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www.csimagazine.com
The magazine for global video
TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid
The leading media for video delivery technology
September 2018
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supplement
Nanosatellites
IBC 2018 preview
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Is Android TV set for global domination?
June 2016
• OTT, VoD, Cloud TV, Cable, Satellite, IPTV, DTT, IoT • The latest news, views and features
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Contents TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid
The magazine for global video
17 Security The leading media for video delivery technology
The changing face of security and piracy
www.csimagazine.com
TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid
The leading media for video delivery technology
September 2018
23 TV CDNs
Compression
supplement
Network delivery for better live OTT Editor
Nanosatellites
Goran Nastic
IBC 2018 preview
Machine Learning
24 Machine Learning Commercial
Is Android TV set for global domination?
Media companies must beware of the hype Camilla Capece
Pallavi Pandey
June 2016
• OTT, VoD, Cloud TV, Cable, Satellite, IPTV, DTT, IoT • The latest news, views and features
Coveer2018-September.indd 1 16/08/2018 14:19:13
05 News & analysis 27 In-vehicle entertainment
The next frontier for the broadcast industry Design and production
Matt Mills (Manager)
08 Data corner: SVOD and video Jessica Harrington
streaming 33 Compression special
Special supplement deep diving into coding Regular contributors
Viewing by device type in key global markets
technologies and trends Adrian Pennington, Philip Hunter,
David Adams, Stephen Cousins,
10 COVER STORY: Android TV Anna Tobin
From Europe to Asia and beyond, is there
41 Analyst corner
Analysing SVOD trends and service closures Circulation
any stopping ATV’s momentum in payTV?
Joel Whitefoot
14 Open platforms and ATV 42 Nanosats
Small satellites are suddenly big business Accounts
Operators must look to open platforms to Marilou Tait, Lynta Kamaray
future-proof their business
48 CSI Awards Editorial
This year’s shortlist in full
15 Android TV - a case study tel +44(0)20 7562 2401
United Cloud gives an operator’s experience goran.nastic@csimagazine.com
of the deployment challenges and benefits 50 IBC 2018 preview
Some of the things to look out for this year Advertising
tel +44(0)20 7562 2435
16 Blockchain in broadcast pallavi.pandey@csimagazine.com
51 Q&A with Michael Crimp tel +44(0)20 7562 2438
Identifying the most promising applications
IBC CEO shares his highlights and thoughts camilla.capece@csimagazine.com
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Editor’s report: tel +44 (0) 20 1635 588 861
perspectivesubs@dynamail.co.uk
Circulation manager: joel.whitefoot@
Android TV has emerged as one of the platforms to seriously benefit from the TV perspectivepublishing.com
industry’s desire for speed, flexibility and ease of OTT app integration. Last year’s
IBC will be remembered as one where Android TV really made its mark in terms Subscription rates
of booth demos (with Google itself prominently positioned in Hall 14) and it can Per year: Europe £88; UK £68;
Rest of World £98. Cheques payable to
be expected that the numbers will swell at IBC 2018. Android TV is helping all
Perspective Publishing
kinds of software and hardware companies win business, not least set-top manufacturers ship- Limited and addressed to the
ping millions of units and payTV deployments rocketing since Google’s Operator Tier certifi- Circulation Department
cation programme was introduced in 2016. Another area that is seeing big traction right now
is small low earth orbit satellites, a sector increasingly crowded by new entrants despite some Printed by Buxton Press
question marks still persisting around technology and return on investment. Goran Nastic Managing Director
John Woods
Perspective Publishing Publishing Director
3 London Wall Buildings
London Mark Evans
EC2M 5PD
www.perspectivepublishing.com ISSN 1467-5935
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 03
News
BBC uses archive-scanning AI to news in brief
co-create experimental TV programme VVC licensing body to
be unveiled at IBC
An experimental programme what BBC Four audiences audiences,” said Cassian The Versatile Video
part-made by AI will broadcast might like, based on the Harrison, Channel Editor, Coding (VVC)
in September as part of the channel’s previous schedules BBC Four. specification will be frozen
BBC’s work on exploring how and programme attributes, The same archive- next year and expected to
artificial intelligence might and then ranked programmes scanning AI has been used become an international
open up new creative it thought were most relevant. to co-create ‘Made by standard in 2020. This will
opportunities, as well as using “The BBC has one of the machine: When AI met the only work if commercial
AI to resurface old shows largest broadcast archives in archive’ – a new and licensing terms can be
based on previous schedules the world, and manually experimental programme agreed upon before the
and programme attributes. searching millions of hours of exploring how BBC R&D’s codec is finalised.
The BBC has developed programmes would be technology works. Presented Licensing is such a hot
archive scanning AI software impossible. As it becomes by Dr Hannah Fry and a topic that the industry has
that is uses to help discover a increasingly digitised, BBC virtual co-presenter, it agreed to create an
selection of ‘hidden gems’ R&D is developing AI to help features four segments of extending entity, the Media
from its vast archive. Using programme makers and archive clips sourced and Codec Industry Forum
this AI technology from BBC schedulers unlock this edited together by the AI. (MC-IF), to deal with
R&D, BBC Four scanned valuable resource. Relevant It marks a new era of profiling outside of
programme information clips can be used to enrich creative AI in the TV MPEG. This new
dating back to 1953 from News and Factual industry, somehting that is organisation will be
over 250,000 TV programmes, for example, aready being put to the test announced at IBC 2018.
programmes. According to while whole episodes or in others like music and Much more on VVC and
the broadcaster, the AI learnt series can be re-released for even cooking. codecs on page 33.
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 05
News
news in brief
Casbaa becomes AVIA
as Netflix joins ranks
Asia’s Casbaa industry
organisation has rebranded
to the Asia Video Industry
Association (AVIA).
Netflix has also joined the
Image courtesy of DAZN
newly renamed group,
which is also encouraging
other VoD providers and
telcos to become members.
In the biggest change in its
history, the industry body
is overhauling its image to
stay relevant in the broader
video industry amid a
changing landscape.
The rise of sports streaming services
Verizon 5G video plans
Verizon plans to launch its bring new challenges and opportunities
residential 5G broadband
service later this year to a The emergence of Amazon, Viewers were be able to watch These social media and
handful of markets Facebook, Twitter, on top of the contest as part of a seven- targeted companies have
bundled with Apple TV more specialist sports day trial on its online increased their focus on
and You Tube TV. streaming platforms like platform, via iOS and signing live-streaming sports
Customers who sign up to Eleven Sports Network, Android apps, and via its deals as young audiences
Verizon’s 5G home DAZN and others is resulting Facebook page. increasingly rely on the
internet service can choose in some big changes to the In Italy, Serie A’s domestic internet and connected
to receive a free way sports rights are coverage will have a new devices to watch sports
subscription to either acquired, packaged and home for the 2018/19 season, “The sport industry is ripe
YouTube TV or an Apple consumed. after Mediaset struck a deal for disruption. Consumer
TV 4K device. Other US These streaming disruptors with streaming service behaviour has been
telcos are also expected to have been busy picking up DAZN, an offshoot of transformed by technology,
use 5G fixed wireless rights in certain territories, Perform Group in the UK, to with streaming becoming the
access as a means of which in the UK has seen show 114 top-flight games new norm for viewing
winning over video subs major blows to more over the next three years. content,” said James
from cable MSOs. traditional broadcasters Sports rights company Rushton, CEO of DAZN.
including BT and Sky. IMG launched its first This disruption caused by
Dish CTO joins Liberty Amazon has started consumer streaming service, new entrants certainly brings
LatAm streaming the US Open Strive, offering top tier Italian many benefits to consumers
Vivek Khemka is joining tennis tournament having and Spanish football across in terms of choice and
Liberty Latin America as won the UK rights from Sky. the Nordics August 17th. flexibility consumption and
SVP and Chief Technology Eleven Sports (which also Users in Sweden, Norway pricing, but there is a
and Product Officer. Vivek happens to be the number of and Denmark will have downside too in that users
Khemka was formerly countries the service is access to all Italian Serie A will have to get used to
Executive Vice President currently available in though and Spanish La Liga football greater fragmentation to
and Chief Technology this will grow very soon) matches with no minimum enjoy the sports they love.
Officer for DISH Network launched a platform in the tie-in period for customers. Whether some kind of
and starts in his new role UK for the first time this FuboTV, meanwhile, a OTT super aggregator
at LLA in September, summer, starting with US-based sports streaming rises from the changes will
reporting directly to CEO exclusive coverage of the US service, has bagged $55 be an interesting development
Balan Nair. PGA Championship. million in funding. to follow.
06 September 2018 www.csimagazine.com
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Data corner
TV renaissance?
adoption was wealthier consumers in
their 20s and 30s. A skew to this
younger, wealthier segment is still
SVoD is driving uptake of streaming OTT apparent. What’s happened since
the early days of tablets entering the
devices, which in turn are pushing users home is that other consumer segments
R
back to the big screen. By Guy Bisson have caught up with the early adopters
and, overall, the market has hit
emember when level out. Winning out, it seems, is saturation at around 70% uptake.
watching video what to some may seem the most Video viewing on the tablet is falling
away from the TV unusual of devices for watching video partly because these other demographic
set meant booting content: the television set itself. segments are a little less likely to use
up your laptop or There are a number of factors mobile devices for viewing and partly
huddling over a influencing this rush back to the big because other newer devices are
PC? Tablets and screen, with the Smart TV being chief becoming more common in the home.
smartphones changed all that, among them. The TV replacement Those other newer devices (Smart TVs
making TV on the go as easy cycle has seen Smart TV ownership and streaming boxes and sticks) push
as pulling out your mobile jump to 53% of homes across Europe viewers back to the big screen.
device (which like the TV, was and the US by the first quarter 2018. Streaming device and stick ownership
‘instant on’). Daily viewing on the Smart TV has now stands at 31% of homes across
Tablet uptake has been closely followed suit. Europe and the US. Homes with
associated with online video viewing But the story is a little more complex. these devices still have a very strong
and second screen use. But as tablet Related to the Smart TV story is the skew for being younger and wealthier.
ownership reaches saturation levels, underlying tablet story: the only Like early tablet ownership, consumers
video viewing on the tablet is now consumer household type that still over- in their 20s and early 30s are most
beginning to drop. While the indexes for tablet ownership is homes likely to buy streaming devices.
smartphone has ascended rapidly with kids. Children drove a lot of the While OTT sticks can be used on the
as an online video viewing device early adoption of tablets (and video go, they are generally used to view on
(particularly among 18-24 year olds viewing on the device), as the tablet the main TV set. Ownership of
where it is the most used device for became a classic baby-sitting device. streaming devices is still a way off
daily viewing), it too is beginning to The other key segment for early majority, meaning strong skews to
young wealthy consumers will persist.
But certain segments are already
beginning to catch up. OTT box
and stick adoption among 45+ year
olds has doubled in the past two
years. And this older segment is far
more likely to favour a big screen
for viewing.
All charts sourced to Ampere Analysis
A third factor in the TV set
renaissance is content and content
delivery itself. Markets with the
highest uptake of Netflix and other
SVoD services generally have the
highest uptake of OTT streaming
devices. The rapid growth of SVoD is,
at least in part, responsible for the
doubling of uptake of streaming OTT
devices since the middle of 2015.
Viewing and device mix
Different streaming device makers
drive the market in different markets,
08 September 2018 www.csimagazine.com
Data corner
Based on analysis of 10 markets
% viewing on device daily
By device Q3 2015 Q1 2016 Q3 2016 Q1 2017 Q3 2017 Q1 2018
Computer 15% 16% 21% 22% 21% 20%
Smart TV 19% 23% 26% 28% 18% 28%
Tablet 6% 6% 10% 14% 11% 12%
Smartphone 8% 10% 17% 20% 22% 21%
adding a further nuance to the
evolving device/viewing/screen
picture… that of the video platform
associated with the device. In most
European markets Chromecast
holds the lead in terms of market
share, followed by Apple TV. Both
have their own video platform.
The exceptions to this leading pair
are interesting.
In the UK and Germany, the
Amazon Fire stick is the most used
OTT device, and the second place
in both markets is held by Sky’s Now
TV box. In Italy (Sky’s other core
market), Now TV boxes fall second
to Chromecast. Poland is the only
European market where the largest
OTT market share is held by device
makers which do not have their own
video platform: Roku and Western
Digital. Roku makes the top three
in Europe only in the Netherlands
and Spain. Yet in the USA, Roku
Source: Robert Fruehauf / Shutterstock.com
leads as the most common streaming
device with 31% market share,
followed by Amazon Fire (29%) and
Chromecast (19%).
So the story of viewing and device
mix is multi-faceted. There has been
an explosion of device viewing options
in the past decade, most of which
hadn’t even been dreamed of a few
years earlier. But convenience, video
availability, life stage, age, SVoD uptake,
streaming device manufacturer content
alliances… even baby-sitting are
influencing a migration for online video
viewing back to a big-screen viewing
device first invented in the 1920s.
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 09
Android TV
The magazine for global video
All for one and one for all experience to mirror that on
www.csimagazine.com
their favourite mobile devices.
How Google has both commoditised and Android attraction
The main factors driving the
TV Broadcast • Streaming • Satellite • Cable • Hybrid
fragmented the television middleware
The leading media for video delivery technology
September 2018
trend are content, capex, and
time-to-market. To attract
market. Adrian Pennington reports subscribers, operators can
either add all major OTT apps
onto their set-top box using proprietary
middleware (which can take a couple of
Amazon Channels
years), or they can get it for free on
open platforms such as Android TV.
“This is an easy decision for many
operators because they can’t afford to
NRK Q&A
do it with proprietary middleware - or
the investment cannot be justified -
especially as ARPU continues to
BT Sport Q&A
decline,” says Frank Poppelsdorf,
Product Director, Irdeto. “In addition,
they can hardly compete with the tech
Cloud-based access
giant when it comes to the speed of
services
launching new features.”
The particular requirement to make
Netflix available on a device is driving
W
smaller operators towards standardised
platforms. “Having core applications
hen Google “Android TV is the most successful in your market already available
TV was standard middleware stack ever seen,” for Android on mobile is also a
launched in declares Simon Leadlay, Director of Pay strong argument for the platform,”
2009/10, it TV Business Development at Accedo. confirms Frode Hernes, SVP Product
Is Android TV set for global domination?
was seen by “The platform is changing the game Management at Vewd, the Norwegian
operators as for Pay TV operators,” agrees Robert developer of the Vewd OS. “[Comcast’s
June 2016 a challenge Guest, VP product management at rival] RDK never managed to
• OTT, VoD, Cloud TV, Cable, Satellite, IPTV, DTT, IoT • The latest news, views and features
to gain control of the home. Access Europe. “It provides them with establish a full solution for small
Operators were reluctant to sign the flexibility to replace the default and mid-sized operators.”
up because they didn’t retain full
Coveer2018-September.indd 1
Google application launcher with their
14/08/2018 11:01:54
ATOT offers operators the ability to
autonomy over their services and own custom or product-based UI and deploy the solution in as little as six
the branding on the living room creates the opportunity to prioritise months and reduces integration costs
screen. Google has since taken a their own content over that of third by requiring fewer developers to create
more mature approach, parties in all aspects of the experience.” customised interfaces. The technology-
relaunching Android TV in 2014 The standardisation of platforms, agnostic blend of broadcast TV with
and the Android TV Operator Tier where operators can choose their own catch-up, VOD and now SVOD (or
(ATOT) in 2016, aiming to give UX/UI layer, is long overdue. According other new OTT services) is a major
power back to the operator’s to Guest, the disparity between the attraction for operators keen to serve
services and environment, while STB user interface and that of OTT their customers the content they want.
providing Google with a wider and mobile devices “has always “ATOT offers a highly compelling
market penetration. Indeed, since challenged the ability of pay TV time-saving and cost-efficient
then, millions of Android TV set- operators to offer a dynamic, multi- proposition for Tier 2 and Tier 3
box units were sold last year, while screen video experience.” operators and service providers,
it is believed that Android TV In terms of front-end and UIs, enabling them to give a very attractive
Operator edition qualified devices subscribers are increasingly expecting service to their subscribers, fast-tracking
have reached 1million a month. the TV content selection and viewing their efforts to grab market share,”
10 September 2018 www.csimagazine.comAndroid TV
further notes Pierre Donath, Director operators are showing willingness to charts around 70% of operators
Product & Marketing, 3SS. sacrifice an element of control for the “looking seriously” at Android TV as an
That’s not to say that Android isn’t low-cost option of Android TV, rather option but believe it will take any
without its challenges: one of the most than the heavily engineered bespoke operator around 10 or 11 years to
notable deterrents for operators is that systems that once characterised the replace their entire set top population.
they are unable to prevent competitors’ IPTV era. Provided there’s a continued open
apps or content from being Europe is a hotbed, where adopters approach from Google, Rethink
downloaded, which can be a deal include Telecom Italia, Austria’s A1, forecasts 99.2 million Android TV
breaker, and users must meet Google’s devices will ship through pay TV
licensing requirements, which are operators by 2022.
subject to change over time.
Google Play Store, for example, must
“More and more “Many middleware providers and app
agencies are trying to move their
be included and prominently operators are products to Android TV and create
positioned. This is considered a big plus solutions for operators wishing to
for many operators since it provides showing willingness deploy Android TV,” says Hernes. “This
subscribers with access to over 3,000 space will become highly competitive.
services and games, while remaining in to sacrifice an Only a few of these will survive.”
the operator’s branded environment. Kaltura thinks middleware will retain
While concerns about Google’s intent element of control importance by tying together OTT and
to hoover up user data or analyse broadcast functions at the set-top box.
viewing habits have been alleviated, for the low-cost “Middleware can handle the minimum
concerns persist about ownership of the local business logic required that the
whole UI. In particular, Google’s option of Android cloud cannot,” says SVP Gideon
insistence on hooking the UI to Google
Assistant, the company’s voice TV, rather than the Gilboa. “What we’re seeing is a new
layer of this middleware type
recognition and control technology
found in devices like Google Home, and
heavily engineered functionality being developed by
vendors around the Android TV
which can be activated via the remote’s
built-in microphone.
bespoke systems ecosystem. In short, middleware
will be more narrowly defined but will
“Google will allow its UI to be
removed and to have it focused around
that once still exist.”
the operator’s content, but it requires characterised IPTV.” Middleware role change
access to Play Store and Google A lot of this will be driven by the speed
Assistant which is the point at which at which compelling IP-only services
some operator’s resist,” says Leadlay. Estonia’s Telia and DNA Oy Finland become available and how operators’
One area highlighted by analyst firm (see table). Today, France dominates business models evolve. Android TV
Rethink TV is whether or not Google Android TV in Europe with 3.3 million still provides middleware vendors with
will be hostile to using Amazon’s Alexa homes installed from among 26 million the opportunity to add value through
voice assistant, used in conjunction households, according to figures from the integration of tuners, IP multicast
with Android TV. Rethink Research. SFR was the latest to support, smart home functionality and
Nonetheless, more and more launch in the country this summer, support for ‘lightweight’ hardware such
while Switzerland right as HDMI sticks.
now remains the only “Standards such as HbbTV are also
other market in Europe not included in Android TV, so there
with a major tier 1 are opportunities for browser vendors
operator, Swisscom with Android compatible browsers to
Source: Rethink Research
(ex-Mediaroom and include companion screen and media
supporting Android TV synchronisation functionality,” reckons
(AOSP) for the past Guest. “This will also allow operators
four years. and app developers to deploy apps in a
However, new standardised way to TVs and STBs
announcements are powered by Android and other OS’.”
picking up fast. Rethink Android TV can also be built into
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 11Android TV
how to comply with all application,” explains Jacques
Source: RustyR / Shutterstock.com
Google’s style Bourgninaud, the company’s CEO.
guidelines for the “The Wyplay ATOT application also
remote control, such as includes a device abstraction layer that
the keys on the handset provides complete independence from
to output, and for the the Android TV device allowing
user interface,” outlines operators to easily move to a new
Stefan Blickensdörfer, hardware provider or platform.”
Technical Director Meanwhile, Nagra says it will
at 3SS. “There is intensify marketing around its ability to
integration with the integrate Android TV with its existing
player to manage Open TV back end (for operators like
and you need to ensure Euskaltel in Spain).
complete TV middleware itself is likely to have
hybrid DTH, DTT and IPTV boxes, as interoperability with all back-office less and less impact as the focus moves
well as into pure OTT boxes and also functions. UI performance and to user experience and content, believes
into hybrid cable set tops, so that it optimisation are critical whether Poppelsdorf. “There’s no doubt that the
can emerge around any of the main using IPTV/OTT/DVB. And it all evolution in pay TV is threatening the
pay TV technologies. has to reliably function with DRM/ role of proprietary middleware.”
“In order for hybrids to be built, for conditional access.” He thinks the sector is likely to follow
instance with DVB technologies, some the path of DRM fragmentation, at the
form of middleware has to be added to Entrants new and old beginning of which many options
control the broadcast environment, Companies like 3SS, Amino and competed for market share. “Open
which is where set top makers like Technicolor now brandish Android TV platform middleware is fragmenting
Amino and Sagemcom see their technology as their strongest suit. today and we expect more innovations
opportunity, adding these services Technicolor alone has shipped 2 million to emerge in the next three to five
through Android TV, and supporting Android TV units last year. Since the years, before we see the market
the UI directly as well as supporting the beginning of 2018, the French company converge again.”
existing back end of broadcast has facilitated five new STB launches, MediaFirst (née Mediaroom), which
installations,” says Rethink’s lead plus nine noteworthy software updates stagnated at Ericsson, may now get a
analyst Peter White. with Netflix or Amazon Prime on new lease of life under Ericsson’s new
Fragmentation is predicted as the Android TV. brand MediaKind. The “virtual
reach of Android TV grows. “In fact, Among them is Com Hem, which collapse” of the existing Cisco
the market is waiting for more joined the club with launch of its new ecosystem has also largely given way to
middleware to emerge,” thinks Donath TV Hub box, based on ATOT and pre- Android TV, judges Rethink Research.
at 3SS. “There are very few middleware installed with YouTube, Netflix, SVT “There are a lot of small actors that
right now that are fully ready for Play and TV4 Play. 3SS’ 3READY front have been running on good margins in
Android STB deployments. But they end Android TV Custom Launcher small deployments, which will see their
are coming.” integrates with Technicolor’s margins deteriorate as their software is
More competition will put downward middleware, which brings together the commoditised,” says Vewd’s Hernes.
pressure on prices while the range of chipset and the Android TV platform. “Some will manage to move up in the
‘quality’ and functionality will increase, French outfit Wyplay continues to value chain or become a de-facto choice
offering service providers greater market its Frog middleware but has on one of the major platforms, but
choice. This is because the role of also headed toward Android territory. many will struggle.”
middleware in an Android platform is It has released an ATOT Launcher Not everybody is in Google owner
different to traditional deployments. for operators to develop custom Alphabet’s pocket however. Comcast
The ATOT platform does a lot of the applications with Wyplay offering has invested too much in RDK – which
middleware’s ‘old’ job itself but there assistance with the design it would consider in allowing operators
are many aspects of Android-based and integration. to pick and choose hardware at will –
integrations that the operator has to “Our premium reference UI/UX can and its community is considered too big
understand and manage. be customised to fit the operator’s in the US at least to be pushed around
“From how to correctly integrate the brand. Alternatively, we can incorporate by Google.
Play Store and Google Assistant, to their own UI/UX into our Operator Tier AT&T and Charter are holding out
12 September 2018 www.csimagazine.comAndroid TV
too, though rumours persist that they Some European and Asian Android TV operator deployments
make break ranks for future OTT boxes.
Operator Country
Liberty Global (an RDK proponent)
and other Tier 1 operators (Deutsche SFR France
Telekom, Orange) are aloof from Bouygues France
Google in Europe - for now. As a result,
Free France
while at least 40 payTV operators
globally have deployed Android set-top Wibox France
boxes as of September 2017, according Swisscom Switzerland
to Dataxis, the number of users
Com Hem Sweden
remains limited.
“Recently we’ve noticed some larger Telecom Italia Italy
operators pushing back against the A1 Austria
Google ecosystem – and firmly down
Telia Estonia
on the side of traditional middle
stacks,” reports Accedo’s Leadlay. DNA Oy Finland
“Western European operators who Stofa Denmark
would otherwise seem to fit into the
mould for Android - having high ARPU Euskaltel Spain
and looking to grow OTT - have had a Telecable Spain
chance to look at Android in some Wind-Hellas Greece
detail and concluded it’s not for them.”
“Mostly this is because they would Partner Communications Israel
rather control 100 percent of the Rostelecom Russia
platform and they’re not willing to let PCCW Hong Kong
their users have third party apps on a
box outside of their control.” KDDI Japan
Foxtel Australia
On the cusp of global success? Telkom Indonesia Indonesia
For this reason, Android TV is unlikely
to make a complete sweep of the
market. Could this change too? provider, and so they will continue
“There is some space for traditional “The re-emergence to favour AOSP or RDK.”
middleware - though much diminished,” TiVo’s take is that Android TV “will
says Leadley, who also reports some of NDS under continue to be a platform of choice
revitalised interest in Roku (used for for a sub-set of operators looking to
Sky’s Now TV streaming service). former chief Abe address specific business and market
“Recently Roku has allowed for almost needs: others will opt for Linux, bring-
full UI customisation (with which Peled is greeted your-own-device or other platform
Accedo upgraded the UI for Telstra)
which has increased its attraction, with ‘a remarkable categories that better serve their
portfolio. Ultimately, having greater
though given the hardware options are
limited to one vendor, this will remain a
optimism’ in choice and flexibility in the ecosystem
is good for consumers and the market,
niche product.”
The re-emergence of NDS under
the industry.” in general.”
As it stands, the momentum for
former chief Abe Peled is greeted with Android TV - driven by content, apps
“a remarkable optimism” in the services to pay-TV subscribers strongly and by the shortened time-to-market -
industry, according to Leadlay, but he’s outweigh any perceived commercial appears unstoppable.
sceptical of the chance of it doing risks,” concludes Donath. “Many big “There is no viable competing
business with anybody other than multiple system operators will likely platform,” says Hernes. “Unless
Cisco’s traditional customer base. continue to want to remain someone manages to establish one
“For many operators, the benefits of independent, and not over-reliant or Google change the rules, Android
delivering Google’s highly popular on a single content or technology seems destined to succeed.”
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 13
10-12_Middleware.indd 5 30/08/2018 15:43:36Promotional feature
Future proofing your pay TV these threats include
loss of revenue, loss of
STB investment, brand
business with open platforms damage, piracy and
the platform or data
T
By Frank Poppelsdorf pureplay OTT companies. Google has
being compromised.
While Google has taken some steps
he rapid global made the first move to collaborate with toward securing Android TV, operators
growth of OTT operators by offering its version of the must take additional steps to protect
services shows no open platform for set-top boxes. their service, platform and data.
sign of abating and These include: defining specific
this has fuelled an The rapid rise of Android TV security requirements for STB vendors
evolution in the pay Take Android TV as an example – the to meet on Android TV, adding best-in-
TV industry, where money operators will save in using this class content protection technologies,
operators are having to adapt platform and the substantially shorter monitoring threats continuously,
quickly to stay competitive. time to market for services mean the and having effective threat
Consumer demand for OTT benefits of getting into partnerships response capabilities.
services has even led to major TV with Google greatly outweigh the Securing open platforms requires
operators including them as part concerns. If worries exist around careful planning, but it is well worth it
of their set-top box (STB) offering collaboration, operators must consider for the benefits that open platforms like
to ensure they can retain that Google’s business model is focused Android TV offer operators both now
subscribers and market share. on advertising revenue. As such, and in the future. With Android TV,
This move makes sense as, while Google’s main interest is in making operators can let Google develop the
the need to differentiate on content Android TV the biggest platform for investment-heavy features, and get them
is more critical than ever, apps in order to drive ad revenue, not to for free, while they focus on content
operators also realise the need to compete with operators’ pay media and potentially UX differentiation
adapt alongside the behaviour of services. In addition, with Android TV, through the Operator Tier (ATOT).
today’s consumers who are relying the operator stills owns the STB and it There’s no doubt that in the shorter
on multiple sources of content to is possible to replace Android TV with term, Android TV is the best open
fulfill their entertainment needs. Android Open Source Project (AOSP) platform option. New operators can use
The realistic outlook is that in ten to or other middleware to break the tie Android TV to build a premium STB
twenty years, all content will be with Google if required. comparable to one that took a large
delivered through OTT, which means Another attraction of open platforms operator years to build. But it’s not just
that this collaboration represents an is that they can provide a treasure-trove relevant for new operators. Even
important step. As this wholesale move of data, as consumers are likely to use successful large operators could have
to OTT takes place, the advantages many more services on them compared serious reasons to switch to Android
operators have in broadcast services will to closed platforms. By analysing this TV. In a highly competitive landscape
eventually evaporate, meaning they data, operators can gain audience and where operators face strong challenges
must make a smooth and cost-effective business intelligence to help them to hold onto subscribers and market
transition into hybrid quickly. Many are improve their offering to satisfy the share, they must look to open platforms
turning to open platforms for a ready customers they are fighting so hard to future-proof their businesses.
supply of OTT apps and other popular to keep. Irdeto will be exhibiting Irdeto Armor
features to reduce the cost, time and for Android TV at IBC. Visit us at Hall 1
risk of going hybrid. Securing open platforms Stand D51.
Alongside this, you have the The nature of open platforms does
increasing move into media services by mean there are inherent security risks
the big four technology companies – that must be addressed by operators.
Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google These include content piracy (such as Frank Poppelsdorft is VP, Product
– which brings them into direct sight of misuse of the Kodi app), STBs reloaded Management, Irdeto
operators’ customer base. Operators and repurposed with unauthorised
must therefore learn to collaborate and software, and malicious apps side- Sponsored by:
co-exist with the big technology loaded or from the app store attacking
companies as they have done with the the STB. The potential consequences of
14 September 2018 www.csimagazine.comAndroid TV -case study
United Cloud STB project: proactive in accepting inputs from
our side as we were giving them an
operator’s perspective which induced
An Android TV experience significant changes in Android TV.
We eventually got the best of two
E
worlds by selecting Google’s Watson
By Mladen Mijatovic than 1,200 live ABR (adaptive bit-rate) launcher for Android Oreo with certain
very operator out TV and Radio channels and more than modifications that made it more
there knows that if 50,000 VOD assets, each in 5 different appealing for the operator environment.
you want to stay streaming quality profiles. Over
competitive, you have 130,000 hours, or almost 15 years Why Android TV?
to keep pace with of content is being viewed daily on Recent consolidation of chipset
technology, but the the UC platform. manufacturers has left the market with
real question is which When we started development of a few chip vendors and many OEMs.
direction you should run in? Go the Linux based set-top box (STB) the first Having a full ecosystem that works on
wrong way and you might end up challenges brought first doubts. Our any OEM hardware, with new IP-only
far behind the competitors once existing application for Android TV devices free of hybrid development and
you realise you have made a wrong worked quite well already on retail ATV more hardware neutrality, brings
turn. Not so long ago, this almost boxes and preloading an app seemed unprecedented ease of CPE
happened to us. as easy as it gets. Somehow, the development. Android TV is a dream-
United Cloud is the Technology whole Android TV thing just clicked come-true for most operators: a first-
Research & Innovation Development into right place for us and we realised screen TV viewing device that is also
Center of the United Group, a we should change direction. And app-based. A smart (Android TV) box
company focused on the telco, so, we did. compared to a traditional STB is what a
content and marketing business, But it wasn’t easy. Fast time-to-market smartphone is compared to a feature
having operators with a network in reality applies only to pure OTT phone. The ATV STB is now available
footprint in four countries of the Android TV devices. Add DVB and as an operator device that comes
former Yugoslavia (Serbia, BiH, conditional access system (CAS) on top bundled with subscription, and not only
Montenegro, Slovenia), a satellite DTH of it to make a hybrid box and the through retail. A synergy of STB with
platform and a worldwide OTT reach whole thing starts to look more like a other connected devices that come with
with a total of some 3.6 million RGUs. traditional STB development. WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and a
Today’s pay-TV ecosystem is Introduction of TV Input Framework myriad of 3rd party applications
experiencing both network change did help, but still a big part of DVB available on Play Store pave the way for
and device change, reflecting the integration depended on the original other future services such as IoT and
change in delivery methods to equipment manufacturer (OEM). The many potential business models with
accommodate new subscriber big dilemma was whether to develop a up-sell, cross-sell and 3rd party
requirements - the “anytime, anywhere, custom operator launcher with new, partnership opportunities.
on any device” concept is a de facto native app development, or to stick with To conclude – remember when each
standard now. Traditional, linear TV Google’s launcher and lose some of the mobile phone had its own OS, while
is already losing the battle with non- unique operator look and feel. today we have only iOS and Android?
linear Catch-up and Time-shifted Google Assistant, a remarkable Well, we just might be on the verge of
TV as viewers’ habits change and tool that unfortunately does not yet something similar in the TV industry.
become more demanding. work everywhere brings microphones Android TV is picking up momentum
United Cloud is tasked with driving and speech input that already works and interesting times lay ahead of us.
the cutting edge of technology behind in surprisingly many languages,
all this change and we have developed opening new, though unclear,
a complete e2e video platform to possibilities. We turned to consultants
deliver linear and non-linear video for help, but there were few available Mladen Mijatovic is Business
services to the full range of consumer for Android TV and we were forced Development Manager at
United Cloud
devices. With the first service to learn along the way and ultimately
launched in September 2017, under pave the road for others. A great deal Sponsored by:
the brand-name ‘Eon’ we are now of help came from Google and the
processing and delivering more Android TV team - they were very
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 15Blockchain
Blockchain in broadcast VOD consumers,
analogous to Napster
peer-to-peer music file
Blockchain can destroy the existing video value sharing, but this time on
B
chain – and that’s a good thing, argues Nick Moreno a legal, trackable basis.
The end prize is
lockchain technology simpler rights licensing to be contracted significant – imagine a world where a
is primarily automatically, and there is hope that in Pareto-like selection of the most viewed
associated with time this process may be applicable to content is stored ultra-locally across the
the Wild West of larger value deals. The selling and globe. Where the most popular videos
cryptocurrencies, acquiring of content rights, therefore, can be served up to any viewer
but distributed becomes a significantly simplified on-demand through being delivered
databases that offer process, eliminating friction in the value from servers or PCs just a few streets
a single, incorruptible “universal chain and potentially empowering the away – delivered as a download or even
truth” and eliminate the functions spread of the OTT business globally. streamed ultra-locally. Where the vast
of many intermediaries could Of course, a rights blockchain has amounts media companies currently
potentially revolutionise the video hurdles to overcome – not necessarily spend on distribution could be
value chain. in the technology stack, but rather in reduced significantly.
For many people, Blockchain is the challenge of agreeing a taxonomy The video distribution value chain
linked to the rise of Bitcoin, but it is for which multiple rights from multiple could be fundamentally redrawn by a
nothing more (or less) than an enabling rightsholders can be logged in a way successful application of blockchain
technology, and we need to evaluate its that doesn’t need thousands of different technology, and there is a strong
potential in terms of its applications metadata categories and classifications. argument that this would be entirely
and the value-add it may bring. Several large media companies are welcome if it improved the speed and
exploring this use case now, putting quality of video delivery to viewers, and
Uses cases together blockchain technology stacks reduced the cost of doing so at the
Tracking advertising. Perhaps the and conducting trials. I would argue same time.
use case most widely discussed is that that a point solution from a single But, of course, there are challenges.
of advertising, with a distributed rightsholder is significantly less Blockchain technology would need to
database bringing together both ad beneficial than the network effects of a be able to authorise, enable and track
inventories and advertisers in a way that pan-industry rights ledger (with privacy/ legal provision of P2P video
eliminates the significant number of restriction of view as mandated by distribution, as well as offer a payment
intermediaries that take a slice of each individual rightsholders), enabling a process for the millions that might
ad dollar spent by advertisers well single “version of the truth” rights allow their servers, PCs or laptops to be
before ads are shown on linear channels ledger globally. used for such a service. And video files
or AVOD models. In the interests of openness, Arqiva is are vastly larger than music files;
Several companies (including, participating in one such European/ rightsholders would need to radically
ironically, some of the advertising North American trial now. It is fair to rethink their strategies; and IP networks
intermediaries themselves, who are say that there is huge interest in such an would have to be able to cope with (and
clearly trying to “add more value” in the application from both global multi- allow) a vast increase in traffic.
value chain) are working on this channels and national broadcasters, as
application, and there are a fair number it offers the tantalising prospect of Growing interest in the ‘B-word’
of papers on this use case. increased rights revenues and reduced Our customers are showing interest in
transaction costs for rightsholders, and Blockchain and sessions are gathering
Rights licensing. Another potential a ‘one-stop shop’ and reduced momentum at industry events. Whether
use case for the video industry is a transaction costs for rights licencees. it turns out to be hype or not, the
distributed database (or ledger) of ‘B-word’ will rise up the priority list of
global video rights that catalogues all Ultra-local distribution. An even technologies that broadcasters will
content rights worldwide and allows more intriguing application is within explore over the next 12 months, and it
defined interactions with that ledger to distribution. It is very early days, but will be a brave (or foolish?) CTO who
license video as its original rights some are thinking about the technology dismisses it as not worth investigating.
holders deem allowable. being used to power a new model of Nick Moreno is Director of Strategy,
Smart contracts will initially allow ultra-local distribution of content to Satellite & Media, at Arqiva
16 September 2018 www.csimagazine.comSponsored by:
www.csimagazine.com
Security focus
The changing face of security - and piracySecurity
Broadcast security is about While the World Cup is
clearly an extreme
example, these findings
more than just content now underline the scale of
international online
content piracy. So what is
From cybersecurity and IoT to IT security and the best way to combat it – and
who should bear responsibility for
disaster recovery, broadcast companies need to doing so?
E
look at security holistically, says David Adams “Historically, pay TV operators
and channel operators have
arly film-makers had organisations, using set-top boxes, looked to the people who own the
complete control to Conditional Access (CA) technology content to provide anti-piracy services –
the access of their and mainstream payment systems. But they pay a lot of money for the content,
content. universal access to high quality after all,” says Paul Hastings of Friend
Movie studios, electronic equipment also enables much MTS. “But the people who own the
broadcasters and the simpler piracy methods: with a good content are now the least capable of
owners of premium screen and a good camera, anyone securing it, because they are furthest
content have tried to exercise similar could create their own instant illegal removed from the people doing the
levels of control, with varying levels of streaming facility, redistributing content piracy. The people best placed to
success. But while there have always using Facebook, YouTube, Periscope, protect premium content have a direct
been ways to steal content, internet twitch.tv or other platforms and apps. relationship with the customer
technology has given content pirates The most sophisticated piracy restreaming the content. Some content
more powerful tools. operations, which Peterka believes are owners are writing into contracts a
“Advances in technology that enable responsible for a majority of this stipulation that broadcasters or service
the proliferation of legal content – activity, have been helped by the providers must be able to provide
availability of devices that decode and availability of cheap hardware, cloud subscriber level watermarking for set-
decrypt, good broadband network services and OTT technologies. top boxes and OTT.”
capabilities – these same technologies The results are revealed by studies Peterka believes effective anti-piracy
are also enabling the theft and illegal such as research compiled by Viaccess- technology is based on a combination
redistribution of content,” says Petr Orca during the 2018 football World of technologies, including watermarking
Peterka, CTO at Verimatrix. Cup, which analysed illegal streaming to enable detection and removal of the
Some piracy is the work of links not stopped by tracking services sources of illegal streams; and analysis
sophisticated, well-equipped used by rights owners or TV operators. of data drawn from the distribution
An initial study of five first round chain, to which automation and
matches showed that Facebook hosted machine learning can be applied to
the most links to illegal streams, 1,792, detect a wide range of anomalies and
well ahead of the domain in second security breaches.
place, emb.aliez.me, which hosted 699 But he also stresses the need for
(see table on next page). consistency in the way watermarking is
A second study of more first round used for the same content – in the
matches saw Periscope break into the international OTT world, why would a
top five domain locations. Both studies broadcaster bother to use watermarking
identified the same top five ISPs if viewers can access versions that are
hosting the sites used for streaming: two not protected by watermarking?
in the Netherlands (NForce and Quasi), The mix of legacy equipment in
Private Layer in Switzerland, Marosnet broadcaster networks and consumer
in Russia and Contabo in Germany. In homes also makes a blended approach
total, across 17 first round matches, necessary. “CA, if you ask me, is dying
Viaccess-Orca recorded over 1 million – new green field services don’t really
views of illegal streams via Periscope, have that anymore,” says Dr Susanne
3.1 million via YouTube and 7.5 million Guth-Orlowski, vice-president, business
via Facebook. development and sales, at castLabs.
18 September 2018 www.csimagazine.comSecurity
based content protection may not be
with us for a while yet, reckons James
McParlane, chief science officer at
Massive. He points out that any content
stored on the blockchain could only be
encrypted using traditional DRM
methods. “So, blockchain for content
“But it’s still used in existing broadcast attack originated in Russia. distribution is functionally just a peer-
services, so broadcasters have to serve Pierre-Alexandre Bidard of Viaccess- to-peer CDN,” he says.
all the old and new ways of Orca, emphasises the importance of But that may change. “Its future
transmission.” securing the set-top box, not just to application in this industry will be in
Frank Poppelsdorf, VP, product protect the content that passes through supporting and securing a decentralised
management at Irdeto, says that a focus it, but also “because the STB can architecture upon which many
on watermarking should not mean become a weapon”, if used to launch applications and content distribution
neglect of other security methods. Dedicated Denial of Service (DDoS) systems will run,” he explains. But this
“Operators ask if they still need to attacks on other organisations’ IT will not happen for a while yet.
expend so much effort on secure networks, for example. Another countermeasure that may be
chipsets,” he says. “Well, yes, you do: if Another area of concern is the extent used more extensively in future would
there is a weakness there the pirates will to which companies now rely on cloud- require more collaboration between
go for it.” based IT systems. Many cloud services broadcast industry players and internet
Content security is also a concern for provide excellent security, but increased infrastructure providers, says Simon
infrastructure and transit providers. use of the cloud can mean less control Trudelle at Nagra.
Intelsat CISO Vinit Duggal says his “We’ve already been able to put in
company has been speaking to place systematic URL-blocking
broadcasters and its other customers
about security for many years. “You
“The STB can procedures, when we have proof that
this is not a legitimate owner of
have to look at security holistically. You become a weapon content,” he says. “I think a growing
need to understand the security global awareness from [internet]
requirements you have when the data is if used to launch companies that they are not just pipes
at rest and when it is on the move.” and that they have to shut down access
There are other security threats facing DDoS attacks on to these services would be helpful.”
broadcasters and video service Nick Fitzgerald, CEO of TV2U,
providers. Where once broadcast other organisations’ identifies possible changes in strategy
networks and content storage were around identifying legitimate users of
completely separated from a company’s IT networks.” content, noting that VPN use has made
core IT infrastructure, both are now it difficult for OTT service providers to
vulnerable to the same cyber security use IP addresses to determine whether
threats that could affect any connected over systems and data. Over-reliance on a consumer has the right to watch a
IT system. There is an argument that the cloud could increase business specific piece of content. “One way
any strategic consideration of content continuity and security risks, says OTT providers tackled this issue during
security should now be integrated Jonathan Morgan, CEO at Object the World Cup was to add an additional
within a broader strategy, addressing Matrix. “If you wholly rely on a single layer of user verification via token-based
the same risks that might enable the cloud service you would be just as device authentication,” he says.
theft of other valuable information vulnerable as if you were wholly storing Combined with geo-location data, this
assets, from customer data to everything internally,” he says. Again, gives a much granular visibility.
intellectual property or confidential the value of a strategic overview is clear In the end, Daniel Simmons at IHS
corporate information. Some In future, we will certainly see the Markit argues increased competition
broadcasters or service providers are development of new security threats should make content better; and people
targeted by hackers for political reasons, and new countermeasures to address should feel better about paying for it.
as seems to have been the case when a them. There has been some discussion “Of course it’s still going to be desirable
cyber attack hit French TV network of how the distributed ledger technology to pirate it, but the surest way to fight
TV5Monde in 2015. The French blockchain could be used as a security piracy is to make paying for the video
authorities later concluded that the tool by broadcasters. But blockchain- good value.”
www.csimagazine.com September 2018 19You can also read
