Lack Of Skills 'Not Holding Back IP Adoption' – Survey

A new study has revealed that while concerns like cost, perceived immature technology, security issues and interoperability do exist when it comes to the full adoption of IP in broadcasting, a lack of skills is not one of them.

The research, which has been carried out by Futuresource Consulting on behalf of Nevion, is based on a sample comprising VPs of technology and chief engineers from leading broadcasters in eight major countries.

They were asked if their organisations had the correct levels of operational and technical knowledge required for a transition to IP in live production – and two-thirds of broadcasters said they do have the right skills or partially have the right skills.

Adam Cox, senior analyst, broadcast and professional video equipment, Futuresource, said: "Overall the research indicates that the transition to IP is already underway, with the main barrier being the cost of the upgrade. On the flip side, the major driver for the change is the potential cut in OPEX. But surprisingly, while the lack of knowledge and expertise is an issue for some broadcasters, the majority of those surveyed don't see these factors as a major barrier."

Broadcasters in the USA had higher confidence levels in their in-house skills, with half of American respondents saying they had the correct skills in place. This compares to just 14% of European broadcasters. An additional 25% of US respondents said they partially had the right skills, while 43% of their European counterparts said the same.

In both regions, broadcasters are turning to training and recruitment to bridge the gaps that do exist, with 52% of respondents hiring new staff, while 81% are training their existing personnel.

When comparing the US and Europe, 69% of US broadcasters are looking for new hires and 77% are training existing staff, while 36% of European respondents are hiring with 86% opting for training.

"At Nevion, we're seeing a definite appetite for the use of IP in live broadcast in the market place, something supported by the research findings," commented Geir Bryn-Jensen, CEO, Nevion. "The confidence of broadcasters in their skills is a very positive factor. Other obstacles, like costs, can be overcome by making the transition to IP incremental and enabling co-existence with existing technology – something Nevion has been promoting heavily."

www.nevion.com

(JP/MH)