Into Thin Air: The Cloud Conflict

Continued advances in compression techniques have resulted in higher quality content over ever declining links. Furthermore, the internet services continue to speed up. This critical combination is putting additional pressure on the traditional TV players as consumers have more consumption avenues, added distraction, and increased sources of content (for example, user-generated content). — Some have said the rise of the internet, Cloud-based encoding and playout centers offer tremendous new opportunities for broadcasters to provide better service at lower cost. However, at the same time, surging smart phone penetration and the consequent escalation in mobile data usage is driving mobile operators to seek out more RF spectrum needed to offer LTE and other 4G services. Broadcasters are inadequately equipped and under-funded compared to the wealth of the telecom industry. Therefore, this spectrum competition from mobile operators spells a bleak picture for the traditional cable, satellite, and terrestrial delivery of TV. — So, what does the future look like, and how can you “grab hold of” the cloud? This paper presents a non-vendor, plain language introduction and review of key cloud technologies, presents the political and economic changes now underway, and presents the growth opportunities (or risks of extinction) of the broadcast industry.

Published

2015-07

Content type

Original Research

Keywords

Cloud Computing, OTT, IT for Television

DOI

10.5594/M001602

ISBN

978-1-61482-955-3