Software-defined networking (SDN) has been around for over two decades. Its use in broadcast is still fairly new, writes Lawos Christian Scheck
By Contributor
Published: June 15, 2023
Software-defined networking (SDN) has been around for over two decades. Its use in broadcast is still fairly new, writes Lawo's Christian Scheck
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
The biggest advantage of a broadcast IP network is that all processing and ingest resources are, at least in theory, available to any operator. Control systems like VSM allow programmers to limit the number of streams a given operator can access. There are two good reasons for doing so: to avoid confusion and delays caused by an overwhelming number of sources and destinations only a few of which are relevant for the task at hand, and to ensure that unauthorised operators cannot access streams they should not touch.
Feeling insecure A broadcast IP network is first and foremost a network, which means that once you are inside, you can potentially go anywhere. In light of disturbing news about hospitals, pipelines, and other entities that are suddenly out of control due to malicious interference, broadcasters are naturally concerned about the security of their content and the integrity of their channels.
The HOME management platform is in the process of tackling this issue based on user authentication and targeted security routines. Powerful though it is for a wealth of applications, HOME can only provide security on its own turf, that is, in the network sections that are directly managed by HOME.
This explains why some broadcasters that migrated to IP over the last few years decided to separate production from master control in a traditional way: by connecting these two departments to each other via baseband SDI cables. Since the connection between these two is not network-based, intruders simply cannot get from production to playout (the master control room).
Yet, any changes that may be necessary require physical cable (re)patching, which is time-consuming and error-prone.
If you migrated to IP for unalienated flexibility and agility, the SDI bridge is probably only acceptable while there is no other solution.
Stronger stuff CBC/Radio-Canada just completed the largest IP-based infrastructure to date, a truly remarkable achievement. They did quite a few things differently: they decided not to hire a systems integrator, and they played an active part in architecting the network of their green-field Nouvelle Maison de Radio-Canada.
This obviously put some pressure on the team to come to grips with the ins and outs of IP and other technological aspects, but this allowed them to tailor the infrastructure to their exacting needs.
There was some help from carefully selected partners that happily refined and extended the specifications of their hard- and software offering and shared their experience with the team. The biggest chunk was done in-house, however.
As the project progressed, the idea was voiced to rely on SDN technology to solve two fundamental problems, the first one being the ability to hide all signals from outsiders, and the second to achieve dynamic load balancing between the spine and leaf switches. SDN allows the team to work with two separate islands-with separate broadcast controllers-and to police the network, so that if a given stream is defined as HD but eventually transmitted in UHD, this does not bring down the network.
Of course, there are 100Gbps IP tielines between the two islands to allow produced content to flow to the playout department, and monitoring signals to return to the relevant master control rooms.
It is safe to say that CBC/Radio-Canada played an important part in the adoption of SDN in the broadcast world.
What is SDN? Software-defined networking (SDN) is a network management technology that enables efficient, dynamic network configuration to improve performance and monitoring. With SDN, an enterprise has the ability to implement a new network with hardly any impact on the existing Infrastructure.
Inherently, an SDN controller in a central location does away with the limitations of a static network architecture by centralising all network intelligence in one place.
The transportation aspect of network packets, on the data plane, is dissociated from the routing process, called the control plane. The controllers-because there can be more than one-act as the brain of the SDN network.
Operators are able to programme network control as the underlying infrastructure is abstracted from applications and network services.
All in all IP technology is still evolving, not least thanks to bold forays into uncharted territory by a team of Canadian engineers who are now considered to be among the happy few who truly master the potential of their broadcast IP infrastructure. This, by the way, is not just because of their clever use of SDN technology.
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...
Software-defined networking (SDN) has been around for over two decades. Its use in broadcast is still fairly new, writes Lawos Christian Scheck
