Awards categories 2010
1. Best outside broadcast technology or service
Outside broadcast or broadcasting (OB) is the production of television programmes typically covering newsgathering, sports, events coverage etc. It includes uplinks, OB trucks and equipment, processing and transmission. OB specialists can provide cameras, production units, editing suites, transmission equipment and so on.
2. Best playout/connectivity service/solution
Playout includes channel hosting, management and transmission including EPG, CA, iTV services etc from the broadcaster into the networks that delivers them to the audience. Connectivity includes provision of distribution and transmission expertise/platforms, regardless of medium (satellite, fibre, microwave etc). Automated and non-automated systems, as well as channel-in-a-box approaches are all applicable here.
3. Best digital video processing technology
Digital video processing covers everything needed for the efficient movement and manipulation of digital video across a network. This includes encoding, decoding, transcoding, multiplexing/demultiplexing, encryption/de-encryption, grooming and programme insertion, data insertion, transrating, modulation and de-modulation etc.
4. Best satellite contribution/distribution/transmission solution
Includes contribution and distribution (C&D) links and services, and point-to-point or point-to-multipoint transmissions, compression and modulation.
5. Best monitoring or network management solution
Monitoring and management entails proactive and reactive techniques that ensure smooth running and performance. Measurement has evolved recently beyond traditional quality of service (QoS) to encompass quality of experience (QoE) that embraces a more holistic view of the entire network. Products catering to all platforms – cable, satellite, IP, mobile, terrestrial - and cross-network types are relevant here.
6. Best customer premise technology
This category can include any equipment provided to the customer at their premises, including set-top boxes (STBs), home gateways, next-generation internet-enabled gaming consoles and other connected home devices. Entries here are also open to relevant software firms, component suppliers and other companies operating in the product chain.
7. Best terrestrial wireless contribution/distribution/transmission solution
Terrestrial wireless covers the use of analogue television, digital terrestrial television and microwave spectrum. Mobile DTT services that do not use IP datacasting techniques could be entered in this category.
8. Best workflow/asset management/automation solution
Broadcasters have transitioned to data-centric workflows and the challenge is to manage increasing libraries of digital media files and metadata as the transformation to file-based systems gathers pace. Asset management is the process of storing, organising and retrieving electronic digital assets such as photographs, A/V clips and graphics. Systems are typically deployed to manage digital assets used in the creation of programs or to manage the storage and retrieval of finished programs.
9. Best content protection technology
Ensuring that the content is secure is one of the key issues facing content owners and the entire TV industry. As video moves increasingly online, the sector is keen that mistakes made by the music industry are not repeated. This category is open to any innovation that helps protect content in its various forms and includes CA, DRM and other solutions
10. Best fibre contribution/distribution/transport solution
Open to all forms of media transport networks, including cable-based systems, as well as those with a satellite component.
11. Best content-on-demand solution
The idea of any content, any where, any time, to any device is one of the holy grails of the TV industry. Consequently, most vendors are positioning themselves as end-to-end providers as the world moves towards this brave new multi-platform world. Definitions of on-demand in this category can include any streamed, broadcast or locally consumed content and is open to all devices and/or projects that help augment this experience.
12. Best cable video/data/voice last mile transmission technology
Last mile transmission technology to the home, with any combination of video, data or voice service elements.
13. Best interactive TV technology or application
The term interactive television involves various levels of interactivity, from simple interaction with the TV set such as channel changing through to advanced applications that require a back channel or return path, increasingly a broadband IP connection. This category is open to all solutions that enhance the user experience, UI etc, although preference will be given to those that enable a deeper level of interactivity.
14. Best IPTV technology or service
IPTV is a system where digital television is delivered using Internet Protocol over a closed and managed network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection, as well as cable IP. This can involve services to the PC but is not eligible for solutions that involve the delivery over the open internet, which is covered in category 17.
15. Best Mobile TV technology or service
This category is open to any technology or solution that involves the provision of mobile TV and video, whether streamed, broadcast, side-loaded etc, to any mobile or portable devices, including phones, PMPs, laptops, in-car sets etc.
16. Best HDTV technology or project
First talked about in the early 1980s and finally reaching mass-market, HD is defined as being higher resolution to SD television and this category is open to all video formats (720p, 1080i etc) and device types, whether TV sets, PCs or mobile phones.
17. Best Web TV technology or service
Web TV, also commonly referred to as over-the-top TV (OTTTV), involves any video content streamed or broadcast over the open internet. It can include the delivery to devices beyond just the PC, but is not open to solutions over closed and managed (ie telco, cable) networks.
18. 3D TV technology or project - NEW
Around since the 1950s and one of the current hot industry topics, 3D TV is all the rage at conferences and trade shows. With the standards war in full swing, any technology and solution that may enable 3D viewing in the home – from production and transmission to CPE equipment and end-user devices – is applicable in this category.
This is a vibrant field with numerous trials and developments taking place worldwide and should prove a valuable and timely addition to existing categories. We look forward to some exciting products and projects being entered here.