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Pebble appoints Jon Briggs as Chief Operating Officer

Leading industry professional promoted to drive Pebble’s development across its operations

Epsom, Surrey, UK, 11 Apr 2023: Pebble, the leading automation, content management, and integrated channel specialist is delighted to announce the promotion of Jon Briggs to Chief Operating Officer. Jon has been promoted from his previous role as Director of Operations which he held at Pebble since joining the organisation in late 2022.

Jon brings over 28 years of experience in the media and entertainment sector. He started his career as a playout engineer for Omnibus Systems and went on to hold senior positions at Miranda Technologies and Grass Valley. He has extensive experience in delivering pioneering technology projects in many different areas of broadcast operations.

Jon has been leading the teams behind many recent broadcast innovations, such as the world’s first IP facility for BBC Wales in Cardiff, large-scale technology transformations such as Discovery ETT, and the world’s first 4K OB truck for BT Sports Premiership Football coverage. In his new role, Jon will guide Pebble’s Operations team, building on the company’s excellent reputation for delivering high-quality customer experiences.

Jon is passionate about collaboration, continuous improvement and customer partnerships, always finding solutions with the people he works with in a positive way, and always looking to put the customer at the heart of every decision.  

“Pebble is dedicated to delivering top-tier integration system solutions for our clients. We’re thrilled to welcome Jon as our new Chief Operating Officer.  We believe his  significant industry expertise will be a valuable addition to our team as we deliver our plans for continued growth. With Jon’s appointment we’re confident that we’ll maintain our momentum, whilst ensuring we continue improving our service to our customers .” said Pebble CEO, Peter Mayhead.

Jon said “I’m really excited about my new role and look forward to being actively involved in driving the company’s operations, working with a wide range of global customers from public and commercial broadcasters to service providers. I’m also looking forward to leading our business to ensure we deliver our strategic goals, and share the ambitions of our customers as broadcast technology continues to evolve.”

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Pebble to showcase its market-leading integrated solutions and next generation functionality of Pebble Control at NAB 2023

Epsom, Surrey, UK, 28 March 2023: Pebble, the leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, is delighted to confirm its presence at NAB 2023 in Las Vegas, on stand W3759.

Pebble will be showcasing its market-leading playout automation and integrated channel solutions as well as its award-winning IP connection management tool, Pebble Control, and web-based monitoring system Pebble Remote.

Pebble Control is built specifically to enable broadcasters to make the leap to an all-IP facility without the need to deploy a bespoke enterprise solution. It is self-contained, scalable and easy to configure, leveraging full support for the Networked Media Open Specifications (NMOS) suite of protocols produced by the Advanced Media Workflow Association to facilitate networked media for professional applications.

Pebble Control Free (the freemium version of Pebble Control) was launched last year, and went on to win the Media & Entertainment Best in Market Award in late 2022. It enables broadcasters to work with entry-level access of 25 concurrent input and output connections at no cost. The industry award recognised Pebble Control Free as being one of the best innovative solutions that made an impact in the media and entertainment industries in 2022.

Pebble Remote, a web-based monitoring and control tool, will also be showcased. This cloud based solution enables secure 24/7 remote access to mission-critical control for playlists, both on-premises and off-site. Additionally, it facilitates centralised control access across multiple playout sites, making it an ideal solution for broadcasters who manage complex systems with multiple channels. Pebble Remote has proven to be a valuable tool for overcoming the challenges associated with operating outside the typical confines of a playout facility.

Alison Pavitt, Director of Sales and Marketing at Pebble, said: “We are thrilled to be returning to the NAB show to share the latest developments for our hybrid cloud playout and IP connectivity solutions. It’ll be our first exhibitor presence at NAB since the pandemic and the first opportunity to showcase our rebrand here. Of course we’re also really looking forward to reconnecting with our US and LATAM client base and to making new contacts from our new base in the West Hall. It’s going to be a great show!”

Pebble CTO, Miroslav Jeras adds: “As broadcasters transition to IP, finding the right partner becomes critical to business success. We’re excited to share our insights and expertise on industry trends and to connect with customers and thought leaders alike. We look forward to discussing how Pebble’s technology and solutions can support broadcasters as they navigate the landscape of IP and to help them confidently make that move.”

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Meet our Customer Fulfilment Engineer

Jordan Toner featured in TVBEurope’s “Meet The” Series where they talk to a range of people working within the media and entertainment industry about their average working day in their roles. The piece can be found online here.

Talk us through an average day in your role  

After completing my morning routine (which includes yoga!) one of my first tasks is to check on support calls that have come through overnight, followed by a regular catch up with my line manager and colleagues on the work to be prioritised and completed for that day. The work varies from a simple configuration of adding another channel to an existing system or helping to build a playout infrastructure from scratch for a new broadcast facility.

I then respond to emails following up on questions from existing customers or requests from our solution architects team detailing future work that will come our way which needs to be planned for.

Some days I’m involved in a kick-off meeting which provides vital information on what is needed for a customer and the timeframe for delivery, others I’m solving the challenge of a complex configuration at a customer site – so looking at the type of channel they play out and the hardware they use to do this alongside our software and then identifying what changes/fixes need to be made to the hardware so that the channel continues to play out successfully. And then there are days where I’m working on a full technology refresh, which means installing new servers whilst ensuring the customers’ channel/s stay on air – which is quite the challenge. A tech refresh like this happens in one day!

As you can imagine, working on so many different projects concurrently means that every day is very different!

How did you get started in the media industry? 

My first job was as a warehouse assistant for a live events company. I helped to design the live events in the warehouse itself, recreating the “event” locally; my main duties being to test all the kit which ranged from lighting, safety bonds, audio desks (testing faders) microphones, cabling, cameras and finally stress testing the truss.

My next role was working for BFBS as a junior broadcast engineer. I remember my first task was fixing an uplink van – which was quite old! From there, I was then given the task to update the facility’s Scala archive system, taking it from the older LTO4 to the newer LTO6 tape generation. I also had to install a whole new robot and chassis as well as a light web interface. At the time, BFBS were using Pebble’s Integrated Channel solution which is how I first heard about Pebble!

I also worked for a number of systems integrators to help design and build large-scale production facilities worldwide, the most memorable being for the BBC Lagos Bureau in Nigeria. I experienced a very different side of the world and met some very interesting people; friends I keep in touch with even now.

After some time with TSL, I then moved on to Blackmagic Design as a technical sales specialist for broadcast, where I built a mini production facility in a van and drove it across 12 countries in Europe in eight weeks!

After my time at Blackmagic, I worked on a project for Google Deep Mind to build the best video conferencing facility possible. The backbone of the facility was MTP trunked fibre, enabling a full UHD SMPTE 2110 system – it was all IP, with no SDI at all – across multiple sets of meeting rooms with AI controlled cameras, Shure directional microphones and speakers in the ceilings. This was also recreated in an amphitheatre for a video conferencing experience straight out of the year 3000!

What training did you have before entering the industry? 

I took a two-year college course in Media Studies aged 16, but didn’t return back to education until I was 23. In between, I spent two years working as a 999 call taker for the Ambulance Service, but I eventually went on to study Media Technology at the University of Salford – a big shout out for Laurence Murphy who is the lead lecturer and head of technology there! He undoubtedly helped me land my first job.

Why do you enjoy working in the industry? 

Because I’m a geek first and foremost! I’d describe myself as a technologist – I like the “cutting edge-ness” of it all. I’ve worked on some varied projects in my career so far but never have I worked for a company before with so much trust and freedom like I do at here at Pebble. For me it’s the place to be! And I have a fantastic line manager who is very supportive. The industry itself is constantly evolving and there are various debates about the next best thing such as 8K HDR with whispers of 16K on the horizon. 

It’s also about the people too – especially at Pebble. I recently mentored my colleague Anisa which was really interesting. Having the perspective of a ‘fresh green’ engineer who was testing my knowledge was great because she wasn’t afraid to ask questions and it was really rewarding to play a pivotal role in her development. It’s nice to have someone that you can pass your knowledge on to and challenging the way you do things by constantly checking up on your knowledge. I really enjoy working with my colleagues and all in all I think the team we have at Pebble are the best around!

What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours? 

Be sure this is what you want to invest your time in because it is a challenging job, a lifestyle choice – but one that is incredibly rewarding at the same. You need to enjoy the challenge and you will want to solve the problems this industry is facing. Be prepared to learn lots and continue to learn lots! If you give it everything, it will give you so much in return in terms of industry experience but also general life experience – it’s the nature of a broadcast engineering role. No other role like it in the industry!

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What does interoperability mean to you?

Looking for ways to diversify your hybrid cloud playout and facilitate IP transition? Meet Pebble, your expert partner helping you take control of your connectivity

Interoperability is ‘the ability of different systems, devices or applications to connect and communicate in a coordinated way without effort from the end user’¹. In other words: the more your systems enable devices and applications to seamlessly interact with each other, the greater your claim can be to provide a totally interoperable solution.

It’s important to understand that the term differs from the basic concept of applications being interconnected, instead deriving from the idea that they are communicating meaningfully and intelligently, exchanging information independently between applications and/or devices.

WHY IP?

There are many reasons for maintaining a hybrid IP/SDI environment, especially when trying to achieve interoperability. It acts as a zero-baggage approach, keeping your options decisively open when potential re-evaluations crop up later down the line. Growth plans can change, but the beauty of IP is that you’re left with that innate ability to increase channels, broaden system or network sizes, add services and upgrade to new resolutions and solutions.

Choosing a control system is the most important piece to that IP facility puzzle. It dictates what devices you can work with, as well as the types of workflows that will sit on top of that control system.

Having recently won the M&E Best in Market 2022 award for Pebble Control Free, Pebble boasts over 22 years of experience in playout automation. Its origins are in controlling VTRs, cart machines and routers. And now its latest solutions are designed to control networked devices and create flexible workflows for virtualised playout. Pebble technology is used by an international customer base having brought thousands of channels to air – reliably.

With Pebble Control Free, you can make 15 simultaneous input and output connections. You can also have up to 50 active inputs and outputs from multiple devices, running on one host with one software panel.

For those with legacy devices, Pebble Control Free has a Legacy Router Emulation feature – a virtual router that sits on top of all the inputs, outputs and containers. This allows you to map resources into sources and destinations, just as you would in a normal router.

Pebble Control has been designed with an empowered mission: to solve challenges caused by the uncertainty that comes with IP assignment. It does so in a way that’s independent, cost-effective and – most importantly – retains interoperability.

THE STANDARD APPROACH

Pebble is a pioneering voice in an industry-wide regulatory debate. It participates in the NMOS Steering Committee and chairs the NMOS Modelling activity, ensuring interoperability of any installed IP devices. Following these open standards will then support the industry to move away from using proprietary protocols and adopt an interoperable approach. Collectively, we need to be responsible for easing the pain of using multiple devices for various workflows.

¹ techtarget.com/searchapparchitecture/definition/interoperability

Read the article directly on FEED magazine HERE.

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Two Key Concepts in the Transition to IP Media Workflows

Full page article for TV Technology written by Pebble CTO, Miroslav Jeras:

Maintaining a hybrid IP/SDI environment leaves options open for the future

Whether we are talking about the cloud, the shape of our new working lives, or the migration toward IP workflows, one of the main words you will hear around the industry now is “hybrid.” 

It’s an important concept; while the future of broadcast is based on transitioning to native IP environments, that does not have to be a “big bang” solution. Rather it can be a steady migration, one where the industry moves through several transition stages to reach the goal at the end of the roadmap.

Gracefully Moving Forward
The destination is not in doubt. IP allows broadcasters to scale and adapt easily, quickly spin up new services to meet changing audience demands for content, and flexibly configure and manage devices and workflows. It is where we want to be. However, not everybody is in a position to move at the same speed to this SDI-free future, and so there are distinct benefits to allowing the current hybrid IP/SDI infrastructures that we are seeing taking shape in the industry to flourish.

Maintaining a hybrid IP/SDI environment leaves options open for the future and ensures that broadcasters do not have to commit to an infrastructure investment in what are, by any stretch of the imagination, turbulent times. Once plans coalesce then the move can be consolidated, but if current plans are set for the foreseeable future while longer-term steps are not yet in focus, then SDI co-existing with IP is still a practical solution.

In some respects and in some types of equipment, it is a case of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” SDI may remain the best choice, for now at least, for certain types of equipment and technologies, or for organizations of certain sizes and budget levels. The use of the SMPTE ST 2110 protocol (the set of SMPTE standards for sending digital media over an IP network) in a hybrid system means it is also easy to manipulate separate video, audio and ancillary data streams, providing IP-style benefits even with legacy setups.

There does, however, need to be a degree of forward-thinking at work here. 

Existing SDI-based control systems should be upgradeable to control IP sections in an ideal world as well. If they lie outside this remit, then companies need to determine if that will be handled by an IP control system (for instance, Pebble Control), which would then interface with the legacy SDI system. This type of integrated control solution can bridge the gap between IP and SDI, with both SDI and IP inputs and outputs offered in a single solution to support hybrid infrastructures.

Many organizations are transitioning to IP-based systems using their existing SDI infrastructure, which can create isolated areas of IP. These organizations must consider how to integrate IP into their current infrastructure and bridge between these resulting islands in order to move forward and eventually convert everything to IP. Which brings us to another key concept in the ongoing transition; interoperability.

The Importance of Interoperability
Interoperability is one of the key enablers of a smooth transition to IP workflows. To achieve true IP workflows, interoperability is essential to unlocking the benefits of using off-the-shelf IP networking technology to route signals from any source to any number of destinations on a network.

Interoperability describes the ability of an application or device to interact meaningfully and exchange information with another separately developed application or device. There is a difference between open protocols, proprietary protocols and closed protocols. Some companies add their own protocols, which can increase the difficulty of device integration.

For interoperability where multiple vendors are involved, which is everywhere nowadays as the old model of monolithic single-vendor installations has disappeared in the rearview mirror, sticking to standards and best practices is crucial.

There are two key points to talk about when it comes to accelerating IP deployments: the previously mentioned SMPTE ST 2110 and the AMWA¹ Networked Media Open Specifications (NMOS) suite of protocols. Together, these two advancements further the way IP networks transport media including uncompressed video, PCM audio and ancillary data that are carried over separate routable streams, as well as device connection management on a network.

Essentially, these protocols help join those islands together, now and in the future. Many manufacturers, Pebble included, are working within the SMPTE and NMOS protocols to simplify establishing IP native workflows. Interoperability also requires working with legacy and current systems and in this case, compliance with industry protocols produces definite benefits. For example, the ability to emulate legacy index-based matrices or routers means any IO or container can be connected using an SDI router protocol.

All this makes the hybrid IP/SDI environment possible and provides seamless backwards and future compatibility, regardless of an organization’s scale and scope. It enables an organization to migrate towards the IP future at the speed that suits them rather than having it imposed on them via external factors.

Read the rest of the article HERE.