Why Streaming Video is wrong for IPTV and the best alternative solutions

Why Streaming Video is wrong for IPTV

In a previous blog I had explained the basics of IPTV. In this, I want to explore one method of deploying IPTV and why it is doomed to failure. Let me also point out that Streaming Video and Streaming Audio are parallel models and together are often referred to as Streaming Media.

Lets start by noting some of the well-known methods of transmitting video across the Internet. The simplest and oldest method uses the File Transfer Protocol (commonly called FTP). A recent and very popular method called BitTorrent allows very fast transfer of files under some conditions – for example, it excels in peer-to-peer networks.

Now lets look at Streaming Video – again, this bit is a rehash from the previous blog, but it is important, so please stay with me. Streaming Video is a method of transmitting video files so that a portion of any video starts to play in your video player (for example Windows Media Player or Real Player) while the rest of the file is being received. All other commonly used methods require that the entire file be downloaded before it can be played.

Streaming Video essentially creates a “buffer” which fills up as the video is received. At any time, if the connection becomes slow or is briefly interrupted, the video continues to play uninterrupted from the buffer. Meanwhile, in the background, the player attempts to download more of the video into the buffer.

As I have said before, that is the theory, but in practice, interruptions and slowdowns of Internet connections are rarely brief. So, there is not enough of a buffer to supply a continuous stream while the video is being viewed. The video becomes choppy and grainy, sometimes freezing altogether - resulting in a poor viewer experience.

Let us say you are lucky enough or rich enough to buy a super-fast connection to the Internet. All you need to worry about now is that people in your neighborhood are not using their Internet connectivity too much when you want to watch a movie on IPTV.

“Ay, there’s the rub!” as Hamlet said. However, your ISP is not conflicted, their entire business model is based on shared bandwidth. In fact, Internet connectivity is always shared at some level or the other. Most commonly, connectivity is shared at the neighborhood level. And typically, most people in a neighborhood will go online or download movies at more or less the same time of day. Thus, at the very time when people want the best connectivity, the system will be under maximum load.

Internet connectivity is also unpredictable. In some ways, it is like the weather – there are just too many variables. A small storm in one area can result in massive upheavals thousands of miles away. When a stream of video travels from a providers server to a users PC, it could travel through a dozen networks and multiple nodes within each network. And the number of networks may or may not be related to distance. For example, even if the server and the users PC are a few hundred yards apart, the video might actually travel through half a dozen networks. Each of these networks could be having a massive upsurge of traffic just when your movie reaches a cliffhanger moment – literally.

It is for these reasons (and a few others) that the promise of delivering video-on-demand through the Internet has been largely unfulfilled. Despite improvements in Internet connectivity and speed, the shared pipes are still not big enough to reliably deliver a consistent and reliable stream.

Despite all this, most IPTV providers still use Streaming Video. Why do they want the worst possible protocol for transmitting over an unreliable and narrow pipe? For the single reason that, because it starts to deliver video to the user immediately, most people think that it is still the best way to achieve Video-on-demand. Other known protocols will force the user to wait until the entire file is downloaded.

But are there alternatives? Yes, and it is obvious once you think about it. The best way to deliver Video-on-demand to a consumer is to have the video already in their home, locally.

There is of course yet another way that Streaming Video can work. That too might be obvious after reading the above. If the Streaming Video provider is also the owner of the network, that provider then has far more control over the delivery of video. Let us say AT&T is your ISP, and they also provide content to you in the form of movies. Then, AT&T can design the network so that the movie is on a server near you and also ensure that there is sufficient bandwidth between the server and you. Expensive, but it can be done by running fiber to you door.

Unfortunately, such a model has many other issues including the inability of ISPs to obtain content easily. Most importantly, this model requires owning fiber (or at least copper) to the customer. And that limits any company from establishing itself in multiple geographies quickly. It limits them to serving specific geographies in an increasingly mobile world of fragmented audiences. More on this in another blog.

Yours truly is also working on a method that will simulate the benefits of Streaming Video but will rely only partly on the speed or reliability of the connection. Wait and see.

New Mexico Go Green With Filmmaking

Governor Bill Richardson today released his initial recommendations on "Green Filmmaking" practices for film and television projects shooting in New Mexico. The program consists of a list of voluntary steps a production can take to limit its impact on the environment and maximize its benefit to the community.

3:10 to Yuma is very happy to be one of the first productions to participate in Governor Richardson's new Green Filmmaking Program. We are continually looking for additional ways to contribute to these efforts
"New Mexico continues to find ways to lead the film and television production industry in innovative practices and incentives," said Governor Richardson. "Our green filmmaking program shows our commitment to respecting and protecting our state's natural resources while aggressively growing this industry. We'll continue to add to and refine the program as we go along but this is a terrific start."

Eric Witt, the governor's Director of Media Arts and Entertainment Development, explained the structure of the initiative. "Our program is simple," said Witt. "First, help educate filmmakers about environmentally sensitive materials and practices that are either cost-neutral or in some cases even cost-savers. Second, provide productions with contacts to local suppliers of these goods and services, as well as encourage the local business communities to step in where new opportunities arise such as providing recyclable materials pick-up services for set locations. Third, consider limited financial sweeteners such as waiving certain permit fees for productions that adopt these practices - although I stress that New Mexico already has the most progressive financial production incentive program in the country so this is probably the least critical element. Clearly education and connecting productions with the appropriate resources are the key ingredients."

Paul Haggis, writer/director/producer of In the Valley of Elah, currently filming in Albuquerque, is a strong environmental advocate and a board member of the Environmental Media Association (EMA) in Los Angeles. "We are proud to be one of the first New Mexico productions to practice environmentally conscious filmmaking," said Haggis. "In addition to using fuel-efficient vehicles, using biodegradable products, and implementing an extensive recycling program, we have contracted with a local food bank to donate all of our contained and unused food on a daily basis."

"We look forward to playing a part in implementing New Mexico's Green Filmmaking Program. We think it's a great example for other states to follow as well," said Haggis.

3:10 to Yuma, a feature film shooting in Santa Fe and starring Russell Crowe, has also put green filmmaking into practice. On top of donating lumber to a local charity organization, they are also providing their leftover food to a Santa Fe food bank on a daily basis. The production estimates that the food bank will have received thousands of meals by the time filming has ended.

"3:10 to Yuma is very happy to be one of the first productions to participate in Governor Richardson's new Green Filmmaking Program. We are continually looking for additional ways to contribute to these efforts," said Location Manager, c.

Says EMA president, Debbie Levin, "We're very excited that New Mexico wants to step up and lead the way for green production."

PROGRAM INFORMATION
New Mexico's Green Filmmaking Initiative is a voluntary program to encourage environmentally sensitive film & television production, built around three principles:

· Educate and Encourage productions in the use of environmentally sensitive production materials and techniques.
· Provide resources for green materials and services.
· Incentivize the use of green materials and techniques where necessary.

Educate & Encourage: The New Mexico Film Office will offer educational materials to productions about the use of alternative materials and environmentally friendly practices in the production office and on-set. This would include information on: recycling; purchasing locally made and/or organic products; donating unused/unwanted items to local school, church or animal welfare organizations; using non-toxic/low-toxic supplies and paints; leasing hybrid/electric vehicles; using biodiesel for generators; using alternative and biofuels for all other vehicles; water management/rainwater harvesting; and waste reduction techniques, among others.

We will provide all productions with a "Green Information Packet" explaining the financial and functional benefits of being eco-friendly - not just for the production but for the community and overall environment.

A Green Filmmaking working group has provided Governor Richardson with preliminary guidelines for building the Green Filmmaking program (see below). The administration will continue to explore new ways to inform and encourage environmentally sensitive productions and examine new business opportunities created through servicing these productions. For example, providing on-location pick-up services for recyclable or unused materials and food is one way the business community and/or private sector can fill anticipated needs.

A voluntary New Mexico Green Filmmaking certification program will also be offered to key production personnel such as Production Managers, Coordinators and other department heads interested in more intensive training in green production. This certification will further awareness and dissemination of information throughout the production community.

Resources: The New Mexico Film Office will supply contacts for environmentally friendly production goods and services through print and on-line resources, encouraging local purchasing where available.

Incentives: New Mexico already offers the most comprehensive film and television production incentive package in the nation. We will consider additional financial benefits, such as waiving certain permit fees, for productions that adhere to the principles of the green production program.

See the list of preliminary recommendations at http://www.ballantinespr.com/newmexico/GreenFilm_BestPractices2_120706.html

For more information on Green Production practices and resources please visit online at http://www.nmfilm.com or http://www.ema-online.org. Or call the New Mexico State Film Office at (505) 827-9810.

Going Green No Longer An Option

This year, Americans are finally starting to face up to the fact that we must take drastic and immediate measures to conserve energy and protect the environment or we will face serious economic and personal consequences. It is no longer an option, it is absolutely crucial to the future of both this country and future generations.

We have had our heads in the sand while Europe has been taking the steps we should have years ago. Since Europe has been dealing with higher energy prices for quite sometime, they have implemented policies to save energy both at home and in business.

Why did it take us so long to see that we would face a crisis? We have know for years that gas would become scarcer at some point.

Mainly, the reason is simple. We have maintained fairly low gas prices and felt exempt from Europe's situation. The tension that has existed for years in the Middle East should have concerned us. Americans have spoiled themselves with large cars and homes with little thought of the consequences that would ensue.

We must become proactive and aggressive in our approach. We cannot change the current oil crisis. We can only learn to conserve and protect what we have both for ourselves and the future generations.

My fear is that while we have started to see the importance and seriousness of what is unfolding, so many of us have not really grasped how dire the consequences will be if we don't take immediate steps!
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