Experts from DVB, Eutelsat, SES and ST Engineering iDirect talk about the new DVB-NIP standard, specifying a mechanism for delivering OTT content to IP-based devices using satellite.
By Rami Moussawi, Senior Product Manager at ST Engineering iDirect
For broadcasters across the world the transition to IP-based content delivery is well underway. IP content has taken the world by storm, transforming viewing habits, creating a raft of new entrants and pushing traditional broadcasters to rethink their business models.
With it, IP has brought unrivaled choice to consumers, and it has also presented broadcasters with new opportunities for revenue, including targeted advertising and the ability to gain a huge amount of insight on their customers’ viewing habits, enabling them to tailor content to their interests and reduce churn.
However, as with most transitions, there are challenges. Broadcasters must both meet the exponential growth in demand for streaming and OTT content while also managing delivery costs and network constraints, especially in regions with limited terrestrial infrastructure. Consumers expect high-quality, low-latency video everywhere, yet last-mile connectivity, network congestion and inconsistent coverage continue to hinder consistent, uninterrupted delivery.
Maintaining balance along the tightrope between operations, cost and expansion is a constant challenge, as Ignacio González-Núñez, SVP of Media for the Americas at Eutelsat explained, “In our experience across the Americas, broadcasters also struggle with the operational complexity of managing separate workflows for broadcast and OTT, which increases costs and slows their ability to innovate and reach new audiences.”
Introducing DVB-NIP
Using the strengths of satellite technology, the DVB-NIP (Native IP) standard works as a cost effective, highly scalable solution that helps to solve these challenges. Bridging the gap between broadband and broadcast networks, DVB-NIP takes advantage of the strengths of satellite, enabling broadcasters to distribute high-demand content to many users simultaneously without duplicating streams.
The DVB-NIP standard was published after three years of development by the DVB working group which included members from DVB, Eutelsat and ST Engineering iDirect. It specifies a mechanism for delivering OTT content to IP-based devices using satellite. The implications of this capability are huge for the industry.
DVB-NIP allows video providers to reach audiences in underserved areas and rural communities where OTT services may otherwise be out of reach. Providers are able to deliver broadcast grade OTT and file content to IP-enabled devices such as smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and laptops, in areas where internet connectivity is poor, unreliable or even non-existent. It can also be used to feed hotspots in communities and public venues where there is poor connectivity.
Annamaria Recchia, VP, Head of Commercial Development, Marketing & Product, Video at Eutelsat said, “By using Native IP over satellite, broadcasters can seamlessly integrate broadcast delivery into their existing IP workflows, ensuring consistent quality regardless of local terrestrial network limitations. This approach not only reduces congestion on terrestrial networks but also ensures consistent quality of service, delivering content directly to end-user devices such as TVs, mobile phones and laptops. It creates a scalable, high-quality and cost-efficient distribution model that complements existing broadband infrastructures.”
“DVB-NIP enhances content delivery efficiency by enabling satellite broadcast of IP-native formats like HLS and DASH,” commented Steve Bisenius, VP Media Solutions, SES. “This eliminates the need for traditional MPEG-TS workflows, allowing broadcasters to deliver content directly to IP devices. It supports multicast ABR, reducing bandwidth consumption by delivering content once to many users, rather than multiple unicast streams.”
The standard holds huge potential and can be used across multiple use cases. It enables satellite-powered edge caching, making it ideal for hybrid or disconnected environments like rural areas, ships, or mobile networks. By aligning with OTT standards, it simplifies infrastructure, lowers CDN costs, and supports targeted advertising and analytics – bridging the gap between broadcast scale and streaming flexibility.
New Opportunities
For broadcasters, the ability to extend reach is a critical part of their business. Continual expansion of their viewer base is essential for growth, but in many cases extending past a certain point into more remote and hard-to-reach areas can be very challenging, not to mention expensive. However, by employing DVB-NIP those challenges are easily addressed – a pivotal consideration for broadcasters that are attempting to reach previously unreachable communities.
Ignacio González-Núñez explained, “DVB-NIP empowers broadcasters to extend their OTT reach without the limitations of terrestrial infrastructure, effectively helping to close the digital divide. It enables them to deliver live, linear and on-demand content with the same quality across different geographies, devices and user contexts, at home or on the move.”
For governments as well, DVB-NIP offers unique benefits in terms of enabling access to important content for citizens. Whether that content is concerned with education, healthcare, news or information, DVB-NIP provides the critical link and makes media accessible on traditional linear TV sets.
“In Peru, we have deployed DVB-NIP with IRTP [the state broadcaster] to deliver educational and cultural content to 100% of the population, even in remote regions where terrestrial networks are not viable,” Ignacio González-Núñez continued. “In Brazil, our collaboration with Speedcast Serviços Multimidia is driving the use of DVB-NIP for delivering video services, opening doors for new business models in regions with challenging connectivity.”
Challenges
Streaming has become an essential delivery method for content owners and broadcasters, but the biggest challenge for them lies in the fact that not all users are equal.
Patchy broadband means that that coverage is fragmented and service drops in and out, creating periods of frustrating buffering. Many regions of the world still lack any connectivity at all and therefore are simply unable to gain any benefit from the services at all. In areas where the connectivity is available, networks can easily become saturated due to demand and inconsistency of Quality of Service (QoS).
Satellite technology has been hugely successful in its delivery of DTH services over many decades. Its reach, ability to multicast, the consistency and reliability of satellite is unrivalled. DVB-NIP takes these key attributes and applies them to streaming, allowing streamlined operations, consistent user experience and sustainability of operations.
It’s also important to note that broadcasters must invest heavily in cloud infrastructure, content delivery networks and edge computing to match the scale and reliability of satellite – this can be expensive. In terms of cost and energy efficiency, streaming is inherently expensive and energy intensive. “Content Delivery Network (CDN) fees grow with viewership, unlike broadcast where distribution costs remain flat regardless of audience size,” explained Steve Bisenius. “Depending on the countries and regions, CDN cost and infrastructure, a breakeven point from CDN cost vs. broadcast cost can be already achieved at a few thousand concurrent viewers, with regard to the broadcast infrastructure.”
There is also inevitable disruption to the traditional revenue model. Instead of relying upon linear ad slots and subscription bundles, streaming introduces fragmented monetisation bundles (SVOD, AVOD and FAST) and increased programmatic advertising – using algorithms that target audiences with preferences and needs that are relevant to a brand – which may not yet match the revenue level of traditional models.
Digital Rights and Market Adoption
Thus, while the technical groundwork for DVB-NIP is solid, barriers to widespread deployment remain. One of these is content protection. Digital Rights Management (DRM) remains a thorny issue, especially in unidirectional delivery scenarios where no return path exists to authenticate users or refresh licenses. Although companies like ST Engineering iDirect have found commercial workarounds by partnering with DRM vendors, providers still need standardised approaches to reassure rights holders.
Another challenge lies in market-wide adoption. Because DVB-NIP-compatible set-top boxes and network infrastructure are not yet widespread, deployment requires engagement between operators, hardware manufacturers and service providers across the value chain. But once that ecosystem is in place, the benefits are difficult to ignore. DVB-NIP supplies the building blocks for a future where everyone, everywhere can access high-quality video content, on any IP-enabled device.
Huge Potential
The teams at Eutelsat, SES and ST Engineering iDirect continue to spearhead DVB-NIP development. Though the standard is in the early stages of adoption, the potential is undeniable. Without investing in huge infrastructure projects to connect the unconnected, DVB-NIP can enable broadcasters to deliver content anywhere, and this represents a true breakthrough for the industry.
Annamaria Recchia said, “At Eutelsat, we are proud to be at the forefront of DVB-NIP development, co-chairing the standardisation group to shape the future technical requirements with broadcaster needs in mind. We bring decades of experience in video distribution and the unique advantage of a hybrid GEO-LEO satellite constellation, providing flexibility to address different market requirements. We make a robust, future-ready satellite infrastructure available to broadcasters that integrates directly with IP-based workflows, while accessing our proven video neighbourhoods across the Americas and globally.”
“DVB-NIP allows you to deliver IP-native content at broadcast scale, without the cost burden of terrestrial CDNs,” commented Steve Bisenius. “With SES, you can reach both connected and disconnected audiences, unify your OTT and broadcast workflows, and monetise through addressable ads – all while preparing your platform for the future with open standards and satellite efficiency.”
The overall message to broadcasters is that DVB-NIP is not just a technology, it is a strategic tool for expanding their reach, reducing distribution costs and unifying OTT and broadcast delivery strategies under a single Native IP ecosystem. www.idirect.net
