Don't overlook this article just because you're in media content creation rather than product development. These two M&E industry have always been interrelated, and their connection will only grow stronger, impacting the way you work and your ability to cater to your clients or media organizations' production needs.
A significant shift is taking place under the surface of tools used for video switching, audio mixing, graphics integration, and communication with production staff, talent, and guests. This transformation is rooted in the cloud, where virtualized versions of technologies and products for TV production, playout, and distribution are housed.
While virtualization is important, the real driving force behind this change is a relatively new concept in the media landscape: microservices.
Microservices – A Brief Overview
Microservices have their origins in the 1970s and have been a part of the computing world for some time. Recently, they have gained traction in the Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry. Microservices are essentially mini-applications, allowing multiple independent mini-applications running on different hardware to perform the same overall function, offering numerous benefits such as easier deployments and scalability.
Implications for the M&E Industry
Microservices can be deployed on multiple cloud servers and used as needed. For M&E companies, this means they no longer need to purchase standalone hardware and software to meet peak demand. Instead, instances of required microservices can be spun up on additional cloud servers, communicate with each other, and meet the demands of even the busiest days. This OpEx model offers financial advantages and enables vendors to be more agile and responsive to their M&E customers' needs.
Microservices in Practice
This concept has been applied in the real world by companies like TVU Networks, which developed various products based on a microservices architecture. These products include TVU Partyline, a cloud-based solution that combines virtual presence and real-time communications, and TVU Remote Commentator, a solution that enables remote sports commentary.
The use of microservices will continue to grow, allowing producers to keep up with the rapidly evolving production market. As a result, they will play an increasingly important role in the tools and processes used in media production.
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