FMT#1: Towards the on-line-only future of media delivery

Find here the presentations and summaries of the Future Media Townhall session on "The Future of Media Distribution".

Please note that these are quick summaries generated with AI tools. We apologize for any inaccuracy. Please refer to the presentations from the speakers for the details.

Find other content in the following links:

• Enabling the immersive media experience for all: https://www.5g-mag.com/post/fmt-2-enabling-the-immersive-media-experience-for-all

• 5G Broadcast, ready for launch? https://www.5g-mag.com/post/fmt-3-5g-broadcast-ready-for-launch

• 5G-MAG Members' Demos and Paper Pitches: https://www.5g-mag.com/post/5g-mag-members-demos-and-papers-shine-at-the-fmt

Presentation from the BBC, by Tim Pullen

Go to the Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RhrLqNoOnF4I4l-FdXvgO0QrZtQTss16/preview

The BBC highlights the ongoing shift from broadcast to online delivery, with nearly 27% of UK homes already IP-only. Online platforms enhance the audience experience through personalization, interactivity, and convenience, which broadcast is unable to offer. Key issues on the transition include scalability to handle peak demand, maintaining resilience and low latency, ensuring security against cyber threats, and minimizing environmental impact. While online offers limitless choice and fully creativity in user experiences, it is still perceived as complex compared to the simple, regulated broadcast EPG. BBC R&D continues working on technology enablers, testing solutions in latency, diagnostics, sustainability, and audio delivery to ensure a smooth transition to on-line for all.

5 Takeaways:

1. Traditional broadcast TV viewership is declining, while IP-based viewing is rapidly growing.

2. Online delivery offers personalization and convenience but sacrifices simplicity and regulation of broadcast.

3. Technical challenges include scalability, resilience, latency, diagnostics, and security.

4. Sustainability is a priority, as most energy use comes from viewing devices, not distribution.

5. BBC is actively testing low-latency streaming and mobile audio delivery to improve future IP services.

Presentation from Akamai, by Will Law

Go to the Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eov7uescHwMj_0sJUBnNw2tZH1ck3pKk/preview

Media distribution is undergoing rapid change driven by technology innovation and changing consumer behavior. CDN services have become commoditized, with delivery so cheap that it represents a fraction of streaming platforms’ revenues. Major players like Netflix and Facebook now build their own private networks, while Amazon and TikTok still rely on CDNs. Trends include ad-supported subscriptions, consumer pushback against content restrictions, and growth of piracy. At the same time, synthesized AI-generated video is transforming content creation, allowing personalized, on-demand media without traditional production. Emerging protocols such as MOQT (Media over QUIC Transport) aim to enable low-latency live streaming at scale.

5 Takeaways

1. CDN delivery costs are now negligible, driving commoditization in the industry.

2. Tech giants increasingly operate private distribution networks instead of relying on CDNs.

3. Growth of ad-supported subscriptions reflects consumer price sensitivity.

4. Synthesized AI video is disrupting traditional content creation and workflows.

5. New protocols like MOQT are being developed to improve real-time live streaming.

Presentation from SES, by Joel Grotz

Go to the Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FA7OrcUHo0uvJEsZZSERc57sfG606J2j/preview

SES is advancing satellite integration with IP-based broadcast standards, particularly DVB-I and DVB-NIP, to create seamless hybrid distribution combining terrestrial broadband and satellite delivery. These technologies enable efficient, scalable, and high-quality distribution across all IP devices, not just TVs. SES has completed prototypes, launched initial commercial projects, and is working now toward full convergence with 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Networks, where 5MBS (5G Multicast-Broadcast Services) may be able to support efficient content delivery over wide areas. Moving NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) technologies toward industrialization, productization, and developing compact satellite terminals are a key enablers for ubiquitous media access.

5 Takeaways

1. Modern internet video technologies like MPEG-DASH and HLS allow seamless access across all connected devices

2. SES has completed demos and begun commercial rollouts of DVB-NIP and DVB-I.

3. Integration with 3GPP NTN supporting 5MBS is underway for future scalability.

4. Hybrid solutions enable both satellite-connected and IP-only consumer devices.

5. SES is focusing on industrialization and compact receiver products to expand accessibility

Presentation from COMCAST, by Glenn Deen

Go to the Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ZPotnxQDCzHbkyhsJH-7iZark3H-uqk/preview

Streaming has evolved through three key phases. The first age (1990s–2007) focused on experimentation, with limited bandwidth, bulky files, and struggles to connect TVs online. The second age (2007–2024) delivered massive improvements in encoding, resolution (SD → HD → 4K), and broadband, supported by smart TVs, HTTP-based delivery, and large-scale VOD. Now, the third age centers on low-latency live streaming at scale, where reducing delay is critical for sports and events. Emerging technologies like edge computing, new transport protocols (Media over QUIC), and proprietary streaming solutions are shaping the future of real-time, global media distribution.

5 Takeaways

1. Streaming has progressed in three distinct “ages”: experimental, VOD scale, and low-latency live.

2. The early era struggled with bandwidth limits and TV connectivity.

3. The second era enabled HD/4K video and scaled VOD via HTTP delivery.

4. Today’s primary challenge is reducing latency for large live events.

5. Edge delivery and new transport protocols are key to the next evolution of streaming.