Transitioning broadcast to cloud

Abstract

We analyze the differences between on-premise broadcast and cloud-based online video delivery workflows and identify technologies needed for bridging the gaps between them. Specifically, we note differences in ingest protocols, media formats, signal-processing chains, codec constraints, metadata, transport formats, delays, and means for implementing operations such as ad-splicing, redundancy and synchronization. To bridge the gaps, we suggest specific improvements in cloud ingest, signal processing, and transcoding stacks. Cloud playout is also identified as critically needed technology for convergence. Finally, based on all such considerations, we offer sketches of several possible hybrid architectures, with different degrees of offloading of processing in cloud, that are likely to emerge in the future.