TVN Webinar: Advances In Live Playout In The Cloud

While all networks are now engaged in live playout to some extent, technology leaders from Paramount, Sinclair, Graham Media Group, Grass Valley and swXtch.io will explore differences between cloud playout of live sports and news versus episodic and documentary programming in a TVNewsCheck Working Lunch Webinar on July 20 at 1 p.m. ET.

Executives will discuss the advantages of public versus private cloud; strategies for origination for linear streams versus OTT streams; and the viability of moving to a single origination center. The panel will also consider the prospect of distribution to affiliates from the cloud when playoff begins there.

“Broadcasters are progressing beyond disaster recovery applications in the cloud to 24-hour playout,” said TVNewsCheck Editor Michael Depp. “This conversation will engage what stumbling blocks they are finding and where are they able to move the technology forward.”

Register here.

Speakers:

Stuart Baillie, SVP, Media Engineering & Global Distribution, Paramount — He leads media engineering and global distribution at Paramount, a global media, streaming and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. The company holds one of the industry’s most extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, Paramount provides capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.

Ian Fletcher, SVP Enterprise Product Strategy, Media Business, Grass Valley — He also oversees the design and development of Grass Valley’s next-generation software platform. His broadcast career began at the BBC, where he worked as a sound engineer before setting up his own video production company. During this time, he became increasingly interested in the new, low-cost microcomputers and the potential they offered for innovative solutions in the broadcast industry.

This led to the formation of OmniBus Systems, pioneers in the development of computer control systems for television studios. As CTO of OmniBus Systems, Fletcher spearheaded many of the technological revolutions in the broadcast industry. This includes the transition from tape to server-based systems, news automation, large-scale multichannel automation and the ground-breaking, software-based playout system, iTX.

Over the years, Fletcher has received a number of industry accolades, including the coveted Queen’s Award for Innovation.

Following OmniBus’ acquisition by Miranda and the subsequent merger with Grass Valley, he has continued to drive the development of software systems, particularly in the emerging areas of cloud playout and virtualization. He holds two patents for video image identification and cloud-based playout.

Fletcher is a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

Walid Hamri, Senior Director, Media Systems, Sinclair — He works on the transformation of content management and delivery.

Prior to joining Sinclair, he was the VP of solutions & business development at ATEME and chief product officer at SeaChange, where he led the product and solution team in promoting the multi-screen video delivery platform. He holds a B.S. in electronics and computer science and a M.S in image and processing and multimedia from Grenoble Institute of Technology (France).

Anthony Plosz, VP and CTO, Graham Media Group — He was named to his current position in August 2019. Prior to joining GMG, Plosz was VP, engineering and operations for WCAU-WWSI, the NBC-owned duopoly in Philadelphia. During his tenure, Plosz oversaw the design and construction of an IP-based operation and one of the country’s most technologically advanced broadcast facilities located within the recently completed Comcast Technology Center.

Plosz has a rich and successful history working as a systems engineer for NetApp, a director of broadcast operations for KTTV/KCOP, the FOX duopoly in Los Angeles, and over eight years as information services manager at WJBK, the FOX-owned station in Detroit. Plosz began his career working in IT consulting and network architecture and security in the Detroit area.

Geeter Kyriazis, Chief Strategy Officer, SwXtch.io — A business leader and entrepreneur, Kyriazis is business lead at swXtch.io responsible for business development, partnerships and go to market.

He was previously the director of government solutions for Imagine Communications, a leading provider of broadcast infrastructure. Imagine Communications was formed when Harris Corp. sold its commercial broadcast division in 2013. Kyriazis had overall responsibility for the $30 million government business unit, bringing Imagine’s entire product portfolio to U.S. government organizations.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Kyriazis served in the U.S. Air Force as a program manager.

Glen Dickson, Contributing Editor, TVNewsCheck (Moderator)