think makes a lot of sense because now your creative-services people can just let it flow all the way to the on-air [product].
Last year at NAB, we demonstrated [an integration between] Vizrt's Viz Engine on our Acuitas playout platform. The next target we're looking at is bringing Ross [Video's] Xpression graphics engine on board, as well as Pixel Power and some others. That makes a lot of sense for us. We're also looking for partners in areas like audio to come on board as well.
There are a lot of options in that software realm, which is a game-changer because, if I bring you a commodity product like an HP server, you can enhance it with software [as often as you like]. You no longer [have to make] five different iron-horse purpose-built products squeeze into one piece of hardware. That's a huge cost saving, and now I'm operating in an environment that's much more energy-efficient as well.
Florical has been focused on SOA (service-oriented architecture) since its very inception. All of our software has worked in modules, with an overlay communicating when a module should spin up or spin down. It's extremely flexible, especially when you need to upgrade. We can do it at a modular level; I don't have to upgrade your entire plant.
How do you see cloud-based and virtualized environments affecting playout automation in the coming years?
I think the business case [for cloud-based playout] is still proving itself out. Right now, we're starting to enter the very early-adopter stage, where people are experimenting. I know Discovery [Communications] is going to be playing out a few channels straight from the public cloud. I think there's going be a lot of people watching to see the lessons learned there and where it is practical.
Then, looking at the business side of it, is it more practical and cost-effective to shove everything out to the cloud and not house any inventory or equipment [onsite] and just manage it as a service? That's still a question mark. If I were a broadcaster, my concern would be that I can't control [the cloud provider's] cost. I can sign a three- or five-year contract with them, but, after that contract is up, what am I going to do if they want to double the price? At that point, I have no infrastructure to shift. So that's a big question mark. I think there's much to learn, but people are dipping their toe in the water, and it's very exciting.
What do you to expect to exhibit at NAB 2017?
We're going to be showing our cloud playout solution in a virtualized environment. Whether you want to utilize a public cloud or a private cloud, this will be a virtualized solution. We're going to be demonstrating that solution playing out via IP, whether it's 2022-6 or ASPEN or any other [IP format] you prefer.
I also think, when people come to NAB, they're looking for two things. The first is practical technology: what changes my business today and makes a drastic cost-saving impact? The second is future technology: where's the industry going, and how can I future-proof myself? NAB, for the large
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
The world of channel playout platforms is evolving at an astonishing rate. Software-based systems have taken over the market, while the rise of IP and the move to the cloud promise to revolutionize how broadcasters deliver their channels. Many broadcasters are looking to move away from heavy-iron-based infrastructure in favor of virtualized-playout solutions. In addition, integrated-channel-playout (ICP) systems are integrating third-party software more than ever in an effort to serve customer demands for automation and a streamlined workflow. 
