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November 20, 2024
NTT Corporation
Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.
Japan's first full remote production environment using IOWN APN
TBS and NTT jointly demonstrate video production digital transformation without bringing production equipment to remote camera shooting sites
News Highlights:
- Demonstrated full remote production that eliminates the need to dispatch outside broadcasting vehicles and production staff to the site for video production of live events at stadiums and arenas.
- A high-capacity, low-latency, fluctuation-free APN enables large-capacity video transmission for multiple cameras, real-time remote camera control, and PTP time synchronization between video equipment at remote locations, which are necessary for full remote production.
- Full remote production that covers the number of cameras and broadcasting distance targeted by broadcasting companies was implemented jointly with TBS, a key nationwide broadcasting station, for the first time in Japan for the live terrestrial broadcasting program footage. We also teamed up with Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd., a telecommunications company in Taiwan, to connect to 3000 km away via an international APN line.
TOKYO - November 20, 2024 - NTT Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; Representative Member of the Board and President: Akira Shimada; hereinafter "NTT") and Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & Representative Director: Masamine Ryuho; hereinafter "TBS"), as part of a joint venture based on their capital and business alliance, have succeeded in creating a remote production environment that connects production sites and camera shooting sites via the IOWN All-Photonics Network (Hereinafter "APN")1, 2 to improve the efficiency and advance video production.
This project will be exhibited at NTT R&D FORUM 2024 IOWN INTEGRAL3 to be held in Tokyo from November 25-29, 2024.
Background
Video production digital transformation (DX), such as remote production, is a method of video production in which camera shooting sites and production bases are connected via a network. It is expected to contribute to solving social issues such as operational efficiency, which requires the provision of many equipment and dispatch of many staff to the site using outside broadcasting vehicles, and the shortage of video engineers due to the declining population. To achieve this, video production equipment and technology are being standardized and consolidated. However, at the same time, the following challenges exist:
- In the conventional small-capacity network, it is impossible to transmit multiple camera images simultaneously in a large capacity from a filming location to a remote production base where image production is performed.
- In a conventional network with a large delay, it is impossible to send camera control signals such as tally light and headset audio information in high quality and real-time to a filming location far away from the base where video production is performed, and communication between a camera crew and a producer cannot be performed smoothly.
- Conventional networks with large fluctuations cannot maintain a stable communication environment, so if the switchers, monitors, cameras, etc. are installed in separate locations, time synchronization by PTP4 cannot be performed properly, and video transmission cannot be maintained.
Outline of the initiative
In this project, we connected images from three locations: TBS Akasaka Studio in Minato-ku, Tokyo, an actual broadcasting station; a stadium in Saitama-shi, Saitama Prefecture, which hosts sports events; and Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (Hereinafter "Chunghwa Telecom") in Taiwan, which is 3000 km away; via the production private cloud in Kuramae, Tokyo, using APN, which features high capacity, low latency, and no fluctuation. We have established an environment within the NTT Musashino R&D Center where video production can be performed using a control panel for switching, and have verified that full-scale remote production is possible by connecting each filming location with an APN.
In addition to TBS, video was provided by the J.League (Japan Professional Football League), video production equipment such as a switcher was provided by Sony Marketing Inc., video transmission equipment was provided by NTT Innovative Devices Corporation, remote cameras were provided by Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd., and cloud CG production and other services were provided by FOR-A COMPANY LIMITED.
Figure 1 Remote Production Using APN
Key points of the technology
- Large capacity・ Through a high-capacity optical transmission path of at least 100 Gbps per wavelength between sites, multiple cameras at each filming location are connected to the switcher simultaneously. By transmitting uncompressed video at a high capacity and low delay, operations similar to those of normal video production are realized.
- Low latency・ Control signals to the camera required for video production and control information such as remote control of the camera are sent to the optical transmission path, and real-time control with ultra-low delay approaching the physical limit is performed to realize an environment where video production is performed on site.
- No fluctuation・ Using a transmission environment with no delay fluctuation and no time variation in network delay, the PTP time synchronization signal is transmitted over the network even to remote locations in Japan and connections outside Japan, thus realizing continuous high-quality synchronization between devices.
Results of this initiative
- Succeeded in remote production by transmitting high-definition quality uncompressed and large-capacity real-time video (based on SMPTE ST2110 broadcasting standard) for 15 cameras at remote locations. Remote camera control is achieved with a propagation delay of approximately 30 ms between locations 3000 km apart. Stable PTP lock maintenance between base devices at the level required for live broadcasting, which was difficult with conventional networks, was demonstrated by jitter of less than 1 μs.
- In collaboration with TBS (Akasaka Studio)'s information program "Hiruobi," all videos are split at the same time as the live broadcast. Camera images from three sites, a remote location 3000 km away (Taiwan) and a stadium hosting sports events (Saitama Stadium), were connected to a production site at the NTT Musashino R&D Center via a production private cloud (Kuramae), demonstrating that full remote production is possible for actual broadcasters.
Role of each company
This initiative was jointly promoted by NTT and TBS.
NTT: Providing APN line environment
In addition to the above, we have received the following video content, equipment, and technical cooperation.
- J.League (Japan Professional Football League): Provision of video content and technical cooperation for J1 League official games
- Sony Marketing Inc.: Supplied equipment and technical cooperation for video production equipment such as switchers
- NTT Innovative Devices Corporation: Provision of video transmission equipment and other equipment and technical cooperation
- Panasonic Connect Co, Ltd.: Remote camera equipment and technical cooperation
- FOR-A COMPANY LIMITED: Provision of Cloud CG production services and technical cooperation
Outlook
In the future, the two companies will jointly conduct field trials of video production based on the equipment and technology used in this initiative, and contribute to improving the quality of video production by further promoting video production DX and ensuring accessibility to video production bases and camera shooting sites.
In addition, by deploying APN technology, which is the foundation of this technology, to broadcasting stations and production sites, we aim to improve the efficiency and advance the development of video production DX throughout the industry.
[Glossary]
1.IOWN
The IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) concept is a concept of a network and information processing infrastructure, including devices, capable of providing high-speed, high-capacity communications and enormous computing resources by optimizing individuals and the entire system based on all kinds of information and utilizing innovative technologies centered on optics. For details, please visit the following website.
■What is the IOWN concept?
https://www.rd.ntt/e/iown/
2.APN
APN (All-Photonics Network) introduces photonics-based technology to everything from the network to the device, and realizes transmission with overwhelmingly low power consumption, high quality, large capacity, and low delay, which is difficult to achieve with current electronics-based technology. For details, please visit the following website.
■What is the All-Photonics Network?
https://www.rd.ntt/e/iown/0002.html
3."NTT R&D FORUM 2024 - IOWN INTEGRAL" Official Website https://www.rd.ntt/e/forum/2024/
4.PTP
PTP (Precision Time Protocol) is a protocol for synchronizing time in microseconds over a network. It is used for the system which requires very high precision time synchronization on the network. It was standardized as "IEEE 1588" by the IEEE in 2002, and the profile "SMPTE ST 2059 -2" is used in the broadcast production industry.
About NTT
NTT contributes to a sustainable society through the power of innovation. We are a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and businesses as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications, and consulting provider. Our offerings include digital business consulting, managed application services, workplace and cloud solutions, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. We are over $97B in revenue and 330,000 employees, with $3.6B in annual R&D investments. Our operations span across 80+ countries and regions, allowing us to serve clients in over 190 of them. We serve over 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, thousands of other enterprise and government clients and millions of consumers.
Media contact
NTT IOWN Integrated Innovation Center
Public Relations
https://tools.group.ntt/en/rd/contact/index.php?param01=R¶m02=101
Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.
Media Technology Department
+81 03-3746-1111
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Please be advised that information may be outdated after that point.
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