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Consumers are becoming smart in every market. In the case of media and entertainment, the consumer knows what they want to watch, when they want to watch it and on which platform. It has been causing some significant changes in the way content is delivered over TV broadcast networks. The viewers are no longer satisfied with the indiscriminate broadcast of commercials during their favorite shows and interruptions of popular movies by promotional messages. When the millennial and Gen Z viewer sits down to watch a TV series or a movie, they want to finish watching it within stipulated time without advertisement breaks and unwarranted intervals.
Why we think cloud playout is the future of broadcast services
It is time for the replacement of traditional broadcast models with significantly agile platforms and models. YouTube and Netflix are just two of the hundreds of new broadcast models that the modern viewers swear by. There are uncountable new players in the field and the popularity of each name varies depending on the country and viewer preferences. For example – there are several channels that telecast Super bowl commercials without the requirement of set top boxes. Then there are others that have enabled people to watch the bout between McGregor and Mayweather live on their laptops and mobile phones.
Cloud will make omni-platform viewing a reality
The new models are making it incredibly easier for the users to access the content irrespective of their choice of viewing devices. It is no longer necessary to clear one’s schedule and sit down in front of the TV in the family room to enjoy a much-awaited game or the season finale of your favorite show. The uniform distribution of content and the undisturbed access of viewers to it are possible due to the presence of cloud playout. The cloud allows the delivery of high quality of content in digital formats, the collection of ample user data for investigation of viewer preferences and the storage of big data (user generated data) for fine tuning content delivery according to the user’s demands.
Cloud technology enables the integration of multiple platforms and content delivery channels
The future of broadcasting has suddenly become a lot brighter than it was a couple of years ago, thanks to the cloud storage and delivery of digital content. Soon will come a time, when people will be able to connect their Smart TVs and other watching devices with their smart speakers and home systems. In the recent future, you might find yourself asking Alexa or a more advanced smart assistant to find your favorite show or a new show of the same genre on the cloud for you. It will be a beautiful time of seamless integration of the different platforms that gives a user access to queries in multiple databases on the cloud. The unification of smart home software with that of the content storage cloud will increase the reach of any digital content and improve user access from any geographic location.
Cloud is the only answer to all current broadcasting challenges
Today, broadcasters face several daily challenges to roll out content on time. Sometimes, they have to cut their rollout cycles short to cut the cost and expedite the introduction process. Shortening the introduction of new content and not investing enough effort to market the new experiences to the target audience reduces the reach and final impact. There are several shortcomings of the traditional TV broadcasting system that cloud can overcome. Cloud playout is characterized by dynamism and flexibility that allows broadcasters to automate certain parts of the introduction, marketing, and analytics processes. They can go beyond the capacity of the traditional server ownership model to rake better profits.
How will the cloud help the broadcasters save a fortune?
Cloud playout and storage brings a flurry of new technologies to the front for all broadcasters. It is understandable that most broadcasting companies of the day have adopted the latest set of dynamic hardware that allows them to stay in the competition. However, the same technology will be obsolete tomorrow or the day after. That is the true nature of broadcast technology and this is why it is a costly affair. These techs and hardware setups have short lifespan, no matter how costly they are today.
Cloud is going to be the future of broadcasting since it presents a smart solution to all kinds of budget problems a TV broadcasting company can face. Cloud offers Software as a Service (SaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) to the broadcast companies. These come as package deals and the clients pay for exactly what they use. Therefore, if a client requires new tech and services tomorrow, they will pay for the new technologies and enjoy the benefits. If the client wants to cut corners and discontinue a particular SaaS model, they can do so by speaking with the cloud service provider.
The advent of cloud in the broadcasting atmosphere has simplified the dynamics and leveled the ground for several new players. It is evident that it will become the obvious leader of broadcasting technology soon due to its ability to prepare broadcasters for the future. The cloud provides end-to-end compatibility along with all the software technology and embedded hardware technology a broadcaster will ever need to remain relevant. It will make sharing of content much easier by converting every bit of content into a tapeless format. Although the idea has been buzzing around the production world for a while, there is no way it will become a reality unless the cloud takes the center stage real soon.
