Transitioning Broadcast to Cloud
Yuriy A. Reznik, Jordi Cenzano, Bo Zhang · SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal · 2021
We analyze the differences between on-premise broadcast and cloud-based online video delivery workflows and identify means needed for bridging the gaps between them. Specifically, we note differences in the 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 a critically needed technology for convergence. Finally, based on all such considerations, we offer sketches of several possible hybrid architectures, with varying degrees of offloading of processing in the cloud, which are likely to emerge in the future.