[opendtv] Re: Internet TV distribution architecture
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2014 11:16:12 -0500
> On Jan 3, 2014, at 8:33 PM, "Manfredi, Albert E"
> <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Craig Birkmaier wrote:
>
> I doubt that. ISPs aren't particularly fond of multicast, nor are Internet TV
> viewers likely to be satisfied with by-appointment TV. Both of those factors
> conspire against your line of reasoning.
Doubt all you want, but the facts say otherwise.
ISPs just provide bandwidth; if a live event is delivered via IP multicast, it
is just another connection for the ISP. Once again, the CDN is the service that
will determine if the stream is being delivered to one or one million viewers,
And the vast majority of TV viewing is still "by appointment." Live sports is
the bread and butter for the MVPDs, and most network viewing still happens when
the program is broadcast.
And there is another "tech factor" that can be employed to create IP multicast
streams. When large numbers of viewers seek the same content, it is relatively
easy to queue requests into multicast groups - we already wait for streams to
buffer, so it is relatively easy to set up queues with relatively short delays.
If a viewer pauses or searches they just drop out if the multicast.
> Moving beyond the arm-waving, it seems to me that your on-demand HTTP TCP/IP
> streams are going to be differentiated by the TCP 16-bit Port Number. So that
> says to me, assuming that bandwidth problems do not exist at all, each server
> or server blade is limited to 65,536 TCP sessions at a time. A different IP
> address will get you another 64K sessions. But that's not a whole lot in
> major metro areas, during prime time.
>
> To avoid huge bottlenecks in the path, and to speed up the reaction time when
> a new user comes on line, I think you'll need to do something a whole lot
> better than to expect everyone in the world to go to some Apple site in North
> Carolina, Craig.
Pay attention Bert. Yesterday I noted that Akamai operates 250,000 servers in
80 countries. They already have mirror sites in most major cities, or at major
WAN intersections. Gainesville is such an intersection, and thus is an Akamai
mirror site.
Apple, like many operators of multiple large server farms still relies on
Akamai and other CDNs for most streaming operations. What is now common is for
a viewer to query the operator of a portal like iTunes or Hulu, in part for
billing or subscription verification, and in part to search for a program. When
a stream is initiated it is typically handed off to a CDN mirror site.
> Craig! You're recycling the same arguments you were using for broadcast DTV
> 15 years ago. They didn't pan out then either. This sort of arcane
> arrangement might work for a short time, but soon the more competitive ISPs
> will get rid of it. We aren't going back to by-appointment TV or to TiVo
> either, especially not with mobile devices that may or may not have a good
> connection when you're not using them.
There were two reasons data broadcasting did not work out:
1. Broadcasters did not embrace the opportunity;
2. Broadcasters FAILED to create a DTV platform to receive these broadcasts.
The closest parallel was the Disney/PBS Moviebeam service, which required a
separate STB, not to mention buying the movies.
Today all kinds of software services occur in the background, as both PCs and
mobile platforms have pervasive Internet connectivity. RSS Readers have used
data broadcast techniques for years. Many apps pull in content as it is
updated, or as you change locations. Virtually all of my Mac and iOS software
updates automatically, IF I allow this in preferences; and I can restrict this
to WiFi only to conserve cellular data bits. In short, the technology and
devices are now in place for people to "subscribe" to their favorite TV shows,
as they are already doing with digital magazines.
> You forget that all this stuff exists now, Craig. People today are already
> watching Internet TV without having to choose and then download shows off
> hours. So I doubt very much that when the big numbers of Internet TV users
> show up, people would put up with a cumbersome new scheme.
What is cumbersome about this? Yes, I can access this stuff on demand; that
will not change. But people are already pre authorizing downloads of movies and
TV shows before their release dates. Subscribing to your favorite TV shows is
no different that subscribing to digital magazine.
You forget that a large amount of content is consumed from local cache, in part
because there may be no broadband when or where you want to consume the bits,
or you may only have access to expensive cellular data bits. People download
movies before they get on airplanes. They download content to view when
commuting on the Washington DC Metro. They download stuff to keep the kids
occupied when driving to Florida for a family vacation.
It is not a question of IF this will happen.
It has already happened!
Regards
Craig
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