Live video content is in high demand––from sports events to breaking news and concerts, it offers a real-time experience that connects people to the world around them. And it’s now more accessible than ever due to the amount of applications and devices available.

Consumers have high expectations, which puts pressure on video distributors to provide flawless experiences. This can be attributed to IP, which has revolutionized the broadcast industry and allows for fast, efficient, and affordable delivery of live video to worldwide audiences.

Many broadcasters are already using IP, to some extent, to meet consumer demands and achieve operational agility, however, improved speed and dexterity create a new set of challenges in maintaining a functional delivery infrastructure.

The dynamic nature of networks means that there are numerous possible points of failure, leaving broadcasters vulnerable to network issues outside of their control.

Moreover, rapidly growing video traffic can further complicate an increasingly intricate network matrix.

As a result, errors can be challenging to detect and resolve, which affects the reliability and quality of streams. Understandably, these issues can grow into concerns for broadcasters that affect their trust in the delivery infrastructure.

So, how can we manage these issues so that broadcasters can lean into the deployed IP infrastructures available to them?

Addressing digital transformation

To create live content on the go, with minimal preparation and engineering support, broadcasters must become experts in remote production and IP. Video data is complex to transport and typical IT solutions are not designed, nor suitable, to handle it.

Broadcasters can take inspiration from the IT industry’s use of observability, which allows for measuring the network’s internal state through external information (the outputs).

Integrating network observability into broadcast workflows can help broadcasters quickly identify and resolve errors, prevent reoccurrences, and improve performance over time.

Monitoring vs. Network Intelligence

Monitoring can detect problems with a stream such as compression errors, frame freeze, buffer depletion, and black frames, but cannot identify what’s causing the problem.

As mentioned, network failures are difficult to troubleshoot and analyze due to countless potential points of failure and the interconnected nature of networks, equipment, and streams.

Broadcasters need to continuously monitor their networks, but also require improved network intelligence to enhance their operations. This involves gathering real-time data from various network points to enhance visibility, enabling them to trace events, identify, and resolve issues effectively.

Here, it’s crucial to stress the importance of ‘real-time’ intelligence for video data. Unlike standard IT traffic, video data is highly reactive to network transients and other temporary impairments. Resolving errors in a prompt manner requires proficient data recording and measurement. Additionally, data collected must be able to be compared to legacy repositories to better understand network behavior.

This network-centered analytics enables organizations to efficiently locate source problems, allocate resources when required, and ultimately save time and money.

Bridging the Gap

For broadcasters to fully adopt internet-based video distribution, they must have trust in the networks that share and distribute live content. Reaching this stage requires a delivery system that’s dependable and secure, largely automated, and uncomplicated to understand and implement.

A crucial step in satisfying the needs of both IT and video specialists is to establish a connection between them. Through this linkage, they can efficiently collaborate and effectively fulfill their respective objectives.

The broadcasting industry requires innovative IT systems designed specifically for their unique needs, particularly when it comes to managing and streaming intricate video content. Synergy between the technology and video worlds is essential in the seamless delivery of live video streaming experiences. And the first missing link is an accurate real-time video network observability platform.

The internet has transformed live video delivery, making it easier, faster, and cheaper for global distribution. However, the reliability of this method depends on broadcasters’ use of proper tools to ensure a smooth and error-free experience. Read more about this topic and how to add observability to your workflow.