The wave of DX has arrived in the TV industry. The reason why the "next-generation broadcasting platform" that can produce and distribute programs remotely from the site is attracting attention

As 5G becomes an important infrastructure for the next generation and digitization (digital transformation) is accelerating in all industries, new initiatives are underway at TV production sites as well.

Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting (TV Asahi affiliate) in Okinawa uses the next-generation broadcasting platform "Broadcast as a Service (BaaS)" developed by Softbank to deliver real-time video without relay equipment. implementation. With the COVID-19 pandemic making it necessary to review the conventional TV program production process, we are working on new program production that makes full use of IT technologies such as the Internet and the cloud.

We interviewed the person in charge about TV program production, which is at a turning point, and the actual state of the next-generation broadcasting platform demonstration experiment.

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(From the left in the photo) Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting Co., Ltd. Executive Officer Tokyo, Kansai, and Fukuoka Branch Office General Manager, Kuniichiro Oroku Toki's mascot "Q around", SoftBank Corp. Technology Strategy Headquarters Advanced Technology Development Headquarters Ryuji Wakikawa (From bottom left in the photo) SoftBank Corp. Technology Strategy Headquarters Advanced Technology Development Headquarters Advanced Technology Promotion Advanced Technology Development Section Manager Katsuhiro Horiba, Advanced Technology Business Section Manager Daisuke Yamada

The common sense of the TV program production process overturned by the corona crisis. What is the creation of a new production environment that is not bound by location? The traditional production style using the editing room in the station remains. At the Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting Station, after the outbreak of the new coronavirus, it became necessary to urgently review the production style.

“At TV stations, various programs are being produced in parallel, from news, information, to variety shows, so the editing room with 7 booths is always fully booked 24 hours a day. As a result, I was unable to come to work, and the process so far stopped working.It was a big blow to the production site.As a breakthrough, I created an opportunity to use "BaaS". We were able to connect the network system and the cloud to distribute programs, etc. It is a system that is very appreciated by the producers!”

Next-generation broadcasting platform "Broadcast as a Service (BaaS)"

Video distribution platform using remote and cloud technology developed by Softbank. Video data shot on-site can be uploaded to a dedicated cloud, and all operations required for distribution can be performed on the cloud without the need for people to go to the site. Because it is possible to distribute from anywhere in Japan while avoiding close contact and restricting movement, it is attracting attention as a new means of reducing costs and efficiently producing programs.

Why did you decide to use the next-generation broadcasting platform this time?

"Actually, we were conducting a demonstration experiment using 5G in March of last year with Softbank. It's an attempt to deliver in real time with 5G.The experimental results were very good, and it was highly evaluated within the company, so I thought that it could be used for remote program production during the corona crisis."

Demonstration experiment

"Your cooperation in the experiment was very helpful. We were confident in the effectiveness of the next-generation broadcasting platform, but this time, we have a renewed understanding of the needs under these circumstances. Next-generation broadcasting platform The initiative itself started in November 2019. Currently, we are aiming to make it a service while repeating experiments to ensure the quality that broadcasting professionals can use, and we are making improvements.

The surfing scene was filmed live with three cameras and transmitted to Softbank's data center in Tokyo using 5G. Confirmed that all images are stored in real time on the server of the data center, and that switching operations (remotely viewing all images and switching and transferring only the necessary images) can be performed remotely from TV Asahi's head office. In addition, TV Asahi's video production engineers perform editing work remotely

Actually, it's full of analog. The current state of program production, where there is a lot of room for improvement

There are still many analog elements in the field of program production, and it is time The current situation is that it takes a lot of time and effort. Of course, it is also true that the broadcast is made possible by the efforts of such people.

In the past, it was necessary to prepare a motorbike service for transporting recorded data to the site in order to make it in time for the broadcast of the live news program etc., but if it is via "BaaS", radio waves can be sent directly to the station. Therefore, the efficiency of the interview can be improved.

"Then, more analog is the transportation of commercial material and the main story. This is especially true for affiliated stations, but we also fly from Tokyo to Okinawa, every day. During a typhoon. If the Okinawa flight is canceled, the damage will be huge, so it would be nice to be able to deliver with a single PC.It will also greatly reduce expenses.

I put 20 to 30 HDCAM tapes in a special case and carry them by plane every day.