Video Breakthroughs

RadioTAG is a new protocol that enables you to share information with a broadcaster about what you're listening to by pushing a button on your radio.

RadioTAG is an initiative under the umbrella of RadioDNS, an industry-wide initiative to "enable the convergence of radio broadcasting and IP-delivered services". RadioDNS is also the home of RadioVIS, a slideshow service specification we have discussed before on this blog and RadioEPG, an electronic programme guide that aims to enhance broadcast audio services with rich programme related metadata.

RadioTAG is a protocol that defines:

- how a client finds the tag service corresponding to the current station using RadioDNS

- the transport protocol used

- the format of a tag request

- how the service should respond to unauthenticated requests

- how you pair a client with your account at a broadcaster's web site

What kind of metadata is needed to drive a good UX (User eXperience)? What kind of metadata is required to support better advertising or commerce? Who provides this kind of metadata? What are the examples where this is done well in the marketplace today? How much metadata should the content creator or app developer try to capture?

Let's back up a bit and "normalize" all of our experience in this space.
I like to think of metadata in the video space falling into 3 categories: technical (frame rate, frame size, commercial break, bit rate, etc), descriptive (summary, actors, director, reviews) and contextual (what objects are in the scene, what is happening at that point). Clearly, the first is a requirement to deliver a quality video service no matter the channel of delivery, the second is critical to search and recommendation, and the third is critical for any higher value experiences (better commerce, contextual advertising, discovery of new content for a consumer).

The BBC is experimenting with iPads to speed production and better incorporate metadata at the point of acquisition for use throughout the programme’s lifecycle, writes Adrian Pennington.

The focus of the Automated Production project at BBC R&D and demonstrated at BBC R&D North, is to use data and networking tools to power programme workflow. Alongside major pieces of IT research for post production and playout it is an attempt “to take it back toward the cameras and to the people making the programmes,” explained Lead Technologist, Jon Rosser.