Is Live Standards Conversion in the Cloud Ready to Be Used?

Many parts of the broadcast workflow have already successfully migrated into the cloud. Playout and transcoding are just two examples of processes that are now more likely to run off-premise than on. All major media asset management (MAM) vendors now offer their products as software services with a pay-per-use model. Integration of a software standards converter for file-to-file conversions in a cloud-based workflow is simply another common expectation. However, migration of live production into the cloud is happening more slowly. While cloud service providers are tackling key issues such as bandwidth, security, and availability, broadcasters seeking revenue from international distribution of live events are starting to consider how live standards conversion can be supported in a fully cloud-based workflow. This paper outlines the practical and technical challenges of reinventing standards conversion as a live cloud-based service and identify the readiness of various technologies as appropriate to the required solution
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