The clock is ticking down on 2015, so what better time to look back and see what were the big stories of the year as determined by you, our readers. Here are the top 10 most popular stories from the last 12 months on TV Technology.

10. List of Experimental Licenses Reveal Interesting HF Data Comm Experiments
Jan. 16, 2015 - Ham radio operators have been using the shortwave (“high-frequency” or HF) bands for data communications for over 50 years, but the data rates are much less than those available with dial-up modems.

9. SDI vs. IP: Which Switch is Which?
Oct. 14, 2015 - I’m sure you’ve heard about how everything is going IP e.g., Internet of everything.

8. Handgun-Firing Drone Clip Gets Attention
July 17, 2015 - A YouTube user who goes by the handle of “Hogwit” has posted a 14-second video that’s quickly gaining the attention.

7. CBS Alerts FCC to TV Tuning Failure 
Sept. 23, 2015 - CBS is urging federal regulators to make sure TV manufacturers are following the rules with regard to broadcast tuners.

6. NBC Resets With New Tech for Super Bowl XLIX
Jan. 27, 2015 - NBC will put its broadcast sports prowess to the test on Feb. 1 when it takes on the task of covering Super Bowl XLIX.

5. Harmonic is Buying Thomson Video Networks for $75 Million in Cash
Dec. 7, 2015 - Harmonic announced it has signed a binding offer to acquire Thomson Video Networks for $75 million in cash and up to $15 million in post-closing adjustments.

4. Is HDR Worth It?
Oct. 15, 2015 - It’s official: the Consumer Electronics Association has announcedits industry definition for High Dynamic Range compatible video displays.

3. Dronecam Captures Tech Changing Bulb at 1,500 Feet
Jan. 7, 2015 - Drone footage continues to break new ground even as feds grapple with how to regulate the unmanned aerial vehicles.

2. Thank You, WDBJ 
Aug. 27, 2015 - I’m supposed to write about science and policy; dry stuff that glazes eyes over. 
I’m not supposed to write about two young journalists getting gunned down on live television. 

1. FCC Upholds $1.4 Million EAS Fine Against Viacom, ESPN
Jan. 20, 2015 - The Federal Communications Commission is upholding $1.4 million in fines against Viacom and ESPN for misusing the Emergency Alert System warning tones.

LOS ANGELES—Hollywood Blvd. is lined with the names of TV and film stars, but from Oct. 26-29 the stars that occupied the famous street were those who attended SMPTE 2015. Broadcast industry professionals were on hand to discuss many of the biggest trends in the industry, and TVT was on hand to gauge what caught attendees’ attention. Here are the top five trends from SMPTE 2015.

Immersive Audio
Also known as object audio, immersive audio is designed to put the listener into the middle of the action. Multiple panels were held on this emerging technology, but perhaps the big buzz about it was the ITU’s recent approval of object-audio broadcast standards, new standards designed to facilitate the production and exchange of advanced audio files. This allows immersive audio to be paired with UHDTV.

Enhanced TV
This is not your old version of “enhanced TV.” What was talked about at SMPTE deals with UHDTV, 4K, 8K and beyond, including factors like high dynamic range, high frame rate and wider color gamut. A number of panels discussed how it takes more than just more pixels or a higher frame rate to achieve a superior look.

IP Transition
A lot of experimenting and trials are still occurring in regards to the IP transition. Just prior to SMPTE 2015 getting underway, the Video Services Forum, whose membership overlaps with SMPTE’s, released its Technical Recommendation for Studio Video over IP; it is expected to go to a SMPTE committee for standardization. SMPTE 2015 talked about IP in detail during its two part panel “IP and Networking of the Media Facility.”

ATSC 3.0
Should it really come as any surprise? ATSC 3.0 seeks to dramatically change the broadcast industry as we know it, so anytime it is talked about it will draw a large number of eyes and ears. The final day of the conference provided an overview of the next-gen standard and its advantages over legendary TV delivery systems, as well as an update on its development status.

Virtual and Augmented Reality
Could this be the next content revolution? SMPTE certainly had a number of demonstrations of what virtual reality and augmented reality can do, including a VR short from the Reese Witherspoon movie ‘Wild,’ and apps from the designers in the department of Film & Digital Media at Baylor University. You can check out some of videos here.

SPRINGFIELD, VA.—Next Tuesday, Oct. 13, will mark the start of the 2015 IEEE Broadcast Symposium down in Orlando, Fla., a three-day conference set to cover some of the industry’s hottest topics. Here’s a quick look at some of the things that will be talked about during the conference and planned sessions.

5. Alternate Delivery
To stream or not to stream? That is one of the big questions facing broadcasters in this day and age of Netflix, Amazon and the like. IEEE BTS will touch on the topic with a session that will include presentations on second screen interactive applications, IP video delivery costs for live and non-live stream events, and a special look at one of the latest OTT services, CBS All Access with CBS’ Bob Siedel.

4. EAS
As part of a larger session on ATSC 3.0, Peter Sockett, Capital Broadcasting Co., will make a presentation on how the new standard will affect and advance Emergency Alerting Systems. With hurricane Joaquin having recently passed by the East Coast, the new standard to alert viewers about weather and other emergencies is timely.

3. Cyber Security
As the digital transition continues to move forward, being able to protect yourself against cyber threats is becoming even more important. That’s why there will be a tutorial session on cybersecurity on the symposium’s first full day. James O’Neal is heading the session that will see George Waters from Gwanda leading a presentation on cybersecurity risk management and best practices, and ERI’s Tom Sillimann talking about grounding concepts and techniques for broadcast.

2. TV Repack
The FCC’s TV spectrum incentive auction is less than six months away, and IEEE is dedicating a session to help people get ready. While people prepare themselves for just how the auction will go down, Joseph Davis from Chesapeake RF Consultants will give advice on what things could be like after the bidding with his presentation, “TV Repack: Post-Auction Transition Procedures.” Presentations from Sid Shumate of Givens and Bell Inc., and Benedikt Scheid from RFS World will also touch on TV repacking.

1. ATSC 3.0
The big news recently was ATSC's announcement that the physical layer standard of ATSC 3.0 had been moved to the candidate standard process, moving it one step closer to final approval. With ATSC 3.0 being such a huge potential development for the entire broadcast industry, IEEE BTS is spending plenty of time on the topic, with a full morning dedicated to ATSC Standard on Thursday, and then closing out the conference with a look at ATSC implementation on Friday, including Zenith’s Tim Laud presenting on the first field testing of the proposed ATSC 3.0 physical layer technologies.

IBC 2015 came to a close last week, and now that we have had time to take in everything that was on hand at the conference, here is TV Tech’s selected top 10 trends from IBC 2015.

Ultra HD
No surprise really here, UHD continues to be one of the biggest topics in the industry and IBC was no different. The question hasn’t really changed either, as professionals are still working on how best to distribute 4K productions to homes. A number of companies held demonstrations of their latest UHD technologies, and the UHD Alliance announced they are close to completing quality standards for 4K, as well as other next-generation premium audiovisual experience. Of course, Japan’s NHK—which sponsored their own 8K demo in the show’s “Future Zone” is already be moving past 4K, announcing it will start testing 8K broadcasts in 2016 with the goal of broadcasting the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics in the high-res format. And to jumpstart UHD in the United States, Harmonic announced a partnership with NASA to launch the NASA UHD channel as well as a UHD demo channel for retailers.

Virtual Reality
Many are waiting with baited breath for 2016 when virtual reality is expected to make a splash in a big way with multiple companies, including Oculus Rift, releasing new VR systems. People got a teaser of what is on the horizon in Amsterdam, with several booths—including Akamai—showcasing VR technologies. Jaunt VR was on hand to announce an exclusive partnership with VR production company 3MERSIV, while the company also plans to launch a VR content app by the end of the year. The Future Zone had several VR demoes featuring panoramic image capture from 360° camera rig systems and video stitching software applications.

IBC's exhibit on HDR

HDR
Aiding the development of UHD along with 4K is High Dynamic Range. Envivio and Dolby Laboratories helped show just what HDR is able to bring to the table with a presentation of Envivio’s Muse Live Ultra HD video processing software working with the Dolby Vision sets, while NHK offered up a stunning demonstration of HDR in 8K and Technicolor and Elemental Technologies demonstrated what they claim is the world's first live high-dynamic range (HDR) broadcast delivery system. There were also a number of panels covering the requirements and issues in the capture and post-production of HDR images and the technology and challenges of HDR and wide color projection, including a keynote from Pixar and ILM. 

OTT Delivery
OTT services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are growing at rapid paces and are forcing broadcasters to reconsider how they fit into the new market paradigm. Akamai Technologies was one of the companies to take this on, demonstrating live workflow services, on-demand workflow services, advertising services, media delivery and media delivery services, and media analytics with the goal of evolving OTT strategies, while Comcast Wholesale announced the launch of its Live Linear Streaming servicem which combines traditional and online video streaming workflows into a turnkey solution as part of the Comcast Wholesale portfolio of services.

Transitions
In the midst of all the technology and product news at IBC, there were a number of high profile business announcements. Snell and Quantel took advantage of the gathering to announce its rebrand as Snell Advanced Media (aka S.A.M.); Telecom giant Ericsson announced its intent to acquire Envivio a San Francisco-based provider of video transcoding the distribution solutions in a deal worth $125 million; Avid laid out the details of its integration with Orad, which it acquired earlier this year; and Minnetonka joined the Telos Alliance and announced a product development partnership with Linear Acoustics.

Transition to IP
The broadcast’s industry’s slow march towards IP continued at IBC, as various vendors partnered with other companies to demonstrate video over IP capabilities. Imagine partnered with EVS in a demonstration to deliver live production, slow-motion and instant replay operations over IP. Tico Alliance, a group of companies working to develop technology to deliver 4K signals over 3G-SDI, announced it is working with SMPTE to enhance live IP systems, and added Deltacast, EVS, Media Global Links, and Tekronix to its membership ranks. The Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), a consortium of some of the world’s largest media networks and vendors, launched the Networked Media Incubator (NMI), a project to deliver a framework for IP-based media systems using interoperable and open specifications for end-to-end identity, media transport, timing, discovery & registration, connection management and control. Other IP highlights included EBU and VRT demonstrating a fully IP TV studio, Grass Valley introducing GV Node, a real-time IP processing and routing platform, Evertz demonstrating its ASPEN IP protocol and announcing that Ross will integrate the ASPEN interface into Ross switchers and Newtek, with the launch of its NewTek-NDI (Network Device Interface), an open standard for live production IP workflows over Ethernet networks<

Immersive Audio
Immersive, multichannel 3D audio is gaining momentum, and a number of companies came to IBC 2015 to showcase what they are looking to add to the market. Jünger Audio displayed a prototype of its audio monitoring system that will allow broadcasters to check the quality of all immersive audio transmissions regardless of formats. An audio system developed by the MPEG-H Audio Alliance has also demo-ed, which includes object-based and immersive audio. Attendees got to experience what Dolby had to offer in terms of immersive audio first-hand, as the Dolby Atmos was installed in the IBC Big Screen Auditorium for screenings of summer movies ‘Fantastic Four’ and ‘Inside Out.’

The Cloud/Virtualization
According to a new survey from Snell Advanced Media, cloud-based technologies still draw some skepticism from industry executives. Only 13 percent of respondents were willing to use cloud-based technologies to playout a primary channel, and the same said they would never make the move. But that’s not stopping companies from pushing forward with the technology. Adobe unveiled updates to its Creative Cloud; Zoo Digital premiered a cloud-based metadata management service; SGL showcased cloud-based archiving; and Al Jazeera technology chief Mohammed Abuagla explained that cloud technology is becoming virtualized. “We have to change the way we are thinking and we have to adapt,” said Abuagla. “We don’t care what we are running on because everything is virtualized.”

Drones
Everybody loves drones, and attendees got to learn more about them first-hand with IBC’s Drone Zone. Companies like Amimon Ltd., Autel Intelligent, DJI, Intuitive Aerial and Shenzen Wingsland Technologies partook in daily demonstrations in the Drone Zone. Elsewhere throughout the convention center, a number of new drones were unveiled, including the tethered Fotokite Phi and a collapsible backpack drone from ProDrone. DJI also displayed two new cameras that go with its Inspire 1 drone.

Managing Your Trade Show Activities
As the industry’s second largest annual trade show IBC provides many opportunities to network and share information with colleagues. To make that process easier, this year IBC introduced the “Touch & Connect” service for attendees. All registered attendees for the conference were automatically registered for Touch & Connect and could access it through any device to make contacts, collect information or share contact details with a vendor with a single touch. IBC didn’t just make Touch & Connect for its five day conference, users can continue to maintain contacts through the system all year round. Find out more about the Touch & Connect here.

For a comprehensive review of the show, don’t forget to join us for “25 Things You Might Have Missed at IBC,” Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m., sponsored by AJA.

It’s probably fair to say that when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone he didn’t envision it one day being its own mini production studio. However, thanks to apps and other mobile applications made by various companies, smartphones and tablets are becoming an essential tool for broadcasters to have. Here are five apps that are able to lend broadcasters and engineers a hand with TV production.

5. Academy Color Predictor

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may be best known as the organization behind the Oscars, but a little more than a year ago it came out with the Academy Color Predictor app for the iPad. The app is able to predict the interaction lights, cameras, filters and the photograph subject to visualize color rendering differences and compare different combination of elements. The Academy Color Predictor is available for free on the iOS App Store.

Agent-IC

4. Clear-Com Agent-IC

Clear-Com recently began to ship the Agent-IC mobile app. Available on both the iPhone and iPad, the app accesses the Eclipse-HX Matrix intercom systems remotely to connect studio staff and OB teams working live events or at remote locations. Features include point-to-point calling, point-to-multi-point calling, local cross point audio level control and notification functions. The Agent-IC works with iOS 8.0 or later.

3. Broadcast Pix iPixPanel

The iPixPanel app from Broadcast Pix allows users to control an entire Broadcast Pix system for live video. Designed specifically for the iPad, iPixPanel has the ability to switch cameras and add key layers, while its device control bank can control the system’s clip server, CG and other functions. It features a three-axis virtual joystick, rotary knobs, and PixButtons that change to show the device and file name on the button.

2. L-S-B The Wall

L-S-B recently acquired development resources from NEP labs, among which includes The Wall, an iPad app that helps configure monitor walls in mobile production units. The Wall allows engineers, technicians and members of a production team to set up monitors with ease and change them on the fly with a drag-and-drop selection function. Users can also save specific screen configurations as favorites to be able to recall them at any point. The Wall is multiviewer-agnostic and provides connectivity with all major manufacturer’s systems.

Dejero Live+ V3.1

1. Dejero Live+

Dejero’s latest version of the Live+ mobile app is currently available for users via the Apple app store, transforming their smart device into a newsgathering or live event tool. With the ability to transmit low-latency video over bonded cellular and Wi-Fi connections, Live+ can broadcast live video, record content for later broadcasts, or import and upload edited video files. New features include the ability to connect to satellite Internet transmission systems via Wi-Fi for connectivity from remote locations, and the ability to assign live feeds and uploaded files to different server destinations. In addition, V3.1 supports HD video up to 1080p on the iPhone 6 and has an increased bitrate transmission of up to 9 Mbps.

Dr. Richard Chernock

America’s TV viewers will be the ultimate beneficiaries of ATSC 3.0, as broadcast television moves to integrate new capabilities and features into the receivers of the future. The new standard will be configurable, scalable, efficient, interoperable, and adaptable. That flexibility is critical as technology continues to evolve. As the chairman of the ATSC’s Technology Group 3, which is assembling the elements of ATSC 3.0, I can see five key advantages for this evolution in technology.

5. Advanced Emergency Alerting

People depend on local broadcasters to keep them informed as emergencies develop – particularly with fast-moving weather events. Advanced Emergency Alerting through ATSC 3.0 will allow broadcasters to target alerts, and possibly even “wake” sleeping devices to make sure the public is kept informed of dangerous conditions.

4. IP Transport 

Internet Protocol is the language of the worldwide web, and the move to ATSC 3.0 will allow us to introduce new ways of broadcasting such as hybrid approaches that merge broadcast and broadband. The viewer gets more choices and more diverse content.

3. Immersive Audio

While we can accommodate up to six channels with ATSC 1.0, the move to “immersive” audio with ATSC 3.0 means that movie viewing and even sports can be more realistic and lifelike. We aren’t limited to stereo left and right speakers. Instead, new systems will deliver a new way of listening to favorite content.

2. Ultra High-Definition TV

Ultra HDTV is here, although there is precious little source content. Ultra HD, and related technologies such as high dynamic range, high frame rate, and wide color gamut, will allow terrestrial broadcasters to continue sending the highest quality signals to viewers. Americans are expected to buy more than 4 million Ultra HDTV sets this year and Hollywood is producing content with millions of pixels. ATSC 3.0 will insure that the highest quality signal is reaching viewers.

1. Robust Mobile Reception

We’ve had mobile digital TV as an “add-on” capability to 20-year old ATSC 1.0 technology, but it wasn’t baked into the standard from the beginning. People’s viewing habits have changed. Mobile is king. Broadcasters know that they have to be at people’s fingertips in order to be relevant – not just on the big screen in the living room.

The days of summer are almost over and many college students are on their way back to their respective halls of learning, ready to crack open the books and study up – eventually anyway. You don’t have to be a student though to take a few refresher courses. As the TV landscape seems to be in a constant state of motion, it certainly wouldn’t hurt broadcasters and engineers to be up to date on some of the industry’s biggest topics. Here are some subjects that TV professionals might want to study up on.

4. FCC Rules

Like history, the FCC never stops. All broadcast professionals must always keep a keen eye on the latest amendments to regulations, or whole new legislature. For example, the FCC recently announced an amendment repurposing broadcast television band spectrum for new wireless services that will alter the regulatory landscape for unlicensed white space devices and wireless microphones operating in the bands currently allocated for television broadcasting. Just when you think you have things down, the FCC offers something new for you to learn.

3. Single Frequency Networks

With the Television Spectrum Incentive auction currently slated for March 29, 2016, there’s a good amount of time to prepare for all the possible elements of the auction’s aftermath. One side of it that would be good to look into is Single Frequency Networks. With the amount of spectrum already shrinking, and even less likely to be available after the auction, SFN’s can potentially help broadcasters tailor coverage to a given market and minimize spill-over.

2. Cyber Security

Over the last year there have been a number of high-profile cyber-attacks against high-profile companies, and even our own government. As a result, the need for cyber-security has become a priority for many. But, as Forbes points out in a recent article, there are still many elements of cyber security that people need to become more familiar with. With the industry constantly moving toward more digital and IT technologies, people need to be sure they are on top of this potential threat.

1. ATSC 3.0

We’ve talked a lot about ATSC 3.0 already on both print and online, but it’s worth it. The next-generation broadcast standard is still in development, but it will have the biggest impact on the industry by far. In addition to covering many of the recent broadcast developments like interactivity, mobile devices and higher-resolution images, ATSC 3.0 also plans to be able to adapt to new technologies as they emerge. The suspected impact that ATSC 3.0 will have will force engineers and broadcasters to adapt too, and quickly, so better get a head-start now.

When the 2015 IBC Show kicks off in about a month’s time there is sure to be a bevy of new and exciting technology that will get attendees talking. The latest and greatest cameras will most assuredly be among the popular draws. But before studios and camera operators start putting the upcoming batch of cameras on their Christmas wish lists, let’s refresh on what 2015 has already offered on that front.

Alexa Mini (ARRI)

Unveiled at the 2015 NAB Show, ARRI’s ALEXA Mini is a five-pound version of its ALEXA camera, recording in ProRes 4K to CFast 2.0 cards. The camera also features a new optical eyepiece and will soon support ARRI Raw. The ALEXA Mini began shipping in May.

GY-HM200 (JVC)

JVC’s GY-HM200 delivers 4K ultra HD or 4:2:2 full HD at 50Mbps, and SD imagery with a 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS chip. The camera also features a built-in 12x zoom lens with optical image stabilizer and 24x dynamic zoom in HD mode, an HD streaming engine with Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity, and a 3.5 LCD display. After premiering at CES in January, the GY-HM200 became available to buyers in February.

GY-LS300 (JVC)

Also making its debut at CES for JVC was the GY-LS300. The camera offers a variety of native recording formats, including 4K UHD, full HD with 4:2:2 sampling, and more. It also features JVC’s 4K Super 35mm CMOS sensor and micro four-thirds lens mount. Like the GY-HM200, it also comes with the HD streaming engine and Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity. The GY-LS300 started shipping in March.

HDC-4300 4K/HD (Sony)

Sony used the bright lights of Vegas to showcase two new cameras, the first being the HDC-4300. This 2/3-inch three-sensor camera features up to 8x super slow motion in regular HD and 4K, with switchable flexibility. The camera uses the B4-mount lenses for sports and large event broadcasting. The HDC-4300 was released this summer.

LDX 86 4K (Grass Valley)

The LDX 86 4K camera was one of Grass Valley’s big draws at the 2015 NAB Show, delivering live standard-frame-rate 4K video and 6x slow motion HD video, with an ability to easily switch between the two formats. The camera delivers 3840x2160 pixel images from a trio of 2K sensors.

Micro Studio Camera 4K (Blackmagic Design)

Able to be used for HD or UHD production, Blackmagic Design Micro Studio Camera 4K lives up to its name as a miniature production camera that can operate up to 2160p30 in UHD or 1080p60 in HD. Features include a built-in color corrector, talkback, tally indicator, PTZ control output,B4 lens control output, and a flexible MFT lens mout. The Micro Studio Camera began shipping in July.

PXW-X320 (Sony)

The second camera Sony featured at the 2015 NAB Show, the PXW-X320 XDCAM shoulder-mount camcorder features three 1/2-inch sensors and supports MPEG-2 HD422 and XAVC HD Intra/Long GOP formats, as well as legacy codecs.

SHK-810 (IKEGAMI)

Developed with Japan Broadcasting Corp., Ikegami’s SHK-810 is an 8K UHD camera designed for live studio and field production. The SHK-810 is Ikegami’s fourth generation 8K camera. It is one-tenth the size of Ikegami’s first generation 8K camera and employs a single 33 million pixel Super 35 CMOS sensor for 4,000 TVL horizontal and vertical resolution.

URSA Mini (Blackmagic Design)

Blackmagic Design went small with both of its new cameras, as they also released the URSA Mini this year. Premiering at NAB 2015 and released in July, the URSA Mini is available in either 4K or 4.6K sensor models with EF or PL mounts.

Weapon (Red Digital Cinema)

The latest addition to Red Digital Cinema’s 6K Dragon family of cameras, the Weapon was introduced at NAB 2015. The camera provides new color capabilities with the dynamic range of the 19 megapixel Red Dragon sensor. It also features simultaneous onboard Recode Raw and Apple ProRes recording, as well as 1D and 3D LUTs for color matching. Red’s Weapon began shipping this summer.