The Monday Mix - Mobile Television Content Delivery Systems & Over The Top Broadband Broadcasting

Technology changes so rapidly it is almost impossible for consumers to keep up. Today I get to be a bit of a geek and talk about Ultra HD television, Mobile Content Delivery Systems and Over The Top Broadband Broadcasting.

Know Your Terms: Display Resolution

The display resolution of a digital television, computer monitor or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by different factors in Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), Flat Panel Display which includes Liquid Crystal Displays, or projection displays using fixed picture-element (pixel) arrays.

It is usually quoted as width × height, with the units in pixels: for example, "1024 × 768" means the width is 1024 pixels and the height is 768 pixels.

For most current television displays, display resolution indication is simply the physical number of columns and rows of pixels creating the display (e.g., 1920 × 1080). A consequence of having a fixed-grid display is that, for multi-format video inputs, all displays need a "scaling engine" (a digital video processor that includes a memory array) to match the incoming picture format to the display.

Ultra HD Television Is Here

4k is the new standard bearer in display devices, and 4k resolution Ultra HD TV is available to a big screen living room near you. Sports fans of the world rejoice!

The now outdated 1920 x 1080 resolution Full HD TVs present us with an image of around 2 megapixels, but Ultra HD TV blows that away, delivering an incredible 8 megapixel image that is almost like watching 3-D television but without 3-D glasses.

What is 4K?

In nerd terms, 4K denotes a very specific display resolution of 4096 x 2160. This is the resolution of all 4K recordings, though many people use 4K to refer to any display resolution that has roughly 4000 horizontal pixels.

Ultra HD TVs have a resolution slightly lower than that - 3840 x 2160. That's exactly four times higher than the full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080.

With upgraded consumer technology devices comes an upgrade in delivery systems to view compatible content. Most movies and television shows are already filmed using upgraded equipment designed to be compatible with the new display units. Televisions can receive digital content via a digital antenna, cable TV connections or via high-speed broadband internet.

Why 4k Resolution?

Simply put, broadcasters are trying to find ways to keep you tethered to traditional content delivery systems.  With dwindling numbers and a new generation of more modern viewing habits, the traditional methods of television viewing are becoming obsolete, or at the very least, trending that way.

Talk Nerdy To Me: Mobile Television Content Delivery Systems

"This milestone ushers in the new era of digital television broadcasting, giving local TV stations and networks new opportunities to reach viewers on the go. This will introduce the power of local broadcasting to a new generation of viewers and provide all-important emergency alert, local news and other programming to consumers across the nation."
-- Paul Karpowicz, NAB Television Board Chairman

Mobile television is television watched on a small handheld or mobile device. It includes pay TV services delivered via mobile phone networks or received free-to-air via terrestrial television stations. Regular broadcast standards or special mobile TV transmission formats can be used. Additional features include downloading TV programs and podcasts from the internet and the ability to store programming for later viewing.

It is estimated that by the end of 2014 that there will be more than 792 million mobile TV subscribers worldwide (statistics via RNCOS Industry Research Solutions).

Some of the more familiar content delivery networks include Netflix, Hulu and HBO GO. These services provide the model of future television viewing in that they allow you to subscribe to view only the content that you want to view.

Let's face it -- consumers have had it with TV. They've had enough of the 1000-plus channel universe. They don't like timing their lives around network show schedules. They're tired of $100-plus monthly cable television bills. And our attention spans are growing ever shorter.

We are becoming a Zero-TV society, a phenomenon marked by residences that have no ties to cable television or antenna-based terrestrial television services, and this past year marked the first time ever that online television content viewing outpaced the traditional method of watching via home television. 

There are now over 5 million Zero-TV residences in the United States.

More alarming: the number of new cable television subscribers is starting to dwindle and is already at an annual net-zero level. College students entering the work force won't deal with archaic viewing habits and their associated high costs. Look at the viewing habits of your children to see where the future of delivered content lies.

Last year, the cable, satellite and telecoms providers added just 46,000 video customers collectively, according to research firm SNL Kagan. That represents a scary trend for service providers when compared to the 974,000 new households created during the same time. While cable TV is still in 100+ million homes, there has been a 3% drop in service agreements since early 2010 according to AC Nielsen.

Nielsen's study suggests that this new group may have left traditional TV for good. While three-quarters actually have a physical TV set, only 18 percent are interested in hooking it up through a traditional pay TV subscription.

This doesn't sit well with traditional broadcasters.

While show creators and networks make money from this group's viewing habits through deals with online video providers and from advertising on their own websites and apps, broadcasters only get paid when they relay such programming in traditional ways. Unless broadcasters can adapt to modern platforms, their revenue from Zero TV viewers will be an ever-shrinking endeavor. Adapt or die.

Over The Top Broadband Broadcasting

Free over-the-air TV is now free over the internet. The TV you watch everyday is now available on your smartphone and tablet, and those devices come with hi-def or better display resolution. Further, DVR in the cloud allows you to watch video on demand programing in case you miss the initial live, scheduled airing.

SyncBak, a company with which we are going to provide video content, takes over-the-air television over the top with an internet broadcast platform and mobile app that enables broadcasters, networks and studios to distribute live programming and video-on-demand content over the internet to mobile devices.

Syncbak is a media technology company that has created an internet broadcast platform for distribution of live and syndicated broadcast channels as well as VOD content. The platform creates an OTT standard that maintains territorial exclusivity for distributing broadcast television over the top of the internet to mobile and connected devices. Syncbak’s platform includes authenticated streaming technology, hardware and a live TV app (available in the Apple Store and Google Play).

• Syncbak distributes an internet simulcast of your live programming, exactly as it is aired, preserving your existing viewing relationships.
• Syncbak’s app delivers a point and click viewing experience on the mobile devices viewers already own and carry.
• Syncbak’s platform creates an OTT standard that enables broadcasters to stream live TV to viewers on all connected devices.
• SyncBak offers a solution to the Zero-TV household and a delivery carriage for next generation content consumers and on the go viewers.

What This Means For Jivewired

As a social marketing company, Jivewired has promised to stay leading and cutting edge.

With Redux and SyncBak, Jivewired can deliver indie music content for digestion to mobile TV viewers and over the top broadband broadcast consumers.

Further, an on-the-go consumer group requires shorter doses of video content for ingestion.

Episodes are becoming mobi-sodes, meaning consumers are provided with concentrated sample sizes of broadcast content rather than traditional 30-minute and 60-minute televised programing formats.

That means niche broadcasting modules allow us to present music video content and music-themed video content. We fit nicely in that niche, with the ability to provide more digestible entertainment in smaller doses that fit extremely well in the 5-minute to 15-minute digestible content range.

We also hope to bring X-treme sporting video content with indie-backed soundtracks to mobile TV and broadband TV formats via Redux and SyncBak, expanding our artists' reach, providing marketing inertia and offering viable licensing options for bands and performers subscribed to Jivewired.

Both Redux and SyncBak offer a social media aspect as well, enabling users to share our broadcast content.

THIS WEEK'S TOP FIVE LIST

Top five video content delivery apps on Google TV (past year - via Xyologic)

1. CNBC Real Time
2. Google TV & Movies
3. Redux TV
4. CNN Money
5. Thuuz Sports

THIS WEEK'S FACEBOOK FRIENDS



North Coast Music Group is a collaboration of independent promoters in Chicago. North Coast Music is React Presents, Silver Wrapper, Cold Grums Productions, Kingtello and Metronome Chicago. With a collective 50 years producing events, they have presented everything from small shows to selling out large scale concerts. Some of those specialize in electronic, hip hop, jam band, indie rock and all kinds of genres. With this festival, those promoters have come together to celebrate the merging of all music genres and walks of life that enjoy it as much as we do.

This year's lineup includes Passion Pit, Wu Tang, Afro Jack, The Disco Biscuits, Nas, Gary Clark, Jr., Big Gigantic. Lotus and much, much more.  The event will be held August 30th through September 1st in Union Park, Chicago.

You can get the entire lineup right here: http://lineup.northcoastfestival.com/

You can Facebook Friend the event right here and please tell them Michael from Jivewired sent you!

Video of The Day

IDGAF by Carmen & Camille




ABOUT THE MONDAY MIX

The Monday Mix airs from Noon to 5:30PM CDT each Monday and is designed to help you get through that brutal after-lunch, energy-sucking span that kicks off every work week. This particular show will be a mix of old, deep album cuts and new indie music with a lot of genre crossover. No Adele. Sorry.

What else does The Monday Mix do? Well, it helps you discover new indie music by combining some really great under the radar tracks with more established songs that were, once in fact, under the radar as well. The hope here is that the culture shock of discovering your next favorite band won't be so enormously imposing if we surround the new stuff with some of your old, familiar friends.

Jivewired supports independent musicians by paying royalties for airplay on Jivewired Radio. Please help us support indie artists by listening to our station and by purchasing indie music. Thank you.

The links on the radio player will give you download options if you really dig on the music and some of the songs are offered for free.

To listen, just press play on the radio widget to the right or use this link to open in a new window that will allow you to listen when you navigate away from this page:

Launch Jivewired Radio


MONDAY MIX PLAYLIST FOR 19 AUGUST 2013

1. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab For Cutie
2. Friends Of Friends by Hospitality
3. I'll Be Your Man by The Black Keys
4. Motor City Baby by The Dirtbombs
5. Final Clap Fever by Gram Rabbit
6. Coming After You by Leah Jee
7. Trailer Trash by Modest Mouse
8. Shadowboxer by Fiona Apple
9. Headlines by Shannon Labrie
10. Timebomb by Old 97s
11. Broke Down In Bellevue by Andy Palmer
12. Be Your Own Machine by The Bourgeois
13. Psychic Hearts by Thurston Moore
14. Wrapped Around Her Finger by Mikey Ohlin
15. Float On by Jennie Arnau
16. Rebellion [Lies] by The Arcade Fire
17. Entertain Me by Bear Ceuse
18. New Year by Beach House
19. New Love by Sassparilla
20. No, Not Now by Hot Hot Heat
21. Marry Me by Drive-By Truckers
22. My Only Offer by Mates Of State
23. Cut Your Hair by Pavement
24. Ava by Kilto Take
25. Livin' For The City by The Dirtbombs
26. Jesus, Etc. by Wilco
27. Anchor Drops by Umphrey's McGee
28. Mexicola by Queens Of The Stone Age
29. Hey Hey Hey by The Quick & Easy Boys
30. Monkey Trick by The Jesus Lizard
31. Sinking Ships by Don Gallardo
32. 16 Days by Whiskeytown
33. Cover Your Tracks by A Boy & His Kite
34. Mistress by Red House Painters
35. Naked As We Came by Iron & Wine
36. Kids by MGMT
37. Midnight City by M83
38. So Much Trouble by Matt Pond PA
39. Heartbreakin' Man by My Morning Jacket
40. Take It Off by The Donnas
41. Awkward by San Cisco
42. Everything You Took by Lee Bains III & Glory Fires
43. Little Too Late by Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
44. Home by Phillip Phillips
45. Busted Up by The Replacements
46. Miranda by The Imperial
47. North Side Gal by JD McPherson
48. Busket by Left Lane Cruiser
49. Never There by A Course Of Action
50. Woke Up Near Chelsea by Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
51. Bullshit by Well Hung Heart
52. Yabba by Anton Mink
53. The Only Place by Best Coast
54. 1957 by Milo Greene
55. Electrician's Day by Liam Lynch
56. Sorry About Last Night by Wally Dogger
57. Brand New Kind Of Blue by Gold Motel
58. Save It For A Rainy Day by The Jayhawks
59. Sunday by Jet West
60. Cold October by Escondido
61. Come Visit Me by The Rosebuds
62. New York, New York by Ryan Adams
63. California by Hydra Melody
64. Fell In Love With A Girl by The White Stripes
65. Far, Far Away by Wilco
66. Follow by Lovebettie
67. Before We Run by Yo La Tengo
68. The Witness's Dull Surprise by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
69. Yellow Red Sparks by Yellow Red Sparks
70. Coming For You by von Grey
71. Dreams I'll Never See by Molly Hatchet
72. Parted Ways by Heartless Bastards
73. Body & Soul by Goldenboy
74. Dark Horse by Laura Marie
75. I'd Rather Die by Fiawna Forte
76. Entertainment by Phoenix
77. Bloodbuzz, Ohio by The National
78. Mass Romantic by The New Pornographers
79. I'm Your Torpedo by The Eagles of Death Metal
80. Midnight In Her Eyes by The Black Keys
81. He War by Cat Power
82. Old Fashioned Morphine by Jolie Holland
83. One Arm Steve by Widespread Panic
84. Sacrilege by Yeah Yeah Yeahs