The EBU’s Strategic Programme on Media Infrastructures and Cybersecurity has published a comprehensive Reference Architecture for vendors aiming to align their systems with the Dynamic Media Facility (DMF) concept.
The Dynamic Media Facility Reference Architecture white paper defines a layered model for modern, software-defined production infrastructures that builds on existing concepts used in the cloud space such as OSI (open system interconnection).
Fundamentally, the model allows users to make independent technology and product choices for individual elements of the infrastructure. Functions can be added in the form of stateless containerized media microservices, which are either deployed on-premise, at a remote location or in the public cloud. Everything is managed by a unified Media Exchange Layer, which provides high-performance, asynchronous interchange between the media functions.
Meetup at IBC 2024
The DMF project will host a meetup at IBC 2024, on Sunday 15 September at 15:00 CEST, at EBU stand 10.D21, to engage directly with the communities of users and vendors. The session will dive deep into the new Reference Architecture and include a panel with key users and vendors to offer an open discussion. All interested parties are encouraged to attend and contribute to shaping the future of media production technology.
Why DMF?
The Reference Architecture puts in concrete terms the DMF concept initially described in the DMF white paper from April 2023. The 2023 white paper advocated for the media industry to develop interoperable, containerized media functions. Since then, EBU working group has identified practical use cases, shared hands-on experiences, and developed the new DMF Reference Architecture.
The initiative aims to guide the development of software-based media production systems towards an ecosystem that benefits media organizations, vendors and integrators in the industry. The Reference Architecture helps users and vendors to communicate requirements, and for the market to identify gaps, delivering faster innovation and uptake to all market participants.