IABM Journal - Issue 95

2ND QUARTER 2015

JOURNAL 95

R E P R E S E N T I N G

B R O A D C A S T

A N D

The Telcos are Coming – Will 5G Change the Broadcast Landscape?

Technology Roundup The IABM DC Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report

M E D I A

T E C H N O L O G Y

S U P P L I E R S

W O R L D W I D E

Contents: Chief Executive's Letter

1

Executive Interview – Chris Fetner

2-5

The Telcos are Coming

6-7

The APAC Region and How It’s Changing…

8-9

Training Update

10-12

Technology Roundup

14-15

The IABM DC Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report

16-17

North America Update

18-19

Member Speak – Shure Incorporated

20-21

Member Speak – ARRI

22-23

IABM Update

24-27

New Members

29

IABM, 3 Bredon Court, Brockeridge Park, Twyning, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 6FF, United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 (0)1684 450030 Email: info@theiabm.org Web: www.theiabm.org

Twitter: @TheIABM

Chairman of the Board – James Gilbert Chief Executive – Peter White Journal Editor – John Ive Technical Task Group Chair – Simon Auty IABM Team – Anna Rudgely, Ben Dales, Caryn Cohen, Darren Whitehead, Elaine Bukiej, Fay Daniels, Joe Zaller, John Ive, Lisa Collins, Lucinda Meek, Lorenzo Zanni, Peter Bruce, Peter White, Sonali Nair, Steve Warner.

IABM Ltd Chairman – Derek Owen c Copyright 2015 IABM.

A company limited by guarantee.

Disclaimer: The views presented in the Journal are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily those of the IABM.

Any member of the IABM is now afforded global access to all the resources we provide

New talent arrives at the IABM. Please see page 27

Welcome to issue #95 of the IABM Journal Summer Edition 2015

Peter White CEO, IABM

I think we can say without fear of contradiction that working in our industry is far from boring. Currently we are witnessing an unprecedented change in the whole structure and dynamics of the media technology market. It feels as if we are at the epicenter of a seismic shift brought about by a digital revolution and exponential growth in multi platform delivery technology.

As soon as we went from tape to file the rest was inevitable, just a matter of time. The use of filebased workflows, the adoption of the cloud, the flexibility of SaaS, the wholesale migration to widely available “off-the-shelf” IT hardware, the shift from Capex to Opex and subscription based models, has all come to pass in a relatively short space of time.

You can read more about the impact of all of this on the size and shape of our market on page 16 where Joe Zaller our North American Market Development Officer and IABM’s partner in the production of the GMVR gives some insight into these trends and the latest report itself.

All the while, this is occurring against the backdrop of some pretty scary macroeconomic conditions, the likes of which are seldom witnessed historically. Certainly the Eurozone crisis, which we have been talking about for some time now, is reaching a climax with, at the time of writing, the Greek situation rapidly coming to the boil.

It is not surprising that many CEO’s report a shift in focus on some of the other regions and some emerging markets to help mitigate the risk of doing business in some parts of the Eurozone.

The IABM is certainly mirroring some of these changes in its own development. With a need to remain relevant to the whole of the media technology market we are witnessing a host of new members from the new technology areas.

Those in mobile communications (see John Ive’s report on page 6), those in IT hardware solutions, those in cloud based services, media delivery solutions, content customization and live streaming to name but a few.

Of course that is not to say that many of our long-standing member companies haven’t reinvented themselves with new products and services that fulfill the needs of the changing requirements of broadcasters today because many have.

We also are focusing on the globalization of the IABM. Any

member of the IABM is now afforded global access to all the resources we provide, we have also recently launched new initiatives to be more representative in different geographies to better represent members’ needs locally.

The recruitment of Regional Directors in both APAC and North America, the establishment of Regional Councils in APAC in June and the upcoming establishment in the UK in July and North America in November, together with the taking of a much deeper interest in regional events and exhibitions, we hope will firmly place the IABM as your local global organization.

We are also recruiting some great new people to add to the already impressive pool of talent in the IABM. Please see page 27 for more details.

There is a lot of interesting content in this journal about market trends, technology trends and also regional developments and I hope you find it as interesting a read as I did.

IABM JOURNAL 1

Netflix is a streaming platform with more than 60 million subscribers and a large global footprint, including over 50 countries and 14 languages

Deliverables will be different in a year’s time, as they are currently different to a year or so back

Executive Interview Chris Fetner Director of Global Media Engineering and Partnerships Netflix

Chris Fetner currently serves as Director of Global Media Engineering and Partnerships for Netflix. Chris and his team act as Digital Supply Chain consultants to ensure maximum alignment between Netflix processes and those of the content owners. Chris has experience of most aspects of program production and delivery, having been responsible for production, post-production and program delivery at various times in his career. In this interview he provides an insight in to the challenges of managing extreme volumes of content, especially the exchange of content between Netflix and its suppliers.

Chris, to get the interview started, could you please expand on your background prior to Netflix?

Well I originally started out as a producer and editor. In fact, I was one of the first Avid users right at the time when non-linear editing took off. My producing experience comes from working with PBS stations, where as you know budgets are tight. That meant I got to do a bit of everything, which was great experience, but I gravitated towards technology, which I found interesting and subsequently started a consultancy company in the production space. I then managed post production for Discovery at their headquarters. That in turn led me to join the BBC here in the US as one of their most senior Technical Executives. I was on the BBC Worldwide’s leadership team driving the transition to file based

distribution. In fact, Netflix was a customer at that time and the work we had done at the BBC was pretty well advanced – one might say ahead of its time. But it was that experience that made the move to Netflix interesting.

So let’s move on to your role within Netflix. What does it entail?

My job is to ensure that the “ecosystem” and our industry partners are well situated to support the complexities and the needs of the Netflix platform. To do this I partner with manufacturers of hardware and software solutions, to ensure their products will work well to produce assets suited to Netflix. I also work with standards bodies like SMPTE to achieve an ecosystem that is suited to the requirements of OTT and streaming delivery. And of course I also work with our content suppliers.

IABM JOURNAL 3

UHD is the next generation experience and we subscribe to the concept that it’s not just about more pixels or spatial resolution but also better pixels

We will see the introduction of the cinema industry’s color space (DCI-P3) first

And Neflix itself, how would you describe it and its current activities?

Netflix is based upon Internet delivery, how far can that go?

Well obviously Netflix is a streaming platform with more than 60 million subscribers and a large global footprint, including over 50 countries and 14 languages. And it doesn’t stop there. We continue to expand globally. In my mind, the uniqueness is the ability to allow customers to watch what they want, where they want and on a range of devices. So I think because of the scale of our operation and the very high degree of flexibility we offer to end users, we must be one of the most complex operations.

This in turn reflects on the content supply chain management and the deliverables, which is the area I focus on.

Interesting. I think consumers are beginning to recognize that Internet delivered content is starting to surpass broadcast delivered media or even packaged media. One of the reasons being the absence of legacy infrastructure associated with broadcast. Also Internet adoption is growing and with it, increased penetration and speeds, so it’s not encumbered by the limitations other delivery mechanisms have. Sure not everyone has the necessary access or bandwidth today, but when we project the rate of growth, the developments and the increasing penetration of the Internet, we can see Moore’s law at work. With increased processor speeds, bandwidth and reducing storage costs, the current good situation can only get better.

I believe that in comparison, broadcast deliverables are more straightforward and well established whereas we are continuously evolving the platform.

That means the deliverables will be different in a year’s time just as they are currently different to a year or so back.

Neflix is seen as an innovator for being the first to offer mainstream UHD content to consumers, what does that entail?

Yes, it’s all about continuously improving the viewer experience. UHD is the next generation experience and we subscribe to the concept that it’s not just about more pixels or spatial resolution but also better pixels. What I mean is that we can enhance the experience in more ways than simply increasing the resolution, though that’s an important start. So it’s about more color fidelity, more dynamic range and higher frame rates. These things are all part of the equation.

How will you manage the rapid evolution, changes in technology and changes in consumer behavior to stay current?

We are very focused on giving our members the best experience they can have at any moment in time. And that best experience today will look very different in a year’s time. Anyone who thinks there is an end game and waits for that is not focused, that’s not the way we view the world. If you delay innovation, you leave gaps to be exploited by your competition and for us that would mean losing members.

I think it’s also important to not see technology as the driving factor. We at Netflix keep the consumer experience at the forefront of our thoughts. Clearly then technology is an enabler serving the evolution of the customer experience. The tools are important but the underlying business philosophy is critical, which is based upon continuous improvement and making the viewer experience better. I say this a lot and believe it to be true, “Innovation is a mode of travel and not a destination”.

What then is the status of these enhancements?

Well, as you know we already offer higher resolution on some of our programming, but quite soon we will offer higher dynamic range as well. That of course will be to members who have devices capable of taking advantage of the enhancements. Higher frame rates are deliverable, though there’s not much content out there. Increased color space to ITU standards (Rec. 2020) is perhaps on the longest lead time, simply because there are very few consumer devices out there capable of displaying to that specification. I expect we will see the introduction of the cinema industry’s color space (DCI-P3) first, which is not quite so ambitious but better than current television standards.

4 IABM JOURNAL

I’ve seen you praise the work of SMPTE, especially the Interoperable Master Format (IMF)?

Yes IMF is a great format that allows companies to organize their content for global applications. There are so many outlets globally for content and to maximize the user experience it needs to be localized. IMF allows you to efficiently organize content for multiple destinations and that’s true for any organization with a global footprint. It allows you to have one set of assets, packaged together from which the different versions can be derived using a set of instructions. It’s just so much more efficient than having completely separate versions. And to be clear this is about delivery of content to us from our suppliers.

Essentially all our commercials are delivered as files and probably 90% of our programming.

I think it’s also important to not see technology as the driving factor.

We at Netflix keep the consumer experience at the forefront of our thoughts. Clearly then technology is an enabler serving the evolution of the customer experience.

What then are the ongoing operational challenges that you face?

Well, from a supply chain perspective, we still have higher content delivery error rates or failure rates than we would like.

Some of it’s down to getting on top of the version control issues.

About 60% of errors are down to versioning, for example misplaced on non-conforming subtitling. To give you a feel for the scale of the challenge, for a really popular title, which sells around the world in different languages, perhaps to

us, to in-flight entertainment, to hotels, to broadcast in different versions needing dubbing, in addition to subtitles, you can be talking about thousands of versions. Lots of scope for errors.

Operationally what are you looking for and how can our members help?

Further growth in the adoption of IMF would be a good start, it will drive down errors. And on top of that, what we discussed earlier as work in progress, improving the viewer experience by rolling out the image enhancements beyond resolution, color gamut, dynamic range and frame rate.

Finally how would you summarize the current industry status?

Personally I think it’s a really exciting time to be in this space.

Streaming of video content has really opened up new opportunities for viewers to enjoy content on their own terms. And it’s just at the beginning, it’s great now but it’s only going to get better. As a consumer, being able to go home at night, turn on the TV and watch what I want to watch, when I want, is a great experience. To be a part of this and part of a company that’s making it happen is truly rewarding.

We of course appreciate the support we get from technology suppliers. I don’t have any specific concerns.

I’ve already indicated our priorities so I request that they keep up the momentum with IMF and image quality improvements, color space, frame rate and dynamic range. They are all important to us, we need to move quickly at the same time working within the framework of standards.

IABM JOURNAL 5

The services value of the Telecom industry is reported to be in excess of $1,300bn

3G data rate ranges up to 40Mbps, 4G up to 1Gbps and 5G promises 10GBps

The Telcos are Coming – Will 5G Change the Broadcast Landscape?

John Ive Director of Technology and Strategic Insight, IABM

For many in broadcast and media the world of Telecoms has been a separate siloed activity. It has its own jargon, three letter acronyms, its own core technologies, and operates in a different space. But to get the world of broadcast and media in perspective, the services value of the Telecom industry is reported to be in excess of $1,300bn which would dwarf similar numbers in the broadcast sector. Even more poignant is the fact that it’s no longer just about fixed line business, revenues from mobile use alone are expected to reach a trillion dollars very soon. So the key driver will be what we should perhaps be calling not “telcos” but the “mobile communications industry”.

To think that these two worlds exist in isolation now and even more so in to the future is perhaps delusional.

They are colliding on so many fronts, with the communications industry having infinitely more muscle to drive the future direction. According to Cisco in 2014 60% of Internet traffic was consumer video and moving forward to 2019 that will rise to 80% excluding peer-topeer traffic. For those who claim the Internet cannot deliver quality and reliability, one look at those statistics should indicate the amount of investment and effort that will be put in to resolving residual issues, because so much financially depends upon it. And the communications industry has the money to spend!

So why should we care, where are the pressure points and will 5G be the turning point as some Telco’s predict?

What is 5G and what does it promise?

Not surprisingly 5G is the next iteration beyond 4G which even now is not universally deployed. 5G doesn’t exist right now, standards are expected in 2018. What makes it different is the extensive talk and suggestion from Telcos that this technology will bring High Definition and even UHD to the mobile. If this is really the case then there is a certain irony in that broadcasters are fighting to preserve spectrum for legacy-style terrestrial broadcasting with much already taken away and sold to Telcos’, with the declared use to

6 IABM JOURNAL

be largely video anyway. Currently terrestrial spectrum for TV is so limited that it puts a cap on the number of broadcast channels, even fewer in High Definition and it’s anyone’s guess if one or two UHD channels can be squeezed in at some stage. Excited?

So Telco’s want to do more video and take spectrum away from broadcasters, a move that we might reasonably assume will make broadcasters less competitive in this multichannel era. Telcos’ have the money to buy the spectrum so it’s a bit of a “one-way street”.

But is there a gap between the promise and the reality?

Have we not heard this before with 4G? The real issue seems to be a gap between the theoretical performance and the practical experience for consumers. Something we are experiencing right now with 4G. You may be surprised to learn that 3G data rate ranges up to 40Mbps, 4G up to 1Gbps and 5G promises 10GBps. If this is the case, it raises the question around, “why do we need more than 3G?” The answer, a big gap between best case and reality.

It’s easy to be cynical but it’s a fact that a large proportion of video viewing is now done on mobile devices with estimates approaching the tipping point of 50% of all viewing. Cisco predicts that mobile data traffic will grow three times faster than IP traffic from

Large proportion of video viewing is now done on mobile devices with estimates approaching the tipping point of 50% of all viewing

2014 to 2019 and reach 14% of the total. Interestingly Cisco also state that “It would take an individual over five million years to watch the amount of video that will cross global IP networks each month in 2019. Every second, nearly a million minutes of video content will cross the network by 2019.

Where does this leave the broadcasters?

Well that partially depends upon which country you are in. The dependence on free-to-air spectrum varies dramatically based upon the evolution of national public broadcaster services. Some countries have little or no terrestrial broadcasting and distribute their programming primarily over cable.

Pay TV broadcasters commonly also use satellites. Others depend heavily on terrestrial broadcasting.

So the level of passion around spectrum depends upon geography.

Spectrum has already been taken from broadcasters and sold to the mobile operators and this year, (2015) for many more, spectrum will go the same way.

Slowly but surely many broadcasters are building up their presence on the Internet. At one time considered too “Wild West” and not universally available to consumers, it’s now slowly but surely gaining credibility as a valid delivery mechanism for broadcast.

Interestingly, when we consider innovations in broadcasting, the prime movers have changed over time. The move to digital and wide screen for many countries is associated with public service broadcasters using DVB in some countries and ATSC in others. The next innovation, High Definition was the domain of the Pay TV broadcasters, in many cases because they have access to much greater bandwidth (at a price) over

Every second, nearly a million minutes of video content will cross the network by 2019

satellites. Now it’s the turn of the Internet which is currently the main source of UHD content. Netflix, YouTube and others now offer 4K streaming of content and are providing much needed programming for UHD consumer displays dominating shop floors and pushing HD to the back of the shops.

So it remains an open question as spectrum is released to mobile services, whether the Internet and mobile reception will gain sufficient respectability to become the fourth major broadcast delivery network.

The common argument against new services which don’t reach 100% of the population is lack of universal access and capacity, especially from public service broadcasters.

But many well established services today started and were commercially viable with just five or 15% reach and then grew over time.

As anyone who has tried to stream video on a train journey will recognize, 3G, 4G and 5G will need a lot of work before cellular distribution can be trusted to deliver live broadcasting for mobile users. But for roaming in good reception areas it works.

Program delivery is already a major challenge for broadcasters and with the proliferation of networks escalating, some may decide to separate their production activities from delivery and concentrate on the former, then focus on negotiating rights for distribution with different networks.

Mobile networks have the resources to pay for program rights but they don’t have the skills or the culture to make compulsive and captivating programming.

The mobile technology supplier viewpoint These are times of great opportunity as we get closer and closer to the fully connected world.

In addition to video, the other big story is the “Internet of Things”. Not exclusively a mobile issue but one in which mobile will play a major part for consumers. The more applications that mobile networks can offer, the more “sticky” or essential their services become.

Slowly but surely 4G services will improve and start to deliver on their promise. Consumers consider themselves fortunate if they have 100Mbps in to their home through fixed lines, the average in developed countries is nearer 10mbps. Some have the availability but don’t consider they need that speed and are not willing to pay the premium price.

As always the marketing hype will precede the reality by several years but the changes are unstoppable and eventually will lead to new exciting possibilities.

Broadcasters slowly but surely will have to change their focus, especially those who depend heavily on terrestrial spectrum.

Mobile technology is still a revolution in the making even though it dates back to the 1970s for analogue mobile phones and digital in the 1990s. What is the biggest challenge? Well that might turn out to be the humble battery! Receiving and processing 10Gbps will consume a lot of power!

IABM JOURNAL 7

We will be present at SMPTE in Australia and BIRTV in China

Peter Bruce APAC Director, APAC

A senior engineer on a South East Asian TV station reminded me that 20 years ago the decisions were so much simpler of what to purchase and where technology was going.

Mostly the transmissions were chosen as PAL, NTSC or SECAM. You knew from there how many TV lines and what frame rate the nation would be watching on their analog TV signal set. Then the choice of video tape format of the TV station would be chosen. Most likely the similar choice of what your neighbouring countries were making. Now the choices for the TV and Media companies are astounding. While continuing the discussions I commented that if I went to his news room I’m sure I would be able to find up to 20 different video and file formats.

Particularly those videos sent in from various consumer devises.

The world is changing and the engineering decisions are being influenced heavily from the commercial aspects, as well as from the merging of technologies from consumer devises, IT, Telco, cloud, IP, web… the list goes on. It’s happening and happening rapidly.

To understand what is going on the “Broadcast Engineer” must take the attitude that there is no right or wrong answer. What works for one TV station may not be what their neighbour is doing. It’s all about

8 IABM JOURNAL

I commented that if I went to his news room I’m sure I would be able to find up to 20 different video and file formats

The APAC Region and How It’s Changing… knowing what workflow and objectives suits you. We know from the IABM’s end user surveys there are several key concerns. High on the list is OTT and multi-screen services which are key focuses in our industry. With a change in buying attitude from the end user of not purchasing from one source but using “best fit for functional requirements”, the end customer must first understand the required workflow, secondly pick the modules they expect to do the required job and integrate them.

Not an easy task.

The viewer will push back to the production suppliers to get the better quality pictures to the home via whatever means.

Already in Asia we see that acquisition at 4K resolution happening.

The Asia region has been the manufacturing house for TV and flat screens over recent years. The adoption of 4K screens is happening far faster than the move from cathode ray tubes to HD ready flat screens previously. Within approximately two years the prices

of 4K large screens in the shops is almost matching the 1080P HD only screens. Soon the consumers will be buying 4K resolution TV’s without knowing what it is all about.

Following that, the viewer will push back to the production suppliers to get the better quality pictures to the home via whatever means. Already in Asia we see that acquisition at 4K resolution happening.

The bottleneck is getting the higher data rate pushed through the production houses, TV stations and playout centres then distributed to the home customer. Once this is resolved it will help the growing appetite to have 4K in the home and on to the mobile devices. For those in doubt of the speed of 4K adoption, don’t think that this is a technology looking for a home. No, the consumer wants the benefits once they see it. The Japanese manufacturing companies are focusing on even higher resolution in preparation of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in which coverage is promised at 8K. NHK have demonstrated 8K in several shows such as InterBEE, ABU-DBS and NAB. Many TV stations in South East Asia are moving to an IP workflow and then considering how cloud technologies will accelerate their moves. It is changing to a world in which playout suites and TV stations will be truly multiformatted in their approach.

As connectivity improves in Asia, distribution to the end viewers is changing and the viewers are watching on different technologies. In many countries in Asia hand held viewing significantly exceeds that of the West. This is creating different business models as OTT, video over the internet and cloud services are starting to come on line.

As mentioned above, there are many routes the end broadcasters and media companies will choose to go, depending on their individual needs.

To help clear the confusion the IABM will be at the major up and coming events in APAC, supporting the shows from the Singapore APAC office. We will be supporting our members at SMPTE in Australia and BIRTV in China.

The Japanese manufacturing companies are focusing on even higher resolution in preparation of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in which coverage is promised at 8K. On asking the end users what their “biggest technology / business related challenge� was, by a clear margin it was the problem of transformation and reskilling the workforce. The IABM will start to roll out training programs in the APAC region in the coming months.

Within APAC the IABM will be increasing its activities with bi-monthly presentations (initially in Singapore) to its members. Finally we launched an APAC regional council in June with the objective to lead and focus the IABM in the region.

IABM JOURNAL 9

Training Academy won the Association Excellence Award for the Best Training Initiative

Live-on-Line training allows you to get engaging and impactful live, instructor-led training, regardless of your location

Training Update Steve Warner Head of Training, IABM

All of our courses are excellent preparation for anyone wishing to work towards their ‘Certified Broadcast and Media Technologist’ qualification. Also, we continue to seek out training providers whose offerings will complement our own, helping us to become the ‘one stop shop’ for training for the Broadcast Sector.

The IABM Training Academy continues to work with the IABM Education Foundation to provide awards for engineering students and continues to foster relationships between academia and the broadcast manufacturing sector. In this vein, the new IABM University Forum will act as a conduit ensuring the interaction of academia and the industry. For the first time we have the ability to deliver courses at our very own, brand new, training facility. Also, we continue to take our training on the road to our members and the Broadcast Sector in general delivering training to Sky, dB Broadcast, M-Net, Coronation Street, BBC Scotland, BT Sport, RTE and Formula 1 Management.

10 IABM JOURNAL

This year sees the 4th year of operation for the IABM Training Academy. As well as continuing to deliver its ever popular, award winning, classroom courses, this year will see a completely new way of delivering training, via our ‘virtual classroom’, a brand new e-learning course looking at IP and File Based Delivery and a short classroom workshop looking at High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC).

We have continued to schedule training in as many geographical locations as possible. Already in 2015 we have delivered training in the UK, Germany, USA, South Africa and Dubai. Further training is scheduled in Germany, UK, Singapore, Kuala Lumpa, Canada, USA and South Africa.

The IABM Training Academy continues to expand its offerings. However, we remain true to our original ethos and we will never simply stick a finger into the air and produce a course on a whim. We respond to the industry’s needs and only produce carefully prepared and researched training requested by our members and the sector in general. If there is an area you think we should be looking at, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

The IABM Training Academy Wins its First Award In February this year the IABM Training Academy won the Association Excellence Award for the Best Training Initiative. The Award, sponsored by GCN Talent, was presented at the QEII Centre Westminster by Michael Portillo.

The Award was won in face of stiff competition from large associations such as the Charity Finance Group, the Food and Drink Federation, the International Hydropower Association and several others.

The IABM Training Academy was praised for recognising that it needed to facilitate an education and training programme for its members, conducting a detailed Training Needs Analysis into the needs of the sector, offering scheduled courses throughout the year, responding to requests for onsite courses and successfully establishing partners to deliver the training overseas.

IABM Engineering Student Awards Every year the IABM Training Academy works with the IABM Education Foundation to make awards of expenses paid visits for students to the IBC show in Amsterdam. The successful students get to see the amazing technology which is showcased as well as meet technical experts and prospective employers.

The first of our courses we are putting into this virtual classroom is our popular ‘Understanding File Formats’

We respond to the industry’s needs and only produce carefully prepared and researched training requested by our members and the sector in general. If there is an area you think we should be looking at, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

This year, for the first time, the Foundation also made awards available for North American students from Bates College, USA and Loyalist College, Canada to visit the NAB show in Las Vegas. Following a competition organised by the universities and judged by Foundation appointed experts, students from each college were selected to attend the show. Mitchel Spencer, Ryan Wagner and their lecturer Eric Heidendahl attended the show from Loyalist, whilst Jacob Anderson, Kevin Hillberg and Malcolm Kelley, alongside their lecturer Roland Robinson attended from Bates.

All of the students totally immersed themselves in the NAB show ‘experience’ and took full advantage of the conference passes.Speaking to them during the show it was good to see that their interest in a career in the Broadcast Engineering sector had been heightened and they all certainly benefitted from the experience.

The competition in our European partner universities, Solent, St Petersburgh, Vallenciennes and Rhine Maine is now underway and eight successful students will be visiting IBC 2015 courtesy of the IABM Education Foundation.

All of our Student Award Winners are considered for our IABM Young Person of the Year Award which is presented at our conference in early December. Last year’s winner was Adam Plowden who was one of our Student Award Winners when he was studying at Kingston University.

A New Way of Delivering Training For the last four years the IABM has very successfully been delivering classroom courses in a number of geographical locations.

Whilst being very popular, our community has pointed out a number of concerns, such as, the courses aren’t always delivered in the

right location for them, they can’t release staff for two days of training or when you add the travel and subsistence to the cost of the training then the whole exercise is too costly.

From the very start, we have been asked to put more of our courses into an ‘e-learning’ format. However, quite simply, many of the subjects that we deliver just aren’t suitable for delivery in the traditional e-learning style.

The answer is ‘Live-on-Line’ training.

Live-on-Line training allows you to get engaging and impactful live, instructor-led training, regardless of your location. It combines the ease of e-learning with the learning experience of tutor led sessions. It’s quite simple, you log into our virtual classroom at a predetermined time and one of our expert instructors will lead you through a two hour module. You will get the chance to ask questions, engage in activities and interact with other delegates just as you would in a traditional classroom…all without leaving your desk.

The first of our courses we are putting into this virtual classroom is our popular ‘Understanding File Formats’.

The course is designed to be delivered in 5 x 2 hour modules. By the end of the year we will also have ‘Audio and Video Fundamentals for Engineers’ and ‘Broadcast Technology Workflows’ available for delivery via this medium.

IABM JOURNAL 11

Membership of the University Forum will be extended to universities delivering courses that are relevant to the Broadcast Sector

New Courses We have always consulted our members and the sector in general, to find out where the training needs really are.

Following consultations at the end of 2014 it was clear that there was a demand for training in IP and File Based Delivery and there was confusion about HEVC. In response to these needs, this year will see the launch of our second e-learning course ‘Understanding IP and File Based Delivery’. This will be a self-paced course delivered through our Learning Management System and will consist of a number of self-contained modules. The modules will be highly visual while providing detailed information for the broadcast professional. The modules will look at an introduction to the technologies and systems that comprise the entire system, the IP network from remote production to the infrastructure, codecs, bitrates, files and streams, applications and

12 IABM JOURNAL

IABM University Forum middleware, servers and storage, command and control, media production and business workflows integration and the core functionality of a Digital Asset Management system.

Our second new offering this year will be a short half-day workshop looking at HEVC. Delivered at a variety of venues yet to be finalised, this workshop will discuss HEVC as a progression from AVC/H.264, the benefits, the implementation, the processing requirements for encoding and decoding, HEVC over H.264 and where is HEVC to be implemented? It will also consider UHD-1 ‘4K’ broadcast delivery, direct to home delivery, OTT HD delivery, Online / IPTV and mobile devices. Finally it will look at an overview of core processing technology, new features over H.264 and how HEVC compares to VP9 (the Google, royalty free alternative codec).

The IABM has always tried to foster relationships between our members and universities that deliver relevant courses. These universities have always stated that they would like much closer ties with the industry. The IABM University Forum aims to foster closer links between academia and industry.

The aims of the Forum are: n Ensure alignment of course content with industry requirements n Be a conduit for closer ties to industry n Facilitate student and staff exchange n Facilitate placements/research opportunities Membership of the Forum will be extended to universities delivering courses that are relevant to the Broadcast Sector. The first universities to join the forum are located in Germany, France, Russia and the UK. Invitations have been extended to a number of other institutions not already participating and it is hoped to hold a conference style event later in University Forum the year.

IABM JOURNAL 13

“Significant shifts” taking place among customer installations, from hardware to software, that is causing this increased M&A activity

“The cost of capital is going down, so there’s more money around for acquisitions than there was three years ago”

Technology Roundup Recent Events and Developments Paul Treleaven Technology and Standards Consultant, IABM

Well the first half of 2015 has been busy and exciting on the technology front. As we came out of 2014 there was a real feeling that the broadcast and media industry has reached a tipping point as new technologies and new consumer trends become mainstream.

Gone are the debates as to whether IT based hardware can or will be the platform of choice, there’s recognition that service-based business is what many end-users are moving towards and most importantly there’s a greater desire to manage change rather than fight it.

With all this in mind the IABM technology team have been active on behalf of members, representing the IABM at events, taking all this in, digesting it and keeping you informed through the website and reports.

Here is an overview of just some of the major topics.

Conferences and more conferences With so much to consider there is plenty of material to debate and therefore a multitude of conferences that promise to clarify everything. Of course none of them provide definitive answers but they do serve to expose the issues.

Top of the agenda is UHD in both 4K and 8K variants.

This is a development highlighted and marketed to consumers before the broadcast and media industry had time to formulate a plan to service it with content. But is it really the next big thing? It will happen, no doubt, but will it be such a big topic as analogue to digital, or standard definition to HD? I don’t think so.

What it does highlight, and this is the major topic running through conferences and technical meetings, is the fact that good old SDI and all its variants is not a long term solution. There are so many formats and so many variants that it is increasingly difficult to use an interconnect system that needs a redesign and new installation for each new format. This plays neatly in to the hands of IT networks which are format agnostic and will run at rates that can handle UHD and beyond.

So where we want to be is clear but how to get there is

14 IABM JOURNAL

not. With all the momentum and the legacy behind traditional systems it’s really hard to move forward fast enough.

There is also a growing understanding that resolution is not enough to justify major changes. Standard Definition to HD was a very clear visual improvement, HD to UHD is good but on the slope of diminishing returns. HD also came in on the back of the analogue to digital transition and flat panel displays, which altogether made for a compelling proposition. UHD needs something more than just resolution and that something more consists of increased dynamic range, a wider colour palette and higher frame rates to portray motion better. But broadcasters are reluctant to invest without standards and certainty about the potential success, perhaps partly as a result of the recent 3D failure.

I won’t list all the conferences and events that have addressed these issues but prominent and visible in the debate are the SMPTE, NAB, EBU and HPA. All (and many more) have held events covering this topic.

As previously stated, what UHD has done for the industry is accelerate interest in IT workflows and the two topics have become inseparably connected. At the end of June the IABM was a major supporter of the “TVBEurope 20/20” conference in London, at which the full spectrum of UHD and IT workflows was debated.

SMPTE, AES and Standards As our IABM representative on several standards committees, I have been attending both SMPTE and AES meetings during the first half of the year. My full reports are available on the IABM website but we can summarize some of the highlighted topics. They fall in to the following general categories:

Wall Street is beginning to understand that there are lots of new ways to create, edit, store and distribute video, and they are willing to take a chance

n Infrastructure n Coding n File formats SMPTE is working hard on developing a suite of standards that will make IT-based infrastructures a reality. The biggest challenge which currently prevents network architectures from replacing traditional live installations is the real time transfer of video and the timing reference to enable different sources to be switched and mixed.

The classic examples are live events.

SMPTE has published documents that will make this possible, and it is entering a period of testing and “plugfests”.

Until practical systems emerge many suppliers are promoting hybrid systems which place a unified control layer on top of two disparate systems; traditional SDI-based and IT networks.

Coding is closely linked to the emergence of UHD, as this is seen as an opportunity to revisit many of the fundamentals which have been carried through from the early days of television including interlace!

Expanded colour reproduction (gamut) is in place as a standard and further work on High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Higher Frame Rates (HFR) is underway.

File formats represent a moving target as the industry standard Material Exchange Format (MXF) continues to evolve. Additional developments based on MXF include the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) for downstream distribution. Video delivery requires multiple versions of the same content to cope with variables such as (but not limited to) quality, language, frame rate and various edits of the same programme. IMF seeks to solve this with one format which can output different versions through metadata definitions in the playlists. Interestingly Netflix is one of the most vocal supporters of this format, “versionitis” as they call it can run to hundreds of copies of the same item, so they welcome the improved efficiency.

The conditions are similar to 2014, in that the economy is gaining steam and the stock market is up and interest rates are still low

The AES standards meeting round is held in conjunction with each of its two conventions each year (one in Europe, one in the USA). The most recent meeting in Europe covered interface issues; both the well-loved AES3 interconnection standard and also audio streaming over IP (AES67).

In addition they are working on the measurement of digital audio performance and media equipment control architectures.

Much more information for those interested is available to members on the website in various reports.

The Environment The IABM, with the assistance of our enviroment consultant, Nigel Burrt, has been actively engaged in a project inspired by the BBC but now led by a non-profit organization called “Forum for the Future” and also includes British Telecom in the group with their newly expanded video and broadcast activities. The project looks at the challenges and opportunities of working towards more sustainable business and environmental strategies The project “Lens to Screen” has reached the end of the first phase and a report has been produced that IABM members can review and consult. The project started with a series of interviews to determine what are perceived as the critical issues and was followed by two workshops at which the research was evaluated. Forum for the Future added in their extensive experience from other similar projects.

The IABM hopes the outcome of this work will inspire member companies to participate in a second phase and turn concepts in to actionable strategies.

Europe seems intent in producing legislation that aligns itself with the measures in the USA’s Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act concerning so called “conflict minerals”, that is raw sources of tin, tungsten, tantalum

and gold that originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries.

In 2014, the European Commission proposed a draft regulation on the same matter which, unlike the mandatory rules in the USA, would be only voluntary and businesses would be permitted to self-certify their compliance. In April 2015, Members of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee re-affirmed the voluntary approach, with only smelters and refiners forced to use responsibly sourced materials. However, on May 20th, in a plenary session of the full Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs voted to enforce an obligatory monitoring system for the whole supply chain as part of the regulation.

There will now follow some complex “trialogue” negotiations between the Commission, the Parliament and the Council before the final form of the legislation can be agreed. This is an example of how legislation intended for one national market easily spreads to have an international impact in a global marketplace, in that USA laws have now spread to the EU, just as the EU’s RoHS and WEEE Directives spread around the globe, spawning similar laws in China and India, for example.

In closing……

There are so many developments and changes, all technology enabled, transforming our industry.

This short summary just covers a few examples and there is much more on the website.

The word “agile” appears frequently in discussions and it seems that in the absence of definitive answers to what the future holds, it’s agility that is the key to future success.

The IABM will remain “agile”, monitoring as many developments as possible to provide an ongoing resource for members.

IABM JOURNAL 15

The 450 page written report is based on in-depth interviews with hundreds of industry participants

The total market for broadcast and media technology products and services in 2013 was $47.8 billion, growth of 1.1% versus the previous year

The IABM DC Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report The 2015 Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report is now available

Joe Zaller IABM DC

Published by IABM DC LLC, a joint venture between IABM and Devoncroft Partners, the 2015 report provides the definitive valuation of the broadcast and media technology supply market.

The report is the only report where broadcast industry vendors come together in a collaborative partnership, under a mutually-agreed framework of strict confidentiality, to share their revenue data, future forecasts, and detailed information on what drives their businesses. The data model underlying the report includes information on nearly 3,000 individual technology vendors and service providers. The report and accompanying data tables cover approximately 150 separate product categories, and includes written analysis and regional splits and forecasts to 2018 at the segment and sub-segment levels.

The 450 page written report is based on in-depth interviews with hundreds of industry participants, including technology vendors, and end-users including broadcasters, pay TV operators, service providers, and OTT platform platforms.

Structural Shift in Media Technology Industry To say this is a dynamic time in the broadcast and media technology market is an understatement. We believe the industry is in the midst of a structural shift, which is re-shaping the media landscape globally.

End-user business models are dramatically different compared to just a few years ago, due in large part to an explosion of digital and on-line delivery platforms, the shift to a file-based workflows, and the promise of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) IT hardware managed by software-defined networking technologies in facilities that increasingly look more like an IT data center rather than a traditional broadcast plant.

As discussed below, the 2015 report provides clear evidence of an industry-wide shift in technology buying patterns. We believe that these forces will continue to alter the structure of the industry through the end of our forecast period (2018).

16 IABM JOURNAL

Broadcast Industry Market Size The total market for broadcast and media technology products and services in 2013 was $47.8 billion, growth of 1.1% versus the previous year, following growth of 5.1% and a growth of 1.0% in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Revenue from hardware and software products in 2013 was $22.2 billion, or 46.4% of the total industry value, up 3.1% versus the previous year, following growth of 5.3% and growth of 1.3% in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Revenue from services was $25.6 billion, or 53.6% of the total industry value, a decline of 1.1% versus the previous year, following growth of 5.0% and growth of 0.6% in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Services include transmission infrastructure; managed services; systems integration; consultancy; and the rental and hire of facilities, outside broadcast resources, and specialist equipment.

The total size of the broadcast market is shown below, including details of each market segment covered in this report.

Market segment and production

Revenue ($m)

% of total revenue

Acquisition and production

$4,871

10.2%

Post production

$1,091

2.3%

Content & Communication Infrastructure

$3,141

6.6% 3.3%

Audio

$1,592

Storage

$2,477

5.2%

Playout and Delivery

$7,090

14.8%

System Automation & Control

$1,091

2.3%

Test, Quality Control & Monitoring

$811

1.7%

Services

$25,631

53.6%

Total market

$47,796

100%

Source: IABMDC@2015

Figure 1. Total industry size by market segment

Revenue from hardware and software products in 2013 was $22.2 billion, or 46.4% of the total industry value, up 3.1% versus the previous year

Between 2009 and 2014, the compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) for the total market was 2.9%

Industry CAGR: 2009-12 versus 2012-14 Between 2009 and 2014, the compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) for the total market was 2.9%.

From 2012 – 2014, when the industry as a whole grew at a CAGR of 1.3%, the CAGR of total product revenue was – 0.5%; and the CAGR of total service revenue was 2.9%.

However, this headline growth figure masks individual contributions from product revenue, service revenue, and the relative impact of the performance from 2009 to 2012 (“2009 – 2012”) versus growth rates from calendar years 2012 to 2014 (“2012 – 2014”).

Contrasted against the 2009 – 2012 time frame, the 2012 – 2014 figures are stark. Growth in both products and services declined between 2012 and 2014, but services fared better than products.

A review of these relative growth rates of individual sections is informative and is illustrated in the table below.

Given these facts, it is perhaps not surprising that growth in the broadcast market decelerated between 2012 and 2014.

2009 – 2014 CAGR

Total Industry

2.90%

2009 – 2012 CAGR

2009 – 2012 CAGR

4.00%

1.30%

Source: IABMDC @ 2013 – 2015

Figure 2. Comparison of total industry CAGR from 2009-12 versus 2012-14

By separating the aggregate performance of the market from 2009 – 2012 and 2012 – 2014, a clear contrast between these two time periods becomes visible (please note that 2012 is counted in each time frame).

The CAGR from 2009 – 2012 was 4.0% for the market whereas the CAGR from 2012 – 2014 was 1.3%, a difference of more than 300%.

This abrupt shift in industry spending reflects the overall change in the industry that occurred in the 2011 – 2012 timeframe, and provides evidence of a structural shift in the industry.

With the benefit of hindsight, the impact of this shift is very noticeable, as shown by the chart below.

2009 – 2014 CAGR

2009 – 2012 CAGR

2009 – 2012 CAGR

Total Industry

2.90%

4.00%

1.30%

Total Industry

2.10%

3.60%

-0.50%

Total Industry

3.60%

6.00%

2.90%

Source: IABMDC @ 2013 – 2015

Figure 3. Comparison of total product and services CAGR from 2009-12 versus 2012-14

From 2009 – 2012, when the industry as a whole grew at a CAGR of 4.0%, the total revenue from products grew at a CAGR of 3.6%, and the total revenue from services grew at a CAGR of 6.0%.

There are a variety of explanations for the change in shift in market spending over the past several years, including the overall economy; consolidation of technology suppliers, service providers, and media companies; and a pause in spending prior to the next industry transition. These factors and their impact on the market are explored in detail throughout the 2015 report.

Looking forward The broadcast and media technology industry is hugely diverse and complex.

Although aggregate industry growth has changed, this is a dynamic time for the industry.

While revenue in some product categories has indeed declined, other parts of the market are growing very quickly. Even in segments where revenue appears to be flat compared to previous years, there may be significant changes to the composition of the underlying product revenue.

This is an exciting time to be in the broadcast and media technology market. We believe the macro forces impacting the industry will drive a huge wave of innovation.

Confidence remains high in our industry and new opportunities with new technological developments abound, so the future for suppliers in the broadcast and media technology market will favor the innovative and bold and those capable of changing with the times.

The 2015 IABM DC Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report is available for immediate delivery.

It’s a must-read document for all broadcast industry strategists.

For more information contact info@theiabm.org

IABM JOURNAL 17

IABM Dealer Database, available to members online.

We look forward to more opportunities to help members grow their international business efforts

North America Update Caryn Cohen Director, North America, IABM

NAB as always was the big event for the first half of the year and the IABM had a significantly greater representation and involvement on behalf of members. In addition the IABM held its first “Mid-Year Check-in” meeting in New York City.

IABM started its 2015 NAB Show presence with Stan Moote, Advisory CTO for IABM, presenting at the Saturday BEC SBE Ennes Workshop. The theme of the workshop was The All IP Facility. Stan’s presentation was a vendor agnostic view on “Why Everything TV must be IP Why Go IP?” The industry is all hyped up about broadcast moving to IP. Everyone is focused on budgets and enamored with any new technology that will be the savior within the broadcast plant. IP appears to have a magical driving force with promises of the cost benefits of using standard IT product. Rather than pushing the hype, Stan directly discussed the death of SDI hysteria, where IP is being used now and the benefits of going IP. He gave attendees a view of when and why to switch to an all IP infrastructure.

On the Monday the IABM hosted its “sell-out” breakfast event at which IABM CEO Peter White presented an overview of the broadcast and media industry performance. He used data and results from several IABM research activities including the Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report and an extensive end-user survey. On the Sunday, the IABM sponsored the “Shifting Media Economics: Impact on Strategy, Finance, and Technology” Devoncroft session, with an opening keynote from IABM CEO, Peter White covering a summary of his breakfast session keynote. A lively panel discussion followed with several industry CEOs sharing their views on the opportunities and challenges ahead.

New to the 2015 NAB Show, were two IABM member lounges located near the central and south upper halls.

Providing free Wi-Fi, the lounges were utilized as a

18 IABM JOURNAL

place to relax and/or hold meetings and served as a gathering place to present the annual IABM Game Changer Awards. IABM TV was on hand to film the awards as well as provide members with some great promotional content for their own use post show. The IABM Technology Advisory Board meeting was also held towards the end of the show in the central lounge.

Shortly after the NAB Show, IABM hosted the Mid-Year Check-in on May 13th , held in New York City during the Streaming Media East Conference. This brought a different aspect into some of the discussions including how social media is shifting to video, how millennials are consuming content, and some of the areas for growth.

The keynote speaker was Evan Schectman, CTO at Radical Media. Evan comes from the production side of the business and covered some of the new and unique ways he is stretching today’s technology. Where the industry talks about resolutions and aspect ratios in a blasé fashion, Evan takes this to a new level with his complete 360-degree videos. Evan explained the process, equipment and the necessary software tweaking in detail, while demonstrating several finished clips.

Joe Zaller, North American Market Development Officer for IABM, provided guests with a more detailed review of the IABM NAB End User survey and some key items from the IABM Global Market Evaluation and Strategy Report. Having a smaller audience than the IABM State of the Industry breakfast at the NAB Show, allowed the attendees to ask Joe questions on the fly and provide additional color and discussion to the charts and slides.

Voice of the Customer Panel met in New York on May 13 2015

Voice of the Customer Panel video of the full panel discussion at www.theiabm.org/iabm-tv/videos-from-previous-events.html

Overall it's been a good start for the IABM and it’s members and together with the announcement of the establishment of regional councils including North America, we will see even greater opportunities for the IABM to provide advocacy to members where they are, provide collective representation, market intelligence and a voice in the industry.

IABM hosted its “sell-out” breakfast event at which IABM CEO Peter White presented an overview of the broadcast and media industry performance. He used data and results from several IABM research activities including the Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report and an extensive end-user survey.

George Hoover, CTO of the NEP Group addressed two key issues he faces in his presentation. The first topic was perfectly tailored towards IABM members, the equipment and software vendors. George knew he had the right audience to discuss the problems that NEP has experienced with vendors worldwide, including uniform, best pricing and international service and support regardless where on the globe a piece of gear was purchased. George was brilliant with his suggestions directed towards vendors on how to overcome his concerns and how end users can work more effectively with vendors.

George then directly dove into the interoperability world of IP audio and video. His insights were very enlightening and this set the stage for the Voice of the Customer Panel which followed. You can view George’s complete presentation video at addinlink here.

Stan Moote moderated The Voice of the Customer Panel with Mike Strein, Director Technology & Workflow Strategy, ABC TV Network, and Joe Inzerillo Executive Vice President & CTO, Major League Baseball Advance Media and George Hoover from NEP. Stan kicked off the panel with a continuation of George’s IP discussion by asking Mike and Joe their points of view on the topic.

After the panel discussed various technologies in detail Stan shifted the topic over to what all vendors want to know about – customers and trade shows. NAB pre-show customer visits; technical papers, and directed and pointed comments about both IBC and NAB were covered. You can see the video of the full panel discussion at www.theiabm.org/iabm-tv/videosfrom-previous-events.html In preparation for IBC this fall, Rich Hajdu from SandRun Consultants did a stellar presentation on “Selling Internationally: Know before you go”. Rich covered a wide spectrum of the sales process including government import/ export rules, technical issues by regions, service and support, selling direct and selling though a dealer channel. Rich also touched on the recently launched IABM Dealer Database, available to members online. We look forward to more opportunities to help members grow their international business efforts The half day event was followed up by a networking and cocktail reception. You can see Stan’s video summarizing the event at www.theiabm.org/iabm-tv/videosfrom-previous-events.html

IABM JOURNAL 19

Our 90 year history includes the phonograph era, when Shure was a household name – one that you saw every time you played a record

IABM Members Speak – Shure Incorporated How do you market and sell your solutions worldwide?

Mark Brunner Senior Director, Global Brand Management, Shure Incorporated

What is your personal career background?

I joined Shure right out of college, after playing music for a living briefly and gaining some experience in the recording arts. This was 1989 – there was no voice mail, no email, no internet. I answered letters written to the company by customers – some simple, some complex.

It was a great way to learn about all of Shure’s operations. Since then I have touched nearly every aspect of Shure marketing, including heading product management, public and artist relations, market research, brand management, and government affairs.

Shure is well known for microphones, but does your product range extend beyond this?

Absolutely. Wired and wireless microphones for live sound and recording are the largest part of our business, but we also have a substantial portfolio of conferencing products, in-ear monitoring systems, headphones and earphones, phonograph cartridges, and circuitry products, along with a fast-growing range of software offerings to enhance the performance and work flow of much of our hardware.

Shure is considered a professional product company; do your products extend to consumers as well?

Indeed. While we always define our products to be professional grade, we often find a great deal of interest coming from the consumer or “pro-sumer” community.

Specific examples include our earphone and headphone products and our new Motiv line of digital iOS microphones. We are conscious of the overlap of the professional and consumer audiences, and by designing to professional standards we can bring valuable performance attributes to consumers. This has been the case throughout our 90 year history. In the phonograph era, Shure was a household name – one that you saw every time you played a record.

20 IABM JOURNAL

Shure’s marketing and sales is structured into three Regional Business Units: Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

These BUs utilize a combination of direct sales management in key countries and distribution partners in the other countries. In many countries, the local distributor enjoys the support of a Shure support team located in that country for activities such as technical support, market development, or channel management.

In larger, well-established countries like the US, we employ independent Sales Representatives whose firms interact with the resellers on sales and support issues.

We value greatly our relationships with our Reps and Distributors – they are an extension of Shure. In some cases throughout our history, Shure distributors have been converted into direct operations.

Who are your customers for professional products?

While always evolving, Shure tends to view our market segmentation in verticals such as broadcast, live sound reinforcement, corporate and government conferencing, musical instrument retail, and consumer audiophile / content creation. While there is always overlap in the world of audio, we structure our management of these verticals through teams focused on “pro”, “systems”, and “retail”. The exact composition and responsibilities of these teams varies by Business Unit based on regional needs and strategies, but the general approach provides us with both focus and flexibility.

How can you differentiate your offerings?

S.N. Shure, our founder, once stated that Shure’s international reputation is based on the twin foundations of performance and reliability. These attributes are engrained in every product we offer, and our quality control throughout the design and manufacturing process has been a focus since the beginning. Additionally, Shure takes great measures to ensure that our products function simply and intuitively. We do this through observation of people in their environments, enabled by the strong relationships we foster with end users. We always try to anticipate and design to meet user needs.

We always are asking first, “What are you trying to do?”

The insatiable demand for all things wireless has pitted some very large corporations in the telecommunications and computer industries against pro audio and traditional broadcast television in the need for spectrum. There is no going back, so this issue will never be “settled”.

The audio industry likes classic sounds and products but what are the latest technology developments?

Shure’s SM57 celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and the SM58 will do so next year. These models are still the most popular microphones on earth and are chosen by customers at all experience levels – so we know a bit about classic sounding products. Rather than rest on laurels, however, we use these benchmark offerings as a

Shure’s SM57 celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and the SM58 will do so next year

basis for innovation into products for more specific applications.

Shure’s microphone development is ongoing, but the shift to wireless microphones over the past 25 years has led to a very strong focus on RF technology at the company, to enable our great microphones to go wireless for a multitude of applications and performance tiers.

Wireless spectrum has hit the headlines in recent times – is that now settled?

Shure is actively engaged in radio spectrum policy around the world and is a leading voice for professional audio to policy makers and regulators globally. Our close association with such agencies as the FCC in the US, Industry Canada, Ofcom in the UK, the European Commission, ACMA in Australia, and ARIB in Japan have helped raise the visibility of the important cultural, political, and civic user groups of wireless microphones and related technologies. The insatiable demand for all things wireless has pitted some very large corporations in the telecommunications and computer industries against pro audio and traditional broadcast television in the need for spectrum. There is no going back, so this issue will never be “settled”. We have come to understand that advocating for our industry’s spectrum needs is now simply a part of our business.

What is your biggest challenge right now?

Our biggest challenge is quite simply deciding what not to do.

There is so much knowledge and capability within Shure that we can take on virtually any challenge in audio. Prioritizing these initiatives is a constant discussion.

What is the biggest challenge for your customers?

A common thread that runs through nearly all customer groups is the process of selecting the right solution for their needs. With such a wide variety of offerings – from Shure and others – deciding what to buy can be daunting. For this reason, we employ associates who are knowledgeable at all levels of the transaction, from phone support to field based market development teams. We always are asking first, “What are you trying to do?”

How would you describe the current status of the professional audio industry?

From all observation points, the industry is in great shape. There are exciting technologies coming to market constantly, and sales are strong in the microphone category and in all of the others we are aware of.

What do you see as the next step beyond the current Shure offerings?

Shure has been evolving for 90 years now, and I expect this will not cease. Although it is impossible to predict exactly what we will be working on ten years from now, I think you can see certain themes developing, such as the networking of all things audio, products becoming more self-adaptive to their environment, and monitoring and control by operators who may not be next to the hardware or even in the same city. This is all very exciting to us at Shure, and we look forward to making the world sound good for another 90 years.

IABM JOURNAL 21

We have also established our own sales offices for ARRI products all over the world, and we continue to open new offices in emerging markets such as Asia

IABM Members Speak – ARRI Dr Joerg Pohlman Managing Director, ARRI

What is your personal career background?

How do you market and sell your solutions worldwide?

I originally trained as a lawyer and joined ARRI in October 2014 after spending 17 years in various different positions at BMW, the most recent of which was an MD role at SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, a joint venture between BMW Group and SGL Group.

We have numerous distributors and dealers, with many of those relationships going back many years, but over the decades we have also established our own sales offices for ARRI products all over the world, and we continue to open new offices in emerging markets such as Asia. This sets us apart from competitors that sell their products solely through distributors and the reason we do it is to be as close to our customers and end users as we can, and to offer the best possible after-sales service.

We associate ARRI primarily with cameras and lighting; is this correct?

Those are our core businesses, yes, but ARRI covers the entire filmmaking process, from designing and manufacturing products, to supplying them directly to productions through the global ARRI Rental group and servicing postproduction requirements through ARRI Media. We’ve been involved in all these different sides of the business for decades, so we have a complete understanding of the industry and the needs of filmmakers. We’re increasingly involved in film distribution through ARRI Worldsales and we even have our own cinema in Munich.

Our core imaging technology is also used for film preservation and restoration through ARRISCAN Archive Solutions, and for cutting-edge surgical microscopy applications through ARRI Medical.

Which vertical markets do you target?

We target the professional market and are not really involved with the potentially wider customer base of the consumer and prosumer markets. That said, the range of products and services we offer into the professional market is extremely broad, catering to every possible need on all types of professional production.

22 IABM JOURNAL

How would you categorize your customers?

If you define our customers as the people who use our products, then they are professionals who want the best quality of image, or of light, combined with the easiest workflows and the best on-set reliability. If you define our customers as the people who actually buy our products, then they are generally rental houses and the priorities for them are longterm reliability, security of investment and after-sales service.

In the field of cameras what aspects do you prioritize for your end users?

Again, our focus is on the best overall image quality, the smoothest workflows and rugged durability on the set. Ergonomics and intuitive functionality are also important for end users, with many appreciating the simplicity of our menu structures and the layout of our control interfaces. Another priority is upgradeability of both hardware and software, as it allows the cameras to adapt to emerging technologies and trends, thereby protecting customer investment.

We’re different because we can take a number of our technologies and build systems for customers cost effectively as a one-off solution

Tungsten and HMI will remain for a number of years, especially for higher wattage fixtures, but LED is clearly breaking through and represents the future

For lighting has the world gone entirely LED? No, there is still a lot of demand for HMI and also for tungsten, which remains popular because the spectral quality is well known and the light is excellent. In fact the goal for solid state lighting at the moment is to achieve tungsten-like quality combined with full control of output and colour temperature. So tungsten and HMI will remain for a number of years, especially for higher wattage fixtures, but LED is clearly breaking through and represents the future. That’s why we have invested so much in researching and developing solid state technology, culminating in new-generation products such as the SkyPanel.

What is your biggest challenge right now?

With cameras, which is the fastest moving market, our challenge is to stay focused on what matters most – overall image quality – without being distracted by industry hypes and trends that focus on just one element of image quality, for example resolution. We have to be able to differentiate industry fads such as 3D from true industry shifts, and we have to continue providing tools that are rightfully trusted for safe, flexible filming, alongside workflows that are robust and easy to use.

What is the biggest challenge for your customers?

End users face the challenge – amid all the noise and hype – of finding the right format, resolution and workflow to ensure genuine production value, on-set reliability and future-proof content. Rental houses and other customers face the challenge of evaluating the plethora of equipment and manufacturers entering the market in order to invest in tools that meet the needs of productions and provide a long-term return on investment.

I foresee strong growth in videoon-demand and the individualisation of media content on the internet and also on TV. Who knows, maybe screenings at movie theatres will involve greater audience interaction and choice, perhaps with alternative versions of the same film.

What technical innovations have the most influence on your business right now?

In broad terms, and in the context of ARRI’s 98-year history, digital image capture and solid state LED lighting are having the biggest influence. The use of IT in cameras means that elements of the technology – such as recording formats and media – are evolving rapidly, so the cameras have to be built on a highly flexible and upgradeable platform; this is what allows us to bring out software updates and upgrades with such frequency.

How would you describe the economic status of the broadcast, cinema and media industries?

Overall the industry is stable in Europe and the US, and there is still growth potential in emerging markets such as Asia, especially China. The shift to high-end TV is largely driven by the growing TV-on-demand sector.

What do you see as the next step beyond the current offerings?

As I say, I foresee strong growth in video-on-demand and the individualisation of media content on the internet and also on TV. Who knows, maybe screenings at movie theatres will involve greater audience interaction and choice, perhaps with alternative versions of the same film. In any case the flexibility of content delivery is unquestionably increasing, which can only make the flexibility of production tools even more important, so we will continue to focus on versatile, user-friendly and high quality products.

IABM JOURNAL 23

Don’t forget to follow us:

Twitter: @TheIABM Linkedin: The IABM Facebook: The IABM

IABM UPDATE...

New IABM Regional Councils The aim of the IABM regional councils is to give members in their own region a voice and bring the issues of the broadcast and media technology industry to a wider audience. The councils will also provide the association with a strong presence in the regions, creating a forum for discussion and debate on issues relevant to local markets and activities.

Following the inauguration of our first Regional Council in the APAC region this June, we will launch our UK Council in July followed by a North American Council in November.

The work of the councils will be supported by IABM executive staff. Each board will consist of a minimum of eight council members and a chair.

During its first year members will be invited to join the council and establish its authority. Elections to the regional councils will be held from their second year.

24 IABM JOURNAL

IABM global Dealer Database goes live to members We have launched our new Dealer Database which will speed up the selling process for members in new markets around the globe.

The searchable online database was developed primarily so a member can find systems integrators, dealers and representatives geographically in regions where they are not familiar with the market. The Dealer Database, which includes more than 300 listings, can be searched based on a specific country and by the type of dealer.

selling the type of products that IABM members represent and manufacture. The dealers are also knowledgeable about what local customers require so the manufacturers will have faster exposure to the market to achieve sales success.

The database system is available exclusively to IABM Members within the resources area of the IABM website, and can be accessed by members using their existing passwords.

All dealers have been selected based on their expertise in the television and video marketplaces, and are experienced in

IABM TV The aim of IABM.TV is to ensure that the entire industry is fully informed at the touch of a button, no matter where they are.

We have recently attended the NAB Show and BroadcastAsia, capturing a wide range of engaging and informative content and with lots more shows planned in the coming months, we decided to invest in a new platform for our content.

We are very excited to be launching a new video platform which will not only offer a much better viewing experience, but

Provider of broadcast and media technology content

will enable users to search the entire IABM.TV content library by topic, speaker, date and event. We will also be able to suggest similar videos and create playlists for each event we attend or topic we film, meaning that even if you weren’t able to make an event, thanks to IABM.TV, you don’t have to miss out.

Please visit www.theiabm.org/IABMTV

IABM UPDATE...

IABM Member Benefits Highlight IABM Membership provides you with a wide variety of benefits The IABM website is visited by 28,000 visitors each month and is a valuable resource for the industry. Did you realise that we offer all members the following benefits within the site?: n Complimentary posting of your job vacancies within our Job Shop

n Promotion of your own events within our industry events calendar

n Complimentary posting of your Press Releases within our news section of the website that are then pushed out via our social media channels

n Listing white papers within our technology section of the site To post your information simply send the details to marketing@theiabm.org

Winners of IABM Game Changer Awards announced at NAB The winning recipients are: Acquisition and production – BLT Italia srl

System automation and control – Tedial

Post production – Brainstorm Multimedia

Playout & delivery systems – Elemental

Content and communication infrastructure – intoPIX

Test, quality control and monitoring – Nexidia

Audio – Sonifex Ltd

Services – PROVYS

Storage – Quantum All nine winners will now be put forward for the prestigious Peter Wayne Award, with the final result announced at IABM’s Annual International Conference in December 2015.

The judging panel included 30 industry experts. For the first time in the awards’ history, companies across the technology, broadcast and media industries had the opportunity to submit an entry that showcased its WINN new developments and forward thinking. Judges were on the lookout for processes, systems, products, services or developments that demonstrate superb innovation and offer real benefits for end users.

ER

IABM JOURNAL 25

IABM UPDATE

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

UK Industry Update – UK Region An impressive list of key influencers and leading companies from within the Broadcast and Media Technology Industry attended our latest UK Industry Update Meeting in London on 1st July. Industry Update Meetings are informative and informal gatherings that

InterBEE for free in IABM pavilion spaces Those IABM members who have not previously exhibited at InterBEE can now be part of this leading international broadcast equipment event and experience the show free of charge.

The four exclusive pavilion spaces, located in the dedicated IABM pavilion area, include complimentary use of the shell space and the basic furniture. Members will also be able to hire any additional equipment to personalise their shell space, from display panels and stands, to a range of presentation equipment.

InterBEE provides the perfect platform to showcase products and services to the market and the pavilion has the added advantage of providing a highly visible route to the InterBEE audience, so it is ideal for members looking to interact with local customers and prospects face to face.

InterBee takes place from 18 – 20 November at the Makuhari Messe Convention Centre in Japan.

For more information or to apply for a complementary pavilion space please visit www.theiabm.org.

26 IABM JOURNAL

provide attendees with the most up to date knowledge and news from across our industry.

Photos, IABM TV footage and presentations from the event are available to IABM Members at www.theiabm.org

SET EXPO

We are pleased to announce our support to SET EXPO, the largest broadcasting and new media event in Latin America, held in São Paulo, Brazil between 23 – 27 August 2015.

The agreement is a fantastic opportunity for both IABM and its members to gain increased exposure at this growing show.

IABM members who have not previously exhibited at SET EXPO can take advantage of a 10% discount for the 2015 show against the published price per square metre. In addition SET EXPO will offer an additional discount to IABM members on the booth lease price to be applied on top of the published discount.

For 2016, pavilion spaces within the IABM booth will be available to eight IABM members who haven’t previously exhibited at the show and the 2015 booth discount will also be extended to all existing IABM members.

IABM to support new NAB Shanghai event

The IABM will be a key supporting association of the brand new NAB Show Global Innovation Exchange to be held in Shanghai on 3 – 4 December 2015.

The two day industry-leading conference will focus on Cinematic Technology, Social Media Platforms, Post-Production, Broadcast IT, Acquisition/Production, Next Generation Cinema Technologies and End User Display Technologies.

NAB Show Global Innovation Exchange, Shanghai will bring together leading global broadcast, media and entertainment executives to share expertise and network with their Chinese counterparts.

Don’t forget to follow us:

Twitter: @TheIABM Linkedin: The IABM Facebook: The IABM

IABM New appointments

IBC 11-15 September 2015 IBC Member Lounge

We are delighted to announce the appointments of three new staff members at IABM.

We are pleased to provide two Member Lounge’s at this year’s IBC. One lounge will be located at our traditional exhibition space outside of Hall 8 and the other on level 2 of the new Amtrium building.

He has spent the last eight years of his career with IBC, helping to develop the event to where it is today. He has become well known to many in the industry during this time.

ANN CO

Friday 11 September 8.00am – 10.00am Room E102.

UA L

I BC SH

OW

State of the Industry Conference Session

STATE

OF THE INDUSTRY

N

FE

5

Several private meeting room spaces will be available to members and can be pre-booked by emailing info@theiabm.org

2015

01

IBC Meeting Room Space

RENCE 2

Design & Innovation Awards 2015 The IABM Design and Innovation Awards recognize new solutions that offer significant benefits or new opportunities to the broadcast and media industry. Applications are invited for nine industry segments

Acquisition & production

Audio Post production

Content & communication infrastructure

Storage

The shortlisted nominations in each category will be announced prior to IBC 2015, with the category winners revealed at the IABM Design and Innovation Awards Reception.

Darren Whitehead has joined us in the position of Director of Business Development at the Association. Darren has a background in exhibitions and events and has held many senior roles in this sector over a period of 25 years.

Storage Playout & delivery systems

Services System automation & control

Test, quality control & monitoring

DESIGN & INNOVATION AWARDS – 2015

NOMINATION DEADLINE – Friday 10 July Design and Innovation Awards Reception, Saturday 12 September 6pm-8pm Join us at our awards reception where we will announce the winners of the Design and Innovation Awards. Drinks and canapes will be provided.

With all that IABM offers today, it is important that we have someone who can develop a coordinated strategy for business growth and market development. Darren has the strengths in these key areas to help IABM progress. His knowledge of the industry, and the strong relationships he has built, will enable us to move forward more quickly and assuredly than before.

Lorenzo Zanni has joined as our Research Analysist. Lorenzo holds a BSc in Economics from Pisa University and a MSc in Business Economics from Swansea University. Lorenzo will be reposinsible for the development of our our market intelligence moving forward.

Fay Daniels has joined the Association at Marketing and Events Executive. Since graduating in 2008 with a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism, Film and Media (2:1), Fay has gained over five years’ experience working in marketing and events. During that time she has worked for one of the leading law firms in the UK and a well-known business services company, helping with all aspects of traditional marketing, digital marketing and event management. Fay will take responsibility of co-ordinating our events and marketing activities.

IABM JOURNAL 27

Beijing International Radio, TV & Film Exhibition 2015 A Must-Attend Electronic Media Exhibition - www.birtv.com -

[ August 26-29, 2015 ] China International Exhibition Centre, Beijing, China TEL: +86-10-86092783/52055258/52055295 FAX: +86-10-52055156

SAVE THE DATE

I ABM Annual International Business Conference & Awards 2015 Date 3-4 December London, Heathrow

NEW MEMBERS ABS www.advancedbroadcastsolutions.asia

Linear Acoustics www.linearacoutisc.com

Advanced Broadcast Services Ltd www.abs.tv

MACOM www.macom.com

Archimedia www.archimediatech.com Broadcast Connexions Ltd www.broadcastconnexions.com Globecomm Systems Inc www.globecommsystems.com Ideal Systems Asia Pacific Ltd www.idealsys.com IEWC www.iewc.com IHSE GmbH www.ihse.com Interxion www.interxion.com

Miller Tripods www.millertripods.com MultiCast Consultancy www.multicastconsultancy.com Object Matrix www.object-matrix.com SES www.ses.com Softvallee www.softvallee.com Tiger Technology www.tiger-technology.com tv-bay / KitPlus www.kitplus.com

Training Course Dates – 2015 Advanced Networks for Broadcast Engineers

Broadcast Technology Workflows – The Fundamentals 30-31 July Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK 24-25 Sept San Francisco, USA 22-23 Oct

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

19-20 Nov

Toronto, Canada

Compression Fundamentals & Applications

24-25 Sept Toronto, Canada

23-24 July Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

15-16 Oct

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

8-9 Oct

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

5-6 Nov

Toronto, Canada

21-22 Oct

Toronto, Canada

16-17 Dec

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

18-19 Nov

San Francisco, USA

10-11 Dec

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

Audio & Video Fundamentals for Engineers 21-22 July Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

Live-on-Line

6-7 Oct

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

3-7 Aug

9.00am-11.00am BST

19-20 Oct

Toronto, Canada

10-14 Aug

11.00am-1.00pm Eastern

16-17 Nov

San Francisco, USA

8-9 Dec

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

Broadcast & Media Technology – Understanding your Industry 28-29 July Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK 22-23 Sept San Francisco, USA 19-20 Oct

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK

17-18 Nov

Toronto, Canada

For more information visit: www.theiabm.org