IBC starts this Thursday in Amsterdam, and research firm CCS Insight is forecasting that virtual reality, 4K and HDR will be creating a good deal of the buzz at the show.
“Many broadcasters are still experimenting with virtual reality technology but we are now starting to see the first signs of commercial services centered on sporting events. The TV industry is clearly excited by the potential of virtual reality, and this will be underlined by the sheer volume of demonstrations at the event,” Paolo Pescatore, director of multiplay and media at CCS Insight, observes.
Pescatore also foresees a lot of interest around software-defined networks and virtualization. “With many providers like Netflix paving the way with cloud multiscreen services, the question is: why do service providers need to deploy set-top boxes? Margins are being squeezed and both supporting and subsidizing hardware is costly. We expect service providers to exploit their network assets to offer users a truly TV Everywhere service, aided by software-defined networks, virtualization and more-efficient routers,” he notes.
Pescatore also sees 4K UHD attracting a lot of interest at the show, and he says that until 2018, most people’s first experience of 4K TV services will come from Web and telecommunication service providers — not traditional broadcasters.
“Brands from the telecom industry, such as BT, and those from the Web, such as Netflix, are offering the majority of viewers their first access to 4K programming. Traditional TV networks are failing to take up 4K technology. They are hamstrung by mandates to continue supporting older broadcast methods, and have been slow to realize the commercial benefits of 4K services,” he adds.
