The workshop focused on the cloud-based content delivery solution enabling broadcasters to deliver HD-quality broadcast content via the public internet directly into their facility.
Dubai-based broadcast technology providers, Deluxe, conducted a half-day demonstration of the Deluxe Broadcast Delivery Network at the Dubai Marina Marriot on October 24, 2017. Conducted by Anders Hoog, VP/principal architect, video transport platforms for Deluxe, the workshop focused on the cloud-based content delivery solution enabling broadcasters to deliver HD-quality broadcast content directly into their facility.
The solution has already been tested, most recently as ESL prepared for this years Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) World Championship in Katowice, Poland. Deluxe delivered IEMs feed to 13 broadcasters, from Sweden to the United Arab Emirates, with a reported 500ms glass-to-glass video latency. For the project, Deluxe delivered software encoders to the IEM site and provided ESL with its Blue Label technology, a connection system that plugs securely into a broadcast-delivery network. The encoders created low-latency H.264 streams, and Blue Label transported it across the public internet to the closest Deluxe data centre.
The event was reportedly the most widely telecast event in eSport and ESLs history with 70 linear and digital partners worldwide.
Speaking to BroadcastPro ME Hoog stated: First and foremost the solution aims to help linear broadcasters to achieve their goals to be able to receive large scale events and have a global reach – in terms of receiving feeds from other countries and broadcasting your own content to a larger global audience. The broadcast delivery network is built on the public internet. We have the same geographical span as the internet has. That means we can be anywhere on the planet in a very short span of time. Flexibility is key to any broadcaster.
We also like to think of the internet as being different from traditional methods of contribution such as satellite and even fibre networks. In terms of satellite, it is high latency and high cost. Fibre has lower latency but it is accompanied by high costs. Since we use the public internet, we can offer the same level of service with the same level of guarantees as the other networks, but at a fraction of the cost.
This platform also allows broadcasters to deal viably with smaller sporting events. Traditionally such events get ignored despite enjoying viewership because of the technical costs associated with broadcasting them.”
Refuting the notion that the new platform will be demanding for the broadcaster, Hoog stated: Everything we do is based on a service rate card. So the broadcaster can pay per event or monthly or yearly, as the case may be.
Confirming that there will be trials in the region, Paul Wallis, Director and SVP Media Cloud for Deluxe stated: “Going forward we are hoping to test the system with a major broadcaster in the region including a trial with a sporting event in a neighbouring GCC country. We are also hoping we can set up a regional data centre to facilitate the solution.”
