• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels
Ahmed Al Menhali of Abu Dhabi Media on new deployments

Ahmed Al Menhali of Abu Dhabi Media on new deployments

February 4, 2018
Arabic series ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ gets NFT collection

Arabic series ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ gets NFT collection

July 5, 2022
MediaHub completes one year

MediaHub completes one year

July 5, 2022
D-Orbit signs contract with Kepler Communications

D-Orbit signs contract with Kepler Communications

July 5, 2022
Red Sea International Film Festival opens film submissions for second edition

Red Sea International Film Festival opens film submissions for second edition

July 5, 2022
Anghami acquires Spotlight Events

Anghami acquires Spotlight Events

July 5, 2022
Anton/Bauer expands DIONIC 26V series

Anton/Bauer expands DIONIC 26V series

July 4, 2022
Netflix to release Egyptian documentary ‘From Meir, to Meir’

Netflix to release Egyptian documentary ‘From Meir, to Meir’

July 4, 2022
Disney to close FOX, Disney Junior channels in Germany

Disney launches Disney Storytellers Fund at Howard University

July 4, 2022
MBRSC completes first UAE Analog Mission

MBRSC completes first UAE Analog Mission

July 4, 2022
Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

Viu and True Visions join Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment

July 3, 2022
Turkey’s RTUK blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America over licensing issue

Turkey’s RTUK blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America over licensing issue

July 3, 2022
LBCI to organise Miss Lebanon 2022 election ceremony on July 24

LBCI to organise Miss Lebanon 2022 election ceremony on July 24

July 3, 2022
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Podcasting
    • Cinema Theatres
    • Esports
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • Film partnerships
    • New appointments
    • Production
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • Satellite/Comms
    • AV
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • International News
    • Analyst Reports
    • Satellite/Broadcasting
    Arabic series ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ gets NFT collection

    Arabic series ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ gets NFT collection

    MediaHub completes one year

    MediaHub completes one year

    D-Orbit signs contract with Kepler Communications

    D-Orbit signs contract with Kepler Communications

    Red Sea International Film Festival opens film submissions for second edition

    Red Sea International Film Festival opens film submissions for second edition

    Anghami acquires Spotlight Events

    Anghami acquires Spotlight Events

    Netflix to release Egyptian documentary ‘From Meir, to Meir’

    Netflix to release Egyptian documentary ‘From Meir, to Meir’

    Disney to close FOX, Disney Junior channels in Germany

    Disney launches Disney Storytellers Fund at Howard University

    MBRSC completes first UAE Analog Mission

    MBRSC completes first UAE Analog Mission

    Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

    Viu and True Visions join Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment

    Turkey’s RTUK blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America over licensing issue

    Turkey’s RTUK blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America over licensing issue

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • Virtual Production Series
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • New Media
    Virtual vernacular: Terminology in virtual production – Part 2

    Virtual vernacular: Terminology in virtual production – Part 2

    The future of subtitling and captioning

    The future of subtitling and captioning

    Redefining cloud for broadcast

    Redefining cloud for broadcast

    beIN Media Group welcomes students as part of French media company initiative

    beIN Media Group welcomes students as part of French media company initiative

    Virtual production: A field guide to the future of filmmaking

    Virtual production: A field guide to the future of filmmaking

    Why converged media consumption requires a converged security solution

    Why converged media consumption requires a converged security solution

    Unlocking the 5G opportunity in video services

    Unlocking the 5G opportunity in video services

    Exploring the power of AI

    Exploring the power of AI

    Disaster recovery in the cloud

    Disaster recovery in the cloud

    There is hope, opportunity, optimism with the cloud

    There is hope, opportunity, optimism with the cloud

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

      Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

      Gearing up for a FAST audience

      Gearing up for a FAST audience

      Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

      Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

      Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

      Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

      Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

      Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

      Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

      Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

      CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

      CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

      Taking streaming to the next level

      Taking streaming to the next level

    • Opinion
      What we can learn from Korean dramas

      What we can learn from Korean dramas

      Optimising video players for live sports

      Optimising video players for live sports

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Identifying good stories and investing in content is the need of the hour

      Edging closer to 5G content delivery in the cloud

      Edging closer to 5G content delivery in the cloud

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Sports brings more subs to platforms

      How to stand out in a content-saturated market

      How to stand out in a content-saturated market

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Saudi Arabia’s makeover

      Responding to content consumption trends and monetising demand

      Responding to content consumption trends and monetising demand

      A new wave of Saudi filmmakers

      A new wave of Saudi filmmakers

      New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

      Is NFTs the next big thing for creators?

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

      Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

      Staying on schedule

      Staying on schedule

      Great expectations at CABSAT 2021

      Setting the stage for CABSAT 2022

      Taking the OTT bull by its horns

      Taking the OTT bull by its horns

      The path to digital transformation

      The path to digital transformation

      The show must go on

      The show must go on

      BeIN at the top of its game

      BeIN at the top of its game

      Giving us the full Viu

      Giving us the full Viu

      Picture Perfect

      Picture Perfect

      Ambassadors of Arabic content

      Ambassadors of Arabic content

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
      • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
      • PRO Directory
    • Events
      • Upcoming Events
      • News from Events
      BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2022

      BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2022

      BroadcastAsia 2022

      BroadcastAsia 2022

      CABSAT 2022

      CABSAT 2022

      NABSHOW 2022

      NABSHOW 2022

      Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit 2022

      Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit 2022

    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Podcasting
      • Cinema Theatres
      • Esports
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • Film partnerships
      • New appointments
      • Production
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • Satellite/Comms
      • AV
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • International News
      • Analyst Reports
      • Satellite/Broadcasting
      Arabic series ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ gets NFT collection

      Arabic series ‘Shaabiat Al Cartoon’ gets NFT collection

      MediaHub completes one year

      MediaHub completes one year

      D-Orbit signs contract with Kepler Communications

      D-Orbit signs contract with Kepler Communications

      Red Sea International Film Festival opens film submissions for second edition

      Red Sea International Film Festival opens film submissions for second edition

      Anghami acquires Spotlight Events

      Anghami acquires Spotlight Events

      Netflix to release Egyptian documentary ‘From Meir, to Meir’

      Netflix to release Egyptian documentary ‘From Meir, to Meir’

      Disney to close FOX, Disney Junior channels in Germany

      Disney launches Disney Storytellers Fund at Howard University

      MBRSC completes first UAE Analog Mission

      MBRSC completes first UAE Analog Mission

      Video Piracy: Separating Fact from Fiction

      Viu and True Visions join Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment

      Turkey’s RTUK blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America over licensing issue

      Turkey’s RTUK blocks Deutsche Welle and Voice of America over licensing issue

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • Virtual Production Series
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • New Media
      Virtual vernacular: Terminology in virtual production – Part 2

      Virtual vernacular: Terminology in virtual production – Part 2

      The future of subtitling and captioning

      The future of subtitling and captioning

      Redefining cloud for broadcast

      Redefining cloud for broadcast

      beIN Media Group welcomes students as part of French media company initiative

      beIN Media Group welcomes students as part of French media company initiative

      Virtual production: A field guide to the future of filmmaking

      Virtual production: A field guide to the future of filmmaking

      Why converged media consumption requires a converged security solution

      Why converged media consumption requires a converged security solution

      Unlocking the 5G opportunity in video services

      Unlocking the 5G opportunity in video services

      Exploring the power of AI

      Exploring the power of AI

      Disaster recovery in the cloud

      Disaster recovery in the cloud

      There is hope, opportunity, optimism with the cloud

      There is hope, opportunity, optimism with the cloud

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

        Protecting your content – Devising a multi-pronged strategy

        Gearing up for a FAST audience

        Gearing up for a FAST audience

        Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

        Planning Your Hybrid Cloud Playout Journey

        Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

        Qvest on “The cutting edge of Cloud Editing”

        Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

        Said Bacho on Editshare’s Middle East plans

        Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

        Rami Moussawi, Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect speaks about SKYFlow

        ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

        ASBU BroadcastPro ME Awards Footage

        CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

        CEO Panel – Thriving in the New World Order

        Taking streaming to the next level

        Taking streaming to the next level

      • Opinion
        What we can learn from Korean dramas

        What we can learn from Korean dramas

        Optimising video players for live sports

        Optimising video players for live sports

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Identifying good stories and investing in content is the need of the hour

        Edging closer to 5G content delivery in the cloud

        Edging closer to 5G content delivery in the cloud

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Sports brings more subs to platforms

        How to stand out in a content-saturated market

        How to stand out in a content-saturated market

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Saudi Arabia’s makeover

        Responding to content consumption trends and monetising demand

        Responding to content consumption trends and monetising demand

        A new wave of Saudi filmmakers

        A new wave of Saudi filmmakers

        New normal inspires fresh storylines and alternative filming strategies

        Is NFTs the next big thing for creators?

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

        Akhbar Al Aan on launch of 3eesh Al Aan Café

        Staying on schedule

        Staying on schedule

        Great expectations at CABSAT 2021

        Setting the stage for CABSAT 2022

        Taking the OTT bull by its horns

        Taking the OTT bull by its horns

        The path to digital transformation

        The path to digital transformation

        The show must go on

        The show must go on

        BeIN at the top of its game

        BeIN at the top of its game

        Giving us the full Viu

        Giving us the full Viu

        Picture Perfect

        Picture Perfect

        Ambassadors of Arabic content

        Ambassadors of Arabic content

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events
        • Upcoming Events
        • News from Events
        BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2022

        BroadcastPro Tech Summit 2022

        BroadcastAsia 2022

        BroadcastAsia 2022

        CABSAT 2022

        CABSAT 2022

        NABSHOW 2022

        NABSHOW 2022

        Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit 2022

        Future of Sports Broadcasting Summit 2022

      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      Home Case Studies TV Channels

      Ahmed Al Menhali of Abu Dhabi Media on new deployments

      Vijaya Cherian by Vijaya Cherian
      February 4, 2018
      in TV Channels, Case Studies
      ShareTweetPostEmail

      For this exclusive Broadcast Pro Middle East interview, Ahmed Al Menhali, Director of Projects at Abu Dhabi Media talks about new deployments at the facility.

      Ahmed Al Menhali, Director of Projects at Abu Dhabi Media.

      After ten years, Abu Dhabi Media finds itself at the crossroads with legacy infrastructure that needs to be replaced. For this exclusive Broadcast Pro Middle East interview, Ahmed Al Menhali, Director of Projects at Abu Dhabi Media talks about new deployments at the facility that are software-defined and geared towards a future that has all the right buzzwords including IP and cloud.

      Abu Dhabi Media burst on to the scene 10 years ago, building a complete broadcast centre in the capital, as part of the emirate’s programme to develop its media industry. Today the campus, as well as multiple studios and extensive post production facilities, is responsible for the delivery of 15 HD channels.

      Anas Hantash (l) from Imagine with Ahmed Al Menhali (r) from Abu Dhabi Media.

      Ten years down the road, Abu Dhabi Media is now confronted by a hardware-based technical infrastructure which is moving towards the end of its life. Sensibly, it has taken a managed, long-term approach to the process.

      “Imagine Communications has been a trusted partner for playout systems from the beginning,” said Ahmed Al-Menhali, Director of Projects at Abu Dhabi Media. “And now it is time to refurbish and upgrade.”

      Abu Dhabi Media, therefore, studied some of the emerging technologies in the market and made decisions on the capabilities of new concepts. At the extreme, it meant throwing out broadcast infrastructures and moving everything to the cloud. Is the time right for such a bold move?

      “Today, the technology is looking ahead to software-defined solutions, and away from hardware,” Al Menhali says.

      “What makes it interesting is that we are taking what works today and protecting it for the future – and whatever challenges that may bring – by moving to a modern, software-defined platform” Ahmed Al Menhali, Director of Broadcast Technology, Abu Dhabi Media

      “The concept of software-defined technology is helping everybody. We can rely on major IT manufacturers like HP and others to deliver the hardware, and use the expertise of specialist vendors in achieving the targets in the application layer.

      “Imagine, alongside other big names, are also following that direction. This serves the roadmap that we have planned to roll out.”

      The first-generation systems installed at Abu Dhabi Media came from Imagine Communications, so it was natural that they were on the list when the broadcaster was reviewing its options.

      Anas Hantash, who heads Imagine’s MENA operations says that although the company has been been working closely with ADM for over a decade, “that relationship has intensified over the past 18 months as have our discussions about how we can help them to migrate to IP”.

      “We know they have been attending NAB and IBC and looking at all the major players. We have been extremely impressed with the initiatives ADM has undertaken to transition their business towards IP, software-defined solutions and virtualised environments. They wanted to be sure that IP was a coherent route for the future and with Imagine, they feel that this is being delivered.”

      The conclusion was that software-defined technology was the way to go, if it could be achieved without throwing out existing, non-life-expired hardware and without changing the established workflows and working practices on which the broadcaster relies.

      Cloud

      The transition towards IP connectivity is seen as an important part of this future roadmap. The other element is to create applications in a way in which they can readily be virtualised, and eventually moved to the cloud. Abu Dhabi Media has already completed a full POC for its disaster recovery service with du Media Cloud.

      The use of its cloud services is set to expand. One element of the current refurbishment project sees the implementation of an Imagine Broadcast Master and xG Schedule system for traffic and programme scheduling. xG software is built using microservices, and is likely to be the first part of the operation to see primary software migrated to the cloud in the coming years.

      In general, though, the Abu Dhabi Media approach to the cloud is positive but cautious.

      “We might consider moving everything to cloud,” is Al Menhali’s view.

      “Cloud is the new world interest and is being talked about everywhere. However, practically speaking, I think they are still far from having their services populated in cloud. It is important to work with a partner who shares a similar vision and is following a similar roadmap,” he continues.

      “At the moment, we trust only some big names who share our thoughts. Maybe after three years, it will be different. We are currently faced with a big challenge as everyone is claiming to have cloud solutions. But when it comes to practicality and testing their platforms, we see that there is still room for development and they still have some distance to cover before becoming a complete software-defined solution. Imagine, however, has been different in this regard.”

      Interoperability

      The other important consideration is interoperability. The Abu Dhabi Media campus provides a onestop shop for production and post as well as delivery. It makes sense to minimise the movement and handling of content.

      As part of the refurbishment programme, Imagine is installing an ingest and asset management system. This uses Versio server networks, which are actually software instances running on Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE) workstations. This will talk to other systems including the EMC Isilon central storage, and the post production section.

      “It was very important to us that the new hardware be supplied by HPE,” Al Menhali says.

      “We are not restricted to a single technology supplier. All the big names are doing the same.

      “It makes the system open to multiple vendors, and that was an essential requirement for us. We need to be able to connect any popular editing platform – like Avid Media Composer, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X – seamlessly, to minimise the movement of content for finishing.

      “We are still in the process of identifying whether we will have a single choice of editing system, or we will provide multiple systems and allow editors and producers to choose. What is important is that the storage solution will support any edit workstation, allowing it to connect, call up material and store finished content.

      “We also need the asset management and playout systems to talk to each other, and to other key systems like Interra Baton automated QC, Aspera for file transfer, and Vizrt for production graphics.”

      IP – The future

      This brings us to the obvious central question: Does this major overhaul of the key technology platforms, including central storage, asset management and a completely software-driven playout architecture, mean that Abu Dhabi will be moving wholesale to IP connectivity?

      The answer is not yet.

      “We have to be realistic about upgrades,” says Al Menhali.

      “We have invested in the SDI domain, and we need to give it some more time before starting up again. It is a massive investment; moreover, our SDI infrastructure and routers are working perfectly for us and for our workflows.

      “Our approach is slightly altered in this regard. We are looking forward to the next maybe four years. In that time, we may need to address new technical formats like 4K or a higher definition. We will align ourselves to the industry and consumer demand as we go along.

      “Our technology roadmap is linked to that. The evolution from SDI to IP will be driven by the move from HD to 4K or beyond. Especially now that the SMPTE 2110 standards are ready, we will move to an IP infrastructure when we need to. “Currently, we do not feel the need to invest in replacing existing infrastructure,” explains Al Menhali. “We have the HD-SDI infrastructure in place, and we intend to continue with this infrastructure for routing until we decide to move on – maybe in four years – to the 4K platform. When the time is right, we will evaluate whether that will be for playout, for production or post production.

      “Within the next three or four years, we will remain with HD, until the ‘new UHD’ is fully developed, the industry is fully grown and the prices have gone down. That is when we will consider the switch, which will, of course, comply with the industry and audience’s preference to go for UHD or beyond. For the next four to five years, we have to wait and see.

      “The important thing is that what we are building now will survive the coming four or five years, but capable of shifting the underlying routing from SDI to IP without changing anything else.”

      Transition

      As a busy production and playout centre, delivering popular premium content, stability is key for Abu Dhabi Media. While this project is changing out some mission critical systems, extending functionality and providing transparency between SDI and IP sources, the day-to-day work has to continue uninterrupted.

      At the same time, these are major upgrades for the entire broadcast chain from Traffic & Scheduling System (Broadcast Master/xG Schedule with all its Modules) to more than 22 video servers with 132 HD ports. Three independent full automation systems (Main/ Backup) provide redundancy as well as preview services, in addition to channel branding, master control switching, and ingest/asset management functionality. All of this has to be implemented in a compact timeline starting at the beginning of 2018 and going live in May.

      Talking of the decision to go back to Imagine Communications for the next-generation systems, Al Menhali says: “The workflows that are currently set alongside the fluency of operations made it very easy for us to make the decision. It would be difficult to change given these factors.

      “We have been running these systems for the last 10 years and we have found them to be reliable,” he says, pointing also to the ready availability of local support.

      “We feel we are moving in the right direction; we are moving towards a software-defined solution. And through this all, our currently set optimised workflows and work processes stay exactly the same. We are using the latest technology and are ready for the future; therefore, we do not see the need for us to invest more for the time being, given the existing infrastructures are serving their purpose well.

      “We are refreshing and upgrading our systems, so this is inevitably a large project,” he concludes. “What makes it interesting is that we are taking what works today and protecting it for the future – and whatever challenges that may bring – by moving to a modern, software-defined platform.”

      Tags: Abu Dhabi MediaIPAhmed Al Menhali

      Related Posts

      Abu Dhabi Media signs broadcasting deal with Serie A

      Abu Dhabi Media signs broadcasting deal with Serie A

      July 1, 2022
      Abu Dhabi Media appoints StarzPlay as exclusive partner for advertising sales

      Abu Dhabi Media appoints StarzPlay as exclusive partner for advertising sales

      June 23, 2022
      Lawo launches new IP video infrastructure platform

      Lawo launches new IP video infrastructure platform

      April 27, 2022
      Al Emarat TV announces Ramadan lineup

      Abu Dhabi Media signs content agreement with Huawei

      April 1, 2022
      Keeping the stakes high

      Keeping the stakes high

      March 29, 2022
      Abu Dhabi Media relies on Dejero for live coverage of Expo 2020

      Abu Dhabi Media relies on Dejero for live coverage of Expo 2020

      March 16, 2022

      Related News

      Abu Dhabi Media signs broadcasting deal with Serie A

      Abu Dhabi Media signs broadcasting deal with Serie A

      July 1, 2022
      Abu Dhabi Media appoints StarzPlay as exclusive partner for advertising sales

      Abu Dhabi Media appoints StarzPlay as exclusive partner for advertising sales

      June 23, 2022
      Abu Dhabi Media signs content agreement with Huawei

      Abu Dhabi Media signs content agreement with Huawei

      April 1, 2022
      Keeping the stakes high

      Keeping the stakes high

      March 29, 2022
      Abu Dhabi Media relies on Dejero for live coverage of Expo 2020

      Abu Dhabi Media relies on Dejero for live coverage of Expo 2020

      March 16, 2022
      Abu Dhabi Media parts ways with Choueiri Group

      Abu Dhabi Media parts ways with Choueiri Group

      February 15, 2022
      More Related News

      Popular Stories

      • What we can learn from Korean dramas

        What we can learn from Korean dramas

        1316 shares
        Share 526 Tweet 329
      • Abu Dhabi Media appoints StarzPlay as exclusive partner for advertising sales

        735 shares
        Share 294 Tweet 184
      • AD Film Commission organises tour of Abu Dhabi’s key production locations for Indian filmmakers

        675 shares
        Share 270 Tweet 169
      • IIFA Awards to return to Abu Dhabi in 2023

        673 shares
        Share 269 Tweet 168
      • Hope Probe captures new information in fourth batch of scientific data

        653 shares
        Share 261 Tweet 163

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In
      Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com