White Paper

CLOUD ENABLED
PRODUCTION
Leveraging the Cloud
for Remote Production and Distribution
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION: SHIFTING HORIZONS IN LIVE PRODUCTION............................................................................. 3

WHAT IS VIDEO CONTRIBUTION?............................................................................................................................. 3

TRADITIONAL CONTRIBUTION USING SATELLITE................................................................................................. 4

ON-SITE LIVE PRODUCTION SATELLITE.................................................................................................................. 4

ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF SATELLITE................................................................................................... 5

Video fiber contribution networks................................................................................................................................ 6
Contribution using the cloud........................................................................................................................................ 6

ADVANTAGES OF CLOUD CONTRIBUTION.............................................................................................................. 7

ON-SITE LIVE PRODUCTION USING THE CLOUD................................................................................................... 8

THE SHIFT TO REMOTE PRODUCTION (REMI), IP-BASED DELIVERY, AND CLOUD TOOLS............................ 8

HOW TO DESIGN YOUR PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT

TO ACHIEVE HIGH QUALITY AND LOW LATENCIES................................................................................................ 9
Select the right encoders and decoders...................................................................................................................... 9
Select the right cloud partner.................................................................................................................................... 10

USE CASES................................................................................................................................................................. 10
REMote Integration (REMI)........................................................................................................................................ 10
Distribution to rights holders (BaaS)........................................................................................................................... 11
The Queen’s Funeral (BaaS)...................................................................................................................................... 12
Novel application: Wide Area Studio (WAS)............................................................................................................... 12

CONCLUSION: THE CONVERGENCE OF CLOUD AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES

IN LIVE PRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 13

HARNESS THE POWER OF VIDEO........................................................................................................................... 14

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INTRODUCTION:
SHIFTING HORIZONS IN LIVE PRODUCTION
Traditionally, live production has relied heavily on satellite and private fiber transmission to deliver video signals from remote
locations back to broadcast studios. This method of delivery provided the most reliable way to cover long distances and
retain the highest quality signal possible. The satellite industry is seeing overall growth, with its revenue predicted to hit
$99.58 billion by 20271. Within this expansion, however, broadcast services are playing a minor role and experiencing a
decline as other video contribution methods begin to take over.

With the advancement of the internet and other technologies, the scope of what is possible for live production has
dramatically expanded. Cloud computing provides an alternative method for video contribution that is increasingly
being adopted by broadcasters and live event producers. The global market for cloud computing was already valued
at $490.3 billion in 2022 and forecasted to reach nearly $600 billion in 20232.

While the use of satellite remains steady in the broadcast industry, the cloud is becoming an increasingly viable option
for live production due to advantages it offers over traditional satellite transmission. In this paper, we will first describe
video contribution using both satellite and the cloud and then explore the limitations and advantages of each. We will also
cover some of the market trends in the broadcast industry, key considerations for designing more efficient production
environments using the cloud, and lastly, use cases for video contribution in the cloud.

WHAT IS VIDEO CONTRIBUTION?

Video contribution is the process of transmitting live or recorded video content from one location to another. It involves
capturing video footage using cameras, recording equipment, or live broadcasts, and transmitting it to a central location
where it can be edited, processed, and ultimately broadcast to the audience.

In broadcasting, video contribution can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as news reporting, live events, sports
broadcasting, and documentaries. Video contribution plays a crucial role in ensuring that broadcasters can provide high-
quality video content to their audiences, regardless of the location of the event or the source of the content.

1 https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/satellite-communication-market-to-hit-dollar9958b-by-2027
2 https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-10-31-gartner-forecasts-worldwide-public-cloud-end-user-spending-to-reach-nearly-600-billion-in-2023

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TRADITIONAL CONTRIBUTION USING SATELLITE
In a traditional satellite deployment, the primary content owner or producer’s location sends out video signals to a satellite
over a single uplink. The signal transmitted by the primary content owner or producer is received and retransmitted by the
satellite, which then transmits it back to multiple locations where rights holders can access and process the video content.
Modulated ASI (asynchronous serial interface) over satellite is multicast by nature, meaning all rights holders receive the
same signal and can access it simultaneously. The rights holders can then make changes to the content, such as editing,
adding graphical elements, or compressing it for distribution.

TRANSMISSION OF ON-SITE LIVE PRODUCTION

USING SATELLITE
A traditional setup for on-site production and transmission using satellite requires sending a production truck into the field,
at times with a separate satellite uplink truck and additional staff, to acquire, produce, and transmit a live video production.

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 ADVANTAGES
AND LIMITATIONS
OF SATELLITE
Despite the emergence of cloud technology, satellite
remains a reliable means of communication for
several reasons:

• Existing infrastructure: Satellites leverage existing

infrastructure to provide coverage and communication
capabilities. Satellite-based systems can serve
locations with limited or no access to terrestrial
communication networks.
• Global coverage: Satellites can cover vast areas
of the earth’s surface, making them a suitable
option for communication needs in remote areas.
• Security: Communication can be encrypted to
ensure secure transmission of sensitive data.
This makes satellite communication a viable option
for government and military operations.

While satellite continues to be a crucial technology in

broadcast, it comes with several limitations that hinder
its effectiveness in today’s modern world:

• Linear delivery: Satellite technology alone only

offers linear delivery to TV sets. Over the Top (OTT)
platforms are necessary to deliver content over the
internet to other devices such as smartphones,
tablets, and computers. Using contribution links that
are cloud native simplifies the process of delivering
content to OTT platforms, as these platforms are
already hosted in the cloud environment.
• Limited flexibility: Satellite capacity is allocated
for a specific time frame, and once booked, it
cannot be extended. If an event goes beyond its
allocated time, the temporary channel needs to be
released to accommodate the next reserved event
that has booked that channel. Otherwise, there may
be a need to switch to a different satellite to continue
the transmission.
• Degradation: Satellite communication can be
affected by weather conditions, which can cause
signal degradation and interruptions in service.
Heavy rainfall can impact either the uplink or
reception sides of the network.
• Aging technology: Many satellite systems currently
in use were launched decades ago and are reaching
the end of their operational life. As these systems are
decreasing in number, sourcing the remaining capacity
has become more difficult and expensive.

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Video fiber contribution networks
Broadcasters have turned to private leased line networks to address the limitations of satellite. These networks include
dark fiber or dedicated telecom services with specialized network terminal adapters designed for video. While private
leased line networks are used alongside satellite networks, the expenses and time required to deploy leased line
networks still make them inaccessible to many broadcasters. In addition, deploying private leased line networks can
be time-consuming, taking weeks or even months, especially if new fiber needs to be installed. Fiber networks are
expensive to set up for multi-distribution scenarios, and circuit-switched private video fiber networks require a lot of
coordination to manage transmissions.

Contribution using the cloud

In a cloud contribution, the primary content owner or producer sends out a signal that is received by a cloud service
provider. From there, the signal is routed to the rights holders who can then access and view the content. This method
offers multipoint transmissions with SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) statistics, allowing the rights holders to monitor every
endpoint. The monitoring of every endpoint is crucial to ensure that content is received in its original quality and that the
rights holders are able to maintain control over the content.

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 ADVANTAGES
OF CLOUD
CONTRIBUTION
Contribution using the cloud provides several advantages
over traditional satellite contributions:

• Cost-effective: Bandwidth is often less expensive

compared to satellite and its corresponding
equipment, especially for long-distance or
international broadcasts.
• Latency: Lower latency is achieved with terrestrial
networks, which makes cloud-based systems ideal
for live production operations.
• Scalability: Cloud-based systems are highly
scalable, allowing for fast and efficient expansion
of services.
• Processing: The cloud provides customers with
processing power to support video workflows.
• Accessibility: The internet is easier to access
than satellite, with no special equipment required
(e.g., an antenna).
• Rights management: The cloud allows individual
endpoints to be independently encrypted rather
than a single stream, providing greater control over
access to content.
• Monitoring: All endpoints can be easily monitored
for detailed delivery statistics, which is difficult and
expensive to achieve with satellite.

Cloud technology is not without limitations. Some of the

challenges associated with cloud contribution include:

• Dependence on the internet: Cloud-based

contributions rely on a stable and reliable internet
connection. Any issues with the internet connection
can cause disruptions in the transmission of
video content.
• Security concerns: When transporting and storing
content in the cloud, it’s essential to address security
concerns. Fortunately, selecting products equipped
with robust security features can help alleviate
potential risks.

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ON-SITE LIVE PRODUCTION USING THE CLOUD
Employing technology effectively to use the cloud can reduce the need to send a production crew out onto the field.
Instead, isolated camera feeds can be sent directly to a centralized production and distribution hub using a cloud provider,
where they can be efficiently processed and shared with rights holders. With fewer staff members required on the field,
operational costs plummet. Furthermore, the absence of travel requirements for the staff allows them to invest their time
and energy in other areas, like producing more content.

THE SHIFT TO REMOTE PRODUCTION (REMI),

IP-BASED DELIVERY, AND CLOUD TOOLS
The broadcast industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, and the pandemic further accelerated the
adoption of new technologies. When in-person production was not possible, many broadcasters were forced to adopt
remote workflows to maintain operations. This has led to an increased demand for virtualized infrastructure, including cloud
tools and IP-based production.

Furthermore, the cost increase of broadcasting can also be linked to the changing viewing habits of audiences. With
the rise of streaming services and online video platforms, traditional broadcasters are facing increased competition for
viewership. As a result, broadcasters are under pressure to invest in new technologies and production workflows to deliver
high-quality content that meets the expectations of modern audiences.

REMI (Remote Integration Model) involves broadcasting productions from a remote location, such as a studio or control
room, using IP-based transmission to deliver the content to the broadcasting facility. IP-based delivery allows broadcasters
to transmit video, audio, and data over IP networks, enabling remote production and reducing the need for physical
infrastructure. Cloud-based tools have also made remote production more accessible and efficient by allowing the
management of entire workloads in the cloud.

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HOW TO DESIGN
YOUR PRODUCTION
ENVIRONMENT
TO ACHIEVE HIGH
QUALITY AND LOW
LATENCIES
Designing your production environment to achieve high
quality and low latencies requires careful consideration
of certain factors. To ensure that your live production
environment runs smoothly and efficiently, the right
encoders, decoders, and cloud partner must be chosen.

Select the right encoders and decoders

Encoders and decoders are an integral part of your
production environment, as they are the devices that will
compress and decompress the video for transmission. To
select the right encoders and decoders, there are some
key considerations to take into account:

• Channel density: A multi-channel encoder and

decoder can serve multiple simultaneous streams
from captured video sources instead of a 1RU
device for each stream. This can reduce costs
significantly and maximize output efficiency.
• Stream synchronization: In a live production
environment, synchronization is key. Ensure the
encoders and decoders you choose can accurately
synchronize multiple streams of video.
• Flexible bitrate: Encoders and decoders should
provide flexible bitrate options so that you can
adjust your video quality based on bandwidth
availability.
• Robust streaming protocol: If you are streaming
over the Internet, make sure the protocol selected is
robust enough to handle any packet loss or delays.
• Latency: Choose encoders and decoders with low
end-to-end latency to ensure production is as close
to “live” as possible.
• Genlock: Genlock is essential for synchronizing the
timing of video signals in multi-camera setups or
when integrating video sources from various locations.
Ensure that the encoders and decoders you choose
can be genlocked to your production environment.

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Select the right cloud partner
The right cloud partner is a critical choice for any production team looking to make a successful move to the cloud.
When selecting a cloud partner, review several important factors:

• Simulate multicast characteristics: A cloud partner can replicate the characteristics of satellite by providing
true point to multipoint SRT transmissions.
• Scalability: The ability to scale up without having to start new machines in a cloud provider’s hypervisor
saves on setup time and avoids manual operation.
• Real-time video transcoding and remultiplexing: Individual real-time video transcoding and remultiplexing
allow each customer to receive video according to their requirements.
• Real-time statistics: Statistics of the encoders, decoders, and core network performance metrics are
essential for monitoring performance and troubleshooting.
• Simple interface: A simple web interface that ensures that broadcast engineers can easily deploy, configure
and manage their own streaming environments.

USE CASES
The following applications below illustrate workflow environments using our cloud partner GlobalM and Matrox Monarch
EDGE encoders and decoders.

REMote Integration (REMI)

REMI is a workflow that allows for the production of remote events to be run from a central hub. This approach eliminates
the need for on-site personnel and equipment and instead allows for the centralized control of multiple remote cameras,
audio sources, graphics, and other production elements.

In the workflow below, two encoders are synchronized into a sync group, for a total of eight camera inputs. Each individual
stream has one receiver pod and one sender pod creating a link for sending up to eight streams. Using a cloud provider,
these streams can be monitored and managed. Two decoders are deployed in the home location that are connected to a
vision mixer for embedding multiple tracks of audio. The audio for the video streams is embedded and then de-embedded
back at the home location.

An orchestration
management network
manages scheduled creation
and deletion of all pods in the
network, as well as network
routing and configurations.

In a distributed gateway
architecture, pods run in
reservation pools in data
centre locations around the
world. A stream receiver pod
receives SRT stream into
the network. Sender pods
distribute the SRT stream to
end user locations.

A network management
web application manages
scheduled service creation
and deletion, allows for
live signal routing and
monitors real time SRT traffic
throughout the network.

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Distribution to rights holders (BaaS)
In a broadcast as a service (BaaS) workflow below, the cloud can be used for a single point of access for rights holders
to receive content. Content can be encoded at the venue and sent over the cloud to decoders. A single encoder can
feed each rights holder’s decoder, which simplifies streaming a large number of streams and makes the process easier
to manage.

Encoder SRT stream is

sent once to the network.
Only one connection needs
to be made to the stream
receiver pod.

SRT stream is shared within

the network to all other
stream sender pods. Each
sender pod has its own
unique SRT URI and can be
monitored individually within
the management portal.

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The Queen’s Funeral (BaaS)
BBC Studios leveraged a cloud-based media distribution workflow for the broadcast of the televised funeral of Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II across the UK through its BBC broadcast television network. Standard satellite distribution has traditionally
been the method for broadcasting events, but the costs associated with it have restricted its use. In addition, broadcasters
have also relied on private leased line networks such as dark fiber or dedicated telecom services, which are out of reach for
many broadcasters due to the costs and deployment times involved.

BBC Studios’ cloud-based media distribution workflow was the ideal solution as it reduced costs and deployment times
and increased service availability. The workflow used a software-defined video network (SDVN) with the internet to distribute
content to multiple rightsholders without the use of satellites or private leased line networks. The GlobalM network orchestrator
managed the creation and deletion of all scheduled network resources and applied all configurations within the cloud. The
gateway architecture treated source and destination streams separately on edge servers (pods), allowing for full distribution
and scaling of the network to suit many streams and destinations with worldwide coverage.

Novel application: Wide Area Studio (WAS)

A third use case for video contribution in the cloud is wide-area studios (WAS), which allows multiple remote studio locations
to connect to a centralized video control room. Rather than installing a video control room per location, operations can
be managed from a centralized production site. This reduces costs and simplifies the workflow, eliminating many of the
traditional challenges associated with remote production. The key to the success of this workflow lies in ensuring 10-bit 4:2:2
quality encoding at low latency to maintain the integrity of the video content.

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CONCLUSION:
THE CONVERGENCE OF
CLOUD AND SATELLITE
TECHNOLOGIES IN LIVE
PRODUCTION
The cloud presents live production teams with a host
of advantages for video contribution. With REMI, BaaS,
and WAS applications, teams can create more efficient
workflows and optimize their production processes. As
more broadcasters move their production into the cloud,
video contribution will become simpler and more cost
effective than ever before.

Although cloud technology continues to progress and

dominate, the satellite industry is adapting by using data-
driven satellites, transforming satellites into another point
of internet access. Existing satellite technology will be
replaced with a global network of high-speed internet
options from space.

Satellite technology as we know it is thus evolving

alongside cloud technology, creating a comprehensive
means of communication to meet the diverse needs of
the broadcast industry. However, at present, satellite
communication’s existing infrastructure, global coverage,
and security make it a reliable backup to cloud technology.
Ultimately, both technologies offer complementary
solutions that can work together to create an even more
robust system.

QUESTIONS ABOUT
LIVE PRODUCTION?
Get in touch with a Matrox Video representative to learn more about
Monarch EDGE encoders and decoders or to request a demo.

REQUEST A DEMO

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HARNESS THE POWER OF VIDEO
About Matrox Video
Matrox Video is a leading manufacturer of video products and components for the broadcast and media, live entertainment,
and AV/IT markets. Our mission is to create innovative products and provide superior support, enabling our customers to
harness the power of video to entertain, communicate and make critical decisions.

From launching the first specialized video display device on the market in 1976, to delivering Broadcast & Media products
to OEM providers around the world, Matrox Video is a recognized leader in delivering world-class video solutions. Our long
history with broadcasters gives us unique knowledge of this industry and the technical requirements needed to help you
succeed. This experience enables us to design products tailored to the needs of the Broadcast & Media market.

For more than 45 years, we have worked closely with our global partners to develop products that address business
challenges and meet evolving needs. Still today, our continued commitment to the success of our customers and partners
is what drives us to deliver innovation that solves real-world industry problems.

About GlobalM
GlobalM is a high-tech company that provides professional video transport solutions in broadcast quality to media outlets
and broadcasters for news, sports, business, culture, and entertainment, as well as remote production services.

Responding to the needs of news and sports production, GlobalM developed an advanced software-defined video network
to meet the requirements for high-quality, low-latency LIVE or file-based video delivery over the internet.

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CONTACT MATROX VIDEO
Montreal Headquarters: 1-800-361-4903 (North America), 514-822-6364 (Worldwide) I video@matrox.com
London Office: +44 (1895) 827300
Munich Office: +49 89 62170-444

ABOUT MATROX VIDEO

Matrox Video is a global manufacturer of reliable, high-quality ASICs, boards, appliances, and software. Backed by in-house design
expertise and dedicated customer support, Matrox products deliver stellar capture, extension, distribution, and display. Engineering
high-quality products since 1976, Matrox technology is trusted by professionals and partners worldwide. Matrox is a privately held
company headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

For more information, visit video.matrox.com

Matrox and Matrox Video product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Matrox Graphics Inc. in Canada and/or other countries. All other
company and product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of their respective owners. 09/2023