Study confirms IP transition is gaining pace, but reveals knowledge and skills gaps and the need for industry training

SAM today announces the findings of its Global IP Barometer that was conducted in late 2016. The study answers key questions surrounding IP including timeline for the transition, the internal skills gap as well as industry and technology concerns. The research is based on approximately 1000 respondents from media industry professionals, primarily within Europe and North America.

“We welcome SAM’s Global IP Barometer; this report complements our own research findings on the state of IP in broadcast and media technology,” says Peter White, IABM CEO. “The IP interoperability Zone at IBC, sponsored by IABM and AIMS, demonstrated that competing companies can successfully work together to overcome technology issues in the move towards all-IP and hybrid solutions to meet current and forward-looking needs; SAM was of course one of the participants. In the IP Zone at this year’s NAB, we’re taking things a step further - IABM will be running a theater with a heavy educational slant.”

Key findings: Transition timelines and business benefit

Media companies are actively looking to deploy IP across both infrastructure and production workflows in 2017. 64% of Europeans and 56% of Americans will start IP production infrastructure projects within the next nine months. With production workflows, 54% of Europeans and 50% of North Americans will move to IP within the next two years. This IP migration is driven by the desire for improved flexibility and reduced cost of infrastructure - 35% of respondents claimed each of these were of highest importance. The number one priority of the respondents will be migrating media studios to IP infrastructure (35% of respondents). Just behind this at 32% is the migration to IP playout.  

Key findings: Skills gap and the need for training

The study indicates that media organisations currently do not have all the necessary technical skills available in-house to transition smoothly to IP. Just 36% of North American and 28% of European respondents believe they have the skills needed, while 47% of North Americans and 56% Europeans say they ‘partially’ have the required skills. That said, 69% of all respondents plan on bridging the skills gap by training current staff with just 22% saying they will bring in specialist consultants to support the transition to IP.

Key Findings: Technology approach

From a technology standpoint, adopting open standards is the most important consideration for IP infrastructure according to 47% of respondents, which ties to the goals of achieving more flexibility and reduced costs. The second priority in terms of technology approach is a seamless IP and SDI control system (26%). Of greatest concern is compromising the quality of production with 31% of the votes, followed by 27% ranking the cost of the transition as their number one concern.

81% of respondents will take either a hybrid SDI / IP or pure IP approach to current infrastructure projects. 71% of Europeans compared to 65% of Americans will take a hybrid SDI / IP approach.

“The findings from the Global IP Barometer re-enforce what we’ve been hearing from customers and prospects alike who are keen to understand more about IP,” says Said Bacho, SAM Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer. “The industry is undoubtedly moving toward IP, but there remains much uncertainty about the best practice, knowledge and skills needed to get there.” 

Bacho concludes: “2017 is set to be a big year for IP and the IP Barometer helps us understand how SAM can further support customers by greater investment in both customer and partner training and education, for example at our Global Customer IP Innovation Center.”