What to know:

• A connected IPTV and digital signage platform powers every matchday, hospitality and event experience at Columbus Crew's ScottsMiracle-Gro Field stadium.
• Uniguest platform allows Crew team to dictate what goes into each TV, ensuring fans don't miss a thing.
• A video case study details the enhancements brought to the stadium from Uniguest Sports Hub.

Columbus Crew Create Enhanced MLS Experiences with Uniguest

The Columbus Crew is using Uniguest Sports Hub to deliver connected matchday and event experiences across ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, OH, combining IPTV, digital signage and centralized content management to engage supporters, streamline operations and maximize the value of the club's premium hospitality spaces.

The club has continued that tradition by creating a venue designed to set a new benchmark for fan experience. Home to more than 20,000 supporters, the stadium hosts MLS matches alongside international soccer fixtures, concerts, corporate events, and community activities throughout the year.

To support that vision, the club deployed Uniguest Sports Hub across more than 550 endpoints throughout the venue, bringing IPTV, digital signage, and centralized content management together on a single platform. Today, Sports Hub powers live IPTV, sponsor activation, hospitality experiences, EPOS-integrated menu boards, and operational communications across the stadium, helping deliver a connected experience wherever supporters are.

Watch and find out more from the Columbus Crew technology team in the video case study below.

With more organizations adopting IP-based solutions to handle video distribution, there is often confusion about the difference between AV-over-IP and IPTV technologies. This is not surprising, given that both are IP‑based video technologies with the primary goal of distributing video signals over a network to enable playback, be that external television streams, internal video streams, digital signage content, or other sources.

[The SCN Integration Guide to AVoIP 2023]

Much has been said about the capabilities of AVoIP as an emerging option in recent years, while IPTV is a more established technology within the marketplace. There are, however, distinctions in the way the two technologies operate, which leads to variations in the potential costs involved in an installation, as well as the functionality available to end users. So, what are the key differences between AVoIP and IPTV, and what considerations should an integrator have in mind when specifying a system?

Compression Considerations

The network is the foundation of both systems, so the first aspect to consider is the network to be used. An IPTV signal uses roughly between 3-15 Mbps of bandwidth for a video. For reference, an HD stream uses approximately 3-6 Mbps, while a 4K stream could be in the region of roughly 15 Mbps or more.

With AVoIP signals, this is more likely to be measured in gigabits per second (Gbps), placing significantly more burden on the network. For an HD signal, it could be in the region of 800 Mbps-1 Gbps; a 4K signal could be up to 6 Gbps (or more).

As a result, an AVoIP solution requires significant bandwidth to display streams, which may overwhelm an existing network and require additional network infrastructure investment from the start. In contrast, IPTV systems can generally run on an existing network.

To counter network congestion, IPTV reduces the size of video with high levels of compression. The misnomer is that with high compression you get less quality, but there is so much information in a digital video stream that it can maintain very high quality. For example, broadcasters are compressing H.264 and MPEG-2 video over 200 times, but it is still suitable to broadcast for high-quality viewing. In many instances, there is a negligible visible impact, especially given recent advancements in compression.

[The Case for Open-Source Codecs]

AVoIP employs very little compression—or none in some cases—which ensures a high-quality signal. Of course, this also explains why its bit rate is so high.

Playback and Latency

IPTV uses ISO industry standard formats, such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4/ H.264, and HEVC, which allows playback on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. By using these industry standards, IPTV also allows the mixing and matching of products together. It’s possible to use a different manufacturer’s encoder in an IPTV system, for example, which can give integrators more flexibility.

AVoIP devices can only play on a monitor, which requires a proprietary hardware decoder with an HDMI out. And because AVoIP is proprietary, there is a tendency to be locked into a specific manufacturer, which could cause additional issues when looking to scale up a system.

However, AVoIP is known for having excellent low latency, essentially real time from encoder to decoder. With no compression, no heavy calculations must be made by the encoder and the decoder. There are some projects—such as a surgical application or competitive esports gaming—where this extremely low latency is vital to ensure exacting movements are timed with the image.

[High-Stakes Networking]

Many applications, however, suffer no issues with the minimal latency (~350ms) introduced by compression in an IPTV system. There are also IPTV solutions that deliver sub-frame latency, glass-to-glass real time, with very minimal delay.

If a facility wants to take in entertainment channels from a cable system or DirecTV, those feeds are already compressed in industry standard formats. An IPTV solution can take these feeds as they are and distribute them; all it takes is a gateway to receive and send the video out over a network. With AVoIP, a set-top box is needed that sends HDMI to an encoder in every case. All sources need to be re-encoded.

Make Your Choice

Need to record video? IPTV solutions will record in a native format, but AVoIP requires a third-party product to achieve this functionality. Plus, if a company wants to reach out to remote sites over the internet (via WAN streaming), this is not possible with AVoIP. With IPTV, as an industry standard supporting low bit rates, it’s very simple to stream to remote sites or mobile devices.

Before specifying an AVoIP solution, which can involve significant expenditure, planning, and infrastructure upgrades, it is worth looking to see if an IPTV system can fulfill the use case required. Effective IPTV solutions have been implemented in many verticals, including corporate, healthcare, transportation, education, hospitality, and sports venues.

[Taste the Rainb-over-IP? AVIXA, Skittles, and Planning for AVoIP]

There are some scenarios where a zero-latency, low-compression solution is critical—and in such cases, an AVoIP solution is likely the best option. However, many installations are suited to IPTV, which offers additional benefits such as "time shifting," which allows the ability to pause streams on an individual device without pausing them across the entire network. IPTV offers further options to deliver an enhanced, customized experience for both management and end users, with the ability to stream to various devices including computer desktops, mobile devices, set-top boxes, and directly to SmartTVs.

IPTV can also be a more cost-efficient solution, with an existing IP network likely capable of handling streams, instead of requiring significant network upgrades. Choosing an experienced integrator partner with understanding of the respective technologies will help to deliver the right technology for the application at hand.

IVC Audio Visual has completed Phase 2 of the digital transformation of the iconic Harlequins Stoop Stadium in West London with the launch of multiple IPTV and digital signage solutions. IVC first partnered with Harlequins in 2019 and was looking forward to working with the team again to deliver this subsequent transformation.

The new fan village includes a revised entrance fitted with a large high brightness display to showcase important messages and help inform guests alongside two large format displays showcasing digital signage content.

[Digital Signage on the Go] 

In addition to the above there are two stages, the garden stage and the main stage. The garden stage is fitted with a large format display and program speakers to entertain guests as well as supporting events and presentations. 

The main stage is an indoor space with a fully retractable ceiling, hosting a bar area and a generous seating plan. This area has been fitted with a series of pendant ceiling speakers used for both Public Address (PA) and Background Music (BGM), together with two large format displays also used to support events and presentations as well as showing live matches or IPTV and signage content.

[SCN Top 50 Systems Integrators 2022] 

The new fan village also provides several food stalls all fitted with high-performance speakers and a series of digital menu boards. Each large format display has been built into a custom outdoor mount to ensure all the solutions provided are IP-rated, ensuring guests can clearly see and hear content in all weather conditions. Harlequins new fan village is a great community asset offering superb space for fans to socialize and enjoy home games.

Exterity is now officially VITEC, marking a key milestone in the successful integration of both companies following the acquisition of Exterity in April 2021. VITEC is a market-leading provider of IPTV, video streaming and digital signage solutions that helps organizations harness the power of video to engage, empower and evolve. The strengthened organization will continue to deliver a wide range of best-in-class solutions across its markets, leveraging the expertise of the combined teams to best serve customers and partners around the globe. The move has been further signified by new branding, incorporating the distinctive Exterity orange into the VITEC logo, giving a fresh new look to accompany the change.

[VITEC Acquires Exterity]

"Since the acquisition, a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes--integrating business processes, gaining deeper understanding of the combined product range, and bringing our teams together," said Colin Farquhar, VITEC senior VP of sales and former Exterity CEO. "We have been focused on coming together as 'one VITEC,' exploring product integrations and shared technologies to best serve our customers. We couldn't be prouder to be part of the VITEC team, and we look forward to an exciting future."

Game Plan for the Combined Companies

The combined company now has 375 employees across 16 countries, and work is ongoing towards maintaining and expanding upon the investment in Exterity staff and locations. VITEC has acquired the previously leased Exterity HQ building in Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland, with a view to further expanding operations in 2022. Furthermore, the team based in Dubai is moving to newly purchased premises in the Indigo Icon Tower in the DMCC Free Zone, at the center of Jumeirah Lake Towers district. VITEC will also be looking to expand the team in the Middle East region, which it sees as a key growth market.

[VITEC Awarded Technology & Engineering Emmy for EZ TV Platform]

In early 2022, VITEC will launch a next-generation transcoder, its first jointly developed product, bringing the best of Exterity and VITEC transcoder technology into the VITEC Prism transcoder product. Prism is a high-performance IP transcoder that enables IP video content to be easily converted into the right format to suit a wide range of devices and applications.

'We Are Now All One VITEC'

"When we acquired Exterity, our intention was to accelerate growth and strengthen our leadership position as IPTV, video streaming and digital signage provider for corporate, government, military, venues, hospitality and broadcast customers," said Philippe Wetzel, CEO, VITEC. "We knew the many natural technology and customer synergies between the two companies would enable us to extend our reach into new geographies, market verticals and partners. We have enjoyed the collaborative process of finding out more and learning from each other over recent months. It is clear that the strategic acquisition will be hugely beneficial, and I'm delighted that we are now all one VITEC, working together to achieve our goals."

The newly launched VITEC website will now cater to both VITEC customers and legacy Exterity customers and channel partners.

Overlake Medical Center, a 350-bed, non-profit regional hospital in Bellevue, Washington, has installed a state-of-the-art Exterity IPTV system. Designed to improve the patient experience and manage the hospital's in-house video requirements, the new system is a key part of Project FutureCare, an upgrade and refurbishment project currently in progress at the award-winning healthcare facility. With a budget of $250 million, the five-year project will ensure Overlake continues to set the standard for overall healthcare excellence in the region.

The cornerstone of Project FutureCare is a newly built, 240,000 square-foot tower which opened in February 2021. This new facility has a new concourse-style drop-off and improved wayfinding, while also offering larger, single-patient rooms that combine the space for family zones as well as state-of-the-art technology.

During the design phase, Jeni Connelly, IT Senior Project Manager at Overlake, and technology lead for the new building, realized that a new IPTV system could act as a catalyst for improving patient experience at the Medical Center.

"We evaluated our legacy video system--largely coaxial-based cable TV--and realized it didn't support the in-room entertainment experience we wanted to offer our patients," she said. "The New East Tower project gave us a chance to change that for the better. We decided to opt for a state-of-the-art IPTV system as we felt it would be the ideal solution to address our 'patient experience' quandary, as well as service the full array of our day-to-day video needs."

The IPTV system needed to consolidate 350 patient rooms--as well as common areas and a videowall in the entrance lobby--onto a single network, which is centrally managed and supervised. The hospital also hoped to upgrade the existing cable TV system to include video-on-demand (VoD) services, while giving patients swift access to information and educational videos as well as other internal content.

Neurilink, based in Boise, Idaho (with an office in Seattle), was chosen as the AV systems integrator for the project and started work in March 2020. The company worked with Exterity to design an IPTV system that would satisfy the varying demands of the hospital staff and patients alike.

The system comprises a 4TB Management server that hosts all applications and devices on the system including VoD services and recordings, and in-house custom channels, including a patient education VoD library. Hollywood movies are also available for patient entertainment, with Pro:Idiom encrypted videos streamed directly to healthcare-grade SmartTVs. The system also incorporates ATSC and QAM Gateways to capture cable TV and OTA (over-the-air) channels to complement VoD and utilize, when required, the hospital's existing RF system. In addition, an AvediaStream m9605 Media Player powers the video wall in the lobby and provides the ability to seamlessly display 4K video and detailed graphics (up to 4K, 60fps), creating a captivating visual experience on arrival.

Each of the new patient rooms contains a hospital-grade display complete with a simple, intuitive user interface custom-designed by the team. For convenience, the menu is navigated with the "nurse call" pillow-speaker remote so that a single device is all that is needed for the patient to be in full control.

The Exterity IPTV solution has made it simple for Overlake to provide patients and staff with managed access to different categories of content--whether VoD, in-house videos, proprietary programming or OTA broadcasts--via a streamlined system that is robust, reliable and simple to use. The hospital has significantly improved the patient experience and delivers increased value for all of its stakeholders.

As Jeni Connelly noted, "The Overlake neighborhood includes many of the biggest names in technology and we are delighted that our new IPTV system delivers an experience that is as slick and convenient as the latest consumer device."

With the pandemic changing the way spectators engage with in-person events, and venues wanting a continued return to in-person attendance, integrators have been working closely with stadiums and arenas across the country on technology integration that increases interactivity, making spectators a more active part of the overall experience.

“After a year’s absence from sporting venues, fans are coming back in droves. But to keep them back, we’ve learned we have to create really remarkable experiences that engage fans,” said George Linardos, chief executive officer for event AV service provider ANC. “Whether it’s interactive elements, elements that drive ROI, or elements that help our clients provide 365-day use both inside and outside the venue, we’re getting requests for all of it. It’s not just about static scoreboards anymore.”

Moving away from one-way events, venues want to harness the energy and emotions of the crowd to help shape the competitive landscape. Rodrigo Ordonez, principal at AV consulting firm K2, said, “Fans have always used their noise level to influence a game. A few years ago, stadiums started using technology in the way of microphones, processing, and graphics on the big screens to show a live indicator of the current noise level generated by the audience. This is just a simple thing, but it distinguishes the stadium experience from the remote experience.”

With more people currently watching live events on television screens than in person, venues have to make the case that the in-person experience is worth getting off your couch or leaving your favorite sports bar for. “The AV experience can contribute greatly to that,” Ordonez said.

With this in mind, many venues are choosing to invest in stadium-wide integrated control and immersive sound. Depending on the event, these systems can provide concert-quality sound with low-frequency impact or ensure the back-of-house patrons experience the event no differently than those in the front row.

Chris Sullivan, vice president of business development at sports and live events company Diversified, said, “These days, loudspeaker systems from the touring side of the industry are more frequently in consideration than more traditional installed sound products.” These products offer venues increased flexibility and more inclusive capabilities.

A Feast for the Eyes

Digital signage technology is also advancing rapidly in the marketplace and changing the possibilities for interaction. Chris Mascatello, executive vice president at ANC, said, “We’re seeing ultra-fine-pitch LED, thin LED, and highly flexible LED, so we’re able to design and deliver custom creative solutions like the Power Portal at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, OH. We’re also really excited to help bring the first and only fully transparent media glass to the United States, GLAAM Media Glass, which will really revolutionize sports façades for a much more interactive, engaging experience.”

Mascatello says clear glass façades built with GLAAM Media Glass can be controlled by a user’s smartphone, enabling interactivity on art pieces as expansive as the one installed on the exterior of a New York high rise. Mobile interactivity provides each spectator with the opportunity for a unique event experience while also limiting physical touch points throughout the venue, and Mascatello believes it will be deployed more frequently in the coming years.

Networked Experiences

Unified IPTV systems offer a means of interacting with fans at every stage of the event experience. Implemented over a converged network, information about parking, seating, concessions, weather, safety, and traffic can easily be shared using in-venue digital signage including wayfinding and menu displays. The system also provides a unique opportunity to share sports news and updates, including in-game and out-of-game scoring, statistics, standings, and replay. This level of interaction encourages attendees to view the venue as not only a place to experience live sports, but as the go-to location for fan engagement.

[ The Latest in High-End LED Displays ]

Venues are converting to SMPTE ST 2110, a suite of standards that specifies transmission of audio and video over IP for real-time production, playout, and other professional media applications. SMPTE ST 2110 allows venues to manage their digital assets, including audio, video, and data, over an IP network, helping to control quality and offer increased flexibility.

Sullivan commented, “Most new builds are embracing the new standard. While some retrofits are moving to IP, others are staying baseband. There is no right or wrong decision and many factors go into it, including budget and long-term plans for the facility.” Diversified built and integrated one of the first video control rooms with an all-IP video infrastructure at the Chase Center, the new home of the Golden State Warriors, and the arena’s audio and video has benefited greatly from the SMPTE ST 2110 standards suite for live production bandwidth.

Revolutionizing the Sportsbook

In a May 2018 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting. With the launch of the first in-venue sportsbook in 2020 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., and with many states recently changing legislation or with bills pending, venues are looking for ways to include sports betting as part of the overall venue experience. Linardos said, “We’re working with a lot of clients on premium sports bar spaces, ensuring they can easily transition to sportsbook-type experiences when the time comes. From an AV perspective, that involves the latest technology for crisp, detailed viewing of stats, integration of content management aligned with the sports betting programs, and also creating a luxury feel akin to a Vegas-type experience.”

Venues are looking to integrators to help reimagine the fan experience in these and other premium spaces to help them compete with the comforts of the at-home TV experience. “We’re getting really creative in our content integration services to create interactive and memorable experiences for the spaces we’re designing,” said Mascatello.

Creativity on a Budget

With venues dealing with tight technology budgets, K2’s Ordonez says cost is still the greatest limiting factor for technology integration within venues. Many are unable to find a satisfactory balance between what they want and what they can afford to install to increase engagement. Those who blow the budget on the large physical components of their AV networks, including loudspeakers and video displays, find they are left with very little to put toward creative.

“The main need we see is for creative options to add points of engagement within the budgets of our clients. For example, for school stadium/arena environments, there is a big need to provide a better experience for viewers at home who are streaming the events. But again, budgets are limited,” said Ordonez.

[ Samsung Reveals The Infinity Screen at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium ]

Diversified’s Sullivan noted that infrastructure upgrades (both data and broadcast) need to be prioritized by venues in order to support these new systems. Delaying the upgrade of underlying systems will only cause a hold-up when they want to install a new AV technology.

On the other hand, ANC is finding that its clients have an appetite for bigger and better, hoping to set themselves apart by deploying unique and engaging center-hung scoreboards. “Unique configurations, ultra-high definition, and content management integration are really helping us to create highly custom experiences depending on client desires,” said Mascatello.

Ordonez finds it particularly exciting that advancements at the larger venues are slowly trickling down to smaller ones as the technology becomes more affordable, encouraging all venues to look at technology as an integral part of the experience rather than just a luxury. “The larger venues used by the large professional leagues will of course always drive the technology developments, but smaller venues are finding creative ways to use AV to provide a more intimate fan experience. We see this in some of the high school stadiums and arenas where the client’s requests are not only driven by intelligibility, but by maximizing the fan experience,” said Ordonez.

Click here to read more stories from the October 2021 issue of SCN.

Related Stories

Stadium and Arena AV Experts Deliver Creative Solutions During the Pandemic • To keep the athletes’ morale and fan excitement high, technologists and broadcasters are turning to artificial crowd noise, virtual fan walls, remote attendees, interactive software, and creative audiovisual solutions.

How AVoIP Is Shaping Live Venue Experiences • In order to fill the seats at stadiums when they eventually reopen, venues need to step up their engagement to compete. Joe Walsh of VITEC and Seth Koch of Daktronics share their takes on the many possibilities that AV over IP offers to enhance the fan experience.

Video Walls: An Evolving Landscape • Bigger, brighter, and blending better into their environments, we examine how video walls are transforming the way we look at everything from entertainment to critical data.

The Growing Accessibility of Large-Scale Video Walls • Video walls are shining stars in the evolving technology landscape that rely heavily on innovation to stand out.

Flexibility at Forefront as Stadiums, Arenas Welcome Back Fans • Modular staging and seating solutions allow venues to meet COVID-19 health and safety regulations. As today’s stadiums and arenas look to maximize use and revenue, demountable staging systems are proving a wise investment by providing the versatility to turn any venue into a multipurpose facility.

Internet protocol television (IPTV) will be used by NASA to help monitor and maintain equipment on the Orion spacecraft in human missions to the Moon and Mars, according to Richard Bernard, senior product manager with VITEC.

The environment in which video solutions must work are extremely harsh and volatile, with a tremendous number of variables that are constantly shifting which can affect how video streams are transmitted. To support operations in these challenging conditions the agency only deploys proven, mature solutions that have stood the test of time. 

“As a result, long development life cycles are needed for the most critical elements of vehicles NASA launches into space—especially those that involve human missions. Only the most proven, field-tested technologies can be trusted to launch astronauts safely and securely into space,” said Bernard.

At the onset of Orion’s development, IPTV technology was still in its early stages, so many current on-board video systems are incompatible with open standards that have been recently developed to support the rigorous deep space environments associated with NASA missions; this includes IPTV. 

[ISTE Works with NASA to Ignite Passion for STEM on 50th Anniversary of Moon Landing]

“Since then, however, the standards have evolved. Companies like VITEC have introduced robust IPTV innovations capable of contributing to the mission by enhancing the ability to monitor critical systems on the spacecraft,” Bernard added. “For instance, video streams from cameras onboard the spacecraft can be transmitted and analyzed back here on Earth to greatly improve safety and quality assurance measures. For example, IPTV technology can enhance the ability to monitor cracks in panels that may not be detected by sensors. In such situations, video technology can literally provide ‘the eyes’ on potential problems.”

Key Attributes of IPTV Solution for Orion Spacecraft

NASA needed a solution that would extend the ability for video traffic to interact with a number of different protocols, including those that are specific to NASA. 

“NASA needed a decoder that could be compatible with video feeds coming from sophisticated—but proprietary—on-board IP cameras developed by NASA and its contractors to capture video in space,” said Bernard. 

The cameras provide support for both high- and low-frame rate streams, as well as images ranging from QCIF to 4K. A system was needed that allows the resolution and frame rate to be adjusted based on whatever bandwidth might be available between Orion and Earth. 

“Those are a lot of variables and NASA needed a highly flexible and robust decoder to handle those very precise, fluctuating video feeds. IP streaming technology provided a clear path to harness video feeds for the kind of collaboration needed to ensure the safety of the crew and the integrity of the spacecraft itself,” he added.

VITEC worked with NASA to develop video decoders that would be compatible with the complex mix of proprietary and open standards workflows. Specifically, VITEC was able to adjust stream capture module capabilities to manage the range of particular feeds used for this mission under different conditions and circumstances.

“Additionally, our hardware decoding platform ensures that video feeds—with any frame rate, frame resolution, or bitrate—can be decoded and rendered on industry standard video outputs, such as HDMI or SDI, for distribution to the people working on the Orion mission within the space center,” he said.

In short, VITEC says its solution has helped to modernize NASA’s existing investments in equipment, enabling new functionality and extending the community that can benefit from—and contribute to—Orion missions. VITEC also says it has laid the foundation for future-proofing Orion’s video capacity, enabling it to support new applications and innovations that contribute to NASA’s objectives today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Interested in NASA stories? Check out space.com, another Future plc publication.

Whether it’s security camera feeds, videoconferences, or an all-hands meeting, real-time video is increasingly going over IP networks, both local (LAN) and wide area (WAN). Sending audio and video signals over IP (AV over IP) promises to save time and enhance scalability, but it also presents immediate challenges, such as ensuring quality of service (QoS). AV providers must ensure minimal latency so that packet loss or jitter does not distract from the overall video experience. 

Video is bandwidth-heavy, but the ratio of quality to bandwidth consumed and video flow control are improving. AV over IP encoder/decoder ports saw a 130 percent growth in sales last year, according to Futuresource Consulting, the UK-based analysis firm. In stadiums, government halls, worship facilities, and universities, where real-time video is desired but low latency is essential, integrators have more options from which to choose. 

A New Year, A New Program

Clint Hoffman, CEO of Kramer USA, sees growing interest in real-time video over IP systems—and AV over IP in general—and thinks 2019 will be a banner year of sorts. “We’re seeing AV over IP being used in many applications instead of traditional matrix routing and traditional proprietary signal highways like HDMI and HDBaseT.”

Instead of bringing in a fixed matrix, and then laying in dedicated signal highways that are AV-proprietary, both tech managers and integrators see the benefit of routing virtually, creating a virtual matrix using AV over IP.

“We certainly are seeing an uptick in stadiums—we have a tremendous application at a stadium in Sweden,” Hoffman added.

Kramer has 136 decoders as part of a sophisticated AV over IP system in a U.S. casino. Hoffman also sees real-time video on the rise in colleges and universities.

Mark D’Addio, senior vice president of sales and marketing at VITEC, also sees stadiums as an ideal fit for real-time video over IP, where low latency is expected and high quality is needed. “They [stadium operators] don’t want to have a lot of delay, especially at screens where you can see the action from a luxury suite.”

AV over IP enables powerful digital signage upgrade at Lucas Oil Stadium

Flexibility

Michael Brandes, QSC’s product manager for Q-SYS video, agrees that IP-based video provides an enhanced level of flexibility. “I think the flexibility that network video provides—what we call right-sized matrices, where you’re not bound by symmetrical views—will catalyze growth in this space.”

The basics of AV over IP infrastructure

He explained that, with networked video, you can create a 5-input-by-200-output matrix more affordably than you could in the days of fixed point-to-point video. Also, the AVoIP paradigm is no longer considered bleeding edge. “Customers are at the point now where they’re using enough networked controls, systems, and networked audio systems—certainly in QSC’s case—where the aversion to networking has diminished,” he added.

Indeed, the industry has embraced convergence for a long time, but in reality, convergence is a continuum. “We’ve moved to digital video signals, but that’s not convergence,” Brandes said. “We’ve put TCP socket connections on projectors so that we can monitor them, but that’s not really convergence, either,” he argued.

But now we have manufacturers like QSC, who make products that work and meet AV needs, including new video products for the meeting room that will be unveiled this month.

What’s the status of the AV over IP transition?

Still 1080p, But 4K Over IP Is Coming Quickly

While many of today’s customers are still looking at 1080p HD over IP, just as many are building the infrastructure to support 4K over IP down the road. It is a future-proofing measure that makes sense.

“We already have 4K encoders and decoders,” said D’Addio. VITEC’s MGW Ace Decoder is a high-performance IP decoding appliance that supports the latest bandwidth-efficient HEVC/H.265 and H.264/AVC compression standards, and it will be upgradable to 4K. “HEVC and 4K go hand in hand for a lot of customers. It is true that when you move to 4K video, you’re increasing the bandwidth, so whatever you can do to minimize or to optimize the stream is great. With VITEC’s HEVC technology, which we’re scaling up to 4K, this is a big deal. You can have a really nice stream in 4K that may be only 15 or even 10 megabits per second.”

Government applications continues to drive real-time video over IP. From local government to the military to the U.S. House of Representatives, where VITEC has products, real-time streaming can serve video around a building, so people can watch video on a desktop using a browser, or they can view video on endpoint set-top boxes connected to TVs. Some users stream via government satellites.

Extending to Mobile

With AVoIP, managers can stream to mobile devices in addition to delivering feeds to installed screens on-site. Some systems with browser-based players offer multiviewer modes, in which users can explore different camera feeds during a live event or live sports game. Bonuses like this help to enhance the fan or visitor experience.

Additional Functionality

Brandon White, director of new product development at Vanco, explained that another benefit of IP-based video systems is increased functionality. “We’re incorporating other types of features within the product—not just static audio and video, but also video walls and on-screen display messages and images you can use for digital signage,” White said. For example, the Vanco EVO-IP system on-stream messages can overlay the video, a helpful feature within educational and commercial applications.

With new stadiums, next-generation AVoIP solutions make sense; end users will need to invest in the proper infrastructure and wiring to support high-level AV. But what about renovations? Real-time video over IP is tricky if the renovated facility doesn’t have the right infrastructure in place, if they don’t have the proper network cable, or if they still have RF cable around their stadium or venue. Graduating from RF to IP can be cumbersome and expensive. It can be good opportunity for a savvy integrator, though, to discuss the benefits of IP-based video, since latency is no longer a deal-breaker.

IT Skills Gap?

Another challenge that remains in this new era of AVoIP is the need for IT acumen within an AV integration firm. As Kramer’s Hoffman sees it: “You have to have people with IT skillsets and IT talent on your team.” To that end, Kramer, other vendors, and AVIXA offer AVoIP training courses and certifications.

Content security is incredibly important for all AV stakeholders, which is why VITEC “implements AES encryption, 256-bit,” said D’Addio. “And this is something, as far as protecting content, that end-users are managing. Businesses will often have relationships with Comcast or with the TV provider, for example. We have several different options for protecting content, and we support end-to-end services with AES encryption and decryption—any type of stream.”

The key, D’Addio added, is that that while fully featured, a system has to be secure and “very simple to use.”

For integrators who want to learn more about risks in networked AV systems and how to develop risk mitigation management plans, explore AVIXA’s Recommended Practices for Security in Networked AV Systems.

Leveling Up on IT

Various vendors offer certification and training programs for industry professionals who wish to invest in their AV over IP and IT networking skills.

Matrox Knowledge Net Training Sessions

Kramer Academy AV over IP Certification Program

SDVoE Alliance

VITEC will showcase the new video wall and media library capabilities of its broadcast-grade EZ TV IPTV and Digital Signage Platform, the MGW Ace encode and decode solution, and MGW Diamond, the compact and portable quad-channel HEVC encoder now available within VITEC's HEVC encoding and decoding product portfolio, in stand 7.C34 at IBC2018, September 14-18, in Amsterdam.

VITEC will demonstrate its ecosystem of HEVC video contribution and distribution solutions with the all-new MGW Diamond encoder, its MGW Ace encoder and decoder, and its VITEC Playout Server, a point-to-point HEVC contribution and distribution server. Making its European debut at the IBC2018, the MGW Diamond adds quad-channel HEVC encoding in a compact and portable form factor to the VITEC HEVC family. The all-new VITEC Playout Server provides an efficient platform to manage, capture, preview, and distribute IPTV streams, complementing VITEC's point-to-point HEVC contribution ecosystem. At the show, VITEC will also demonstrate its latest codec innovation for its MGW Ace encoder and MGW Ace decoder pair, with ultra-low-latency streaming down to 30ms glass-to-glass.

At the show, VITEC will showcase the EZ TV IPTV and Digital Signage Platform with newly integrated media library capabilities, which adds a timesaving meta-solution for media professionals to tag, edit, organize, store, and share media files. This open system is adaptable to industry-specific workflows and allows all types of media to be filed consistently with the highest degree of security. In addition, the media library features a deep-learning auto-annotation tool and a video stock footage management application with responsive design and mobile device support.

In addition, VITEC will highlight its new series of video wall processors as part of the enterprise-grade EZ TV IPTV and Digital Signage Platform. The video wall processors are 100-percent hardware-based; feature low-latency, native playback of IPTV streams up to 4K; and support interactive content, video, and imagery transformations—all managed and scheduled from EZ TV Platforms' software. VITEC's high-performance video wall processors can power up to four discrete video walls and more than 50 displays from a single unit. Advanced features include support for nonstandard layouts and resolutions of TVs and LED walls, edge blending, and eye-catching effects.