Updates: Standards Evolution for the Future Generation
Heading straight to the point, let's dive into the current landscape of technical standards and specifications that are set to revolutionize the broadcast and pro AV industry in the upcoming years.
First off, the SMPTE ST 2110 IP standards suite has taken the world by storm, leaving a significant impact not only in broadcast but beyond. Now that the ST 2110 standards have become a staple, SMPTE is moving forward with projects related to virtual production (VP) and AI.
One such initiative is the SMPTE On-Set Virtual Production (OSVP), which is part of SMPTE's Rapid Industry Solutions program. The aim is to bridge interoperability gaps that hold back the use of innovative techniques and technologies, as stated by Jim Helman, CTO of MovieLab and co-lead for OSVP.
Currently, the OSVP's working groups are tackling interoperability issues in camera and lens metadata, camera tracking metadata, color standards, and a group dedicated to education. These groups aim to document best practices and offer metadata specifications and code to support them, speeding up the production process.
Moreover, SMPTE is addressing AI via three new standards: ST 2141 for metadata generated by Large Language Models (LLMs), ST 2142 for embeddings in metadata, and ST 2143 for AI Model Metadata and creation of a centralized model registry. These standards will help in defining a structured metadata scheme and develop guidelines for metadata creation and management.
SMPTE is also collaborating with the ETC in a joint Taskforce on AI in Media, for sustainable and ethical AI application within the media industry. It's crucial to ensure that AI applications are developed within ethical boundaries, thereby protecting consumers from biases, misinformation, and ensuring equitable access to AI technologies.
Now, how about a quick check-in with the Alliance for Open Media about the adoption of AV1, the high-efficiency video encoding standard?
Approximately 95% of Netflix's catalogue, over 50% of YouTube's, and more than 70% of Meta Reels (on iOS) utilize AV1. With tens of millions of AV1-enabled Intel CPUs and GPUs, AV1 is becoming increasingly integral to daily life, reducing streaming and storage costs.
Lastly, the rollout of ST 2110 continues at a steady pace, notably through its manifestation as part of the IPMX standards. At ISE in February, the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) highlighted numerous new IPMX-compatible solutions, such as an NMOS controller, AES67 speaker, and Dante-to-IP adapter.
Andrew Starks, chair of the AIMS marketing workgroup and director of product management at Macnica, confirms that 2025 will be a significant year for IPMX. Manufacturers are currently finalizing the standards documents and refining the testing process to bring IPMX-compliant products to market.
Stay tuned for exciting developments as we are on the brink of a new era in media technology.
The SMPTE ST 2110 IP standards suite has become a significant force in both the broadcast and pro AV industries, paving the way for future developments. SMPTE's on-set virtual production (OSVP) initiative, part of its Rapid Industry Solutions program, is aiming to bridge interoperability gaps in camera and lens metadata, camera tracking metadata, color standards, and education.
In addition to OSVP, SMPTE is focusing on AI with new standards such as ST 2141, ST 2142, and ST 2143. These standards aim to define a structured metadata scheme and develop guidelines for metadata creation and management, with the ultimate goal of ensuring ethical and equitable AI application within the media industry.
The Alliance for Open Media has seen widespread adoption of AV1, the high-efficiency video encoding standard, with leading platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, and Meta Reels employing AV1 in their catalogue. The increasing integration of AV1 in daily life is reducing streaming and storage costs, thanks to the tens of millions of AV1-enabled Intel CPUs and GPUs.
At the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), the rollout of ST 2110 continues through the IPMX standards.highlighted numerous new IPMX-compatible solutions at ISE in February, including an NMOS controller, AES67 speaker, and Dante-to-IP adapter. According to Andrew Starks, chair of the AIMS marketing workgroup and director of product management at Macnica, 2025 will be a significant year for IPMX, as manufacturers finalize the standards documents and refine the testing process to bring IPMX-compliant products to market.
In the realm of media technology, we're on the brink of a new era. Technological advancements in live production, virtual production, and media workflows, driven by standards such as AI, IP, cloud, and data-and-cloud-computing, are set to revolutionize the broadcast and pro AV industry over the coming years.
Moreover, the financing landscape is changing as well, with innovative finance, investing, and real-estate businesses springing up to support the growth and development of these technologies. The media manufacturing industry is also poised for transformation, driven by the integration of cutting-edge streaming, codec, and broadcast technologies.
With these revolutionary changes underway, it's an exciting time for professionals in the broadcast and pro AV industry. Keep an eye out for more updates from NAB Show, where the latest advancements and trends in media technology will be showcased. Embrace the future and stay ahead of the curve as we march towards a digitally-enhanced world.
