Top 5 things you should look for in a cloud playout

The days of traditional television broadcast are done and dusted. Now television networks all over are transitioning to the cloud; there is no more a need for localized master control rooms and the additional physical infrastructure needed to support it.

The cloud has assumed position of the de facto infrastructure required to compete in the present-day market.

In this scenario, the opportunities for broadcasters is multifold and varied. A cloud playout delivers content free from any geographical or historical channel boundaries, the content can be worked on and edited in real-time adding to the agility of the platform. The cloud helps networks extend and expand their brands while at the same time building their relationships with other content providers, consumers, affiliates and distributors.

Irrespective of the agility, innovation and cost reduction the cloud provides, the cloud playout needs to be properly utilized to reap optimum results.

Listed below are the top four things you should look for in a cloud playout:

Cloud Strategy: With an effective cloud playout strategy, production workflows and media assets can be easily managed. Playout platforms like Amagi’s CLOUDPORT enables TV networks and content owners to manage and operate a unified platform for linear, catch up and Video-On-Demand TV with considerable ease and no extraordinary cost.

The live Master Control Room within the platform takes out the need for additional production processes. It enables the broadcaster or the content creator to monitor the playout at all stages. The entire OTT playout workflow can also be effectively managed on platforms such as Amagi’s CLOUDPORT, without any additional infrastructure. It can be managed remotely by using a web-based UI.

Security: Cloud Security has always been a concern for broadcasters, inhibiting them from opting for the cloud. The risk of moving high value content and data from the known visible confines of a physical facility onto an ethereal virtual world cannot be denied. One of the most important factors to keep in mind while choosing a cloud playout is that the assets are hosted in a secure environment like a purpose-built data center.

Using the cloud as a TV broadcasting software also takes out the redundancy of earlier processes. There is always a contingency plan set in place. Data centers are built based on three factors of availability, security and disaster recovery.

Irrespective of the ease, transparency and high degree of automation cloud playouts provide access levels, permissions and roles need to be kept in check along with built-in redundancies to counter outages.

Engagement: One of the primary benefits of using a cloud playout is that it can facilitate total global connectivity to content on any screen. The content can be controlled from anywhere.

Every aspect of playout from integrated automation, digital asset management, master control activities, content ingest, video server, store and archive content, editing, branding and supporting advance dynamic graphics are all covered by the cloud-based technology.

With automated content, the cloud playout enables the broadcaster to compile user data. Thus helping them to improve the service and develop a more personalized ‘one-on one’ relationship with their audience.

Innovation: The cloud must be flexible and equipped to insert real-time advanced dynamic graphics, static or animated logos and bugs, multilayer full screen graphics, countdown timers, tickers, lower thirds overlay along with dynamic social media integration.

Without updating video playout softwares to the cloud, TV networks will not be able to compete with the OTT channels. With the cloud, broadcasters can experiment and deliver channels without incurring any extraordinary costs. The scalability, agility and speed of deployment cloud playouts offers can’t be replicated by following traditional broadcast practices.