ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)

ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
Technical Report


Media Content Distribution (MCD);
MCD framework;
Part 1: Overview of interest areas

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
2 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)



Reference
DTR/MCD-00001
Keywords
audio, broadcast, content, IP, multimedia, video,
TV
ETSI
650 Route des Lucioles
F-06921 Sophia Antipolis Cedex - FRANCE

Tel.: +33 4 92 94 42 00  Fax: +33 4 93 65 47 16

Siret N° 348 623 562 00017 - NAF 742 C
Association à but non lucratif enregistrée à la
Sous-Préfecture de Grasse (06) N° 7803/88

Important notice
Individual copies of the present document can be downloaded from:
http://www.etsi.org
The present document may be made available in more than one electronic version or in print. In any case of existing or
perceived difference in contents between such versions, the reference version is the Portable Document Format (PDF).
In case of dispute, the reference shall be the printing on ETSI printers of the PDF version kept on a specific network drive
within ETSI Secretariat.
Users of the present document should be aware that the document may be subject to revision or change of status.
Information on the current status of this and other ETSI documents is available at
http://portal.etsi.org/tb/status/status.asp
If you find errors in the present document, please send your comment to one of the following services:
http://portal.etsi.org/chaircor/ETSI_support.asp
Copyright Notification
No part may be reproduced except as authorized by written permission.
The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media.

© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2010.
All rights reserved.

TM TM TM TM
DECT , PLUGTESTS , UMTS , TIPHON , the TIPHON logo and the ETSI logo are Trade Marks of ETSI registered
for the benefit of its Members.
TM
3GPP is a Trade Mark of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members and of the 3GPP Organizational Partners.
LTE™ is a Trade Mark of ETSI currently being registered
for the benefit of its Members and of the 3GPP Organizational Partners.
GSM® and the GSM logo are Trade Marks registered and owned by the GSM Association.
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
3 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 5
Foreword . 5
Introduction . 6
Background . 6
Risks and opportunities . 7
The way ahead . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 References . 10
2.1 Normative references . 10
2.2 Informative references . 10
3 Abbreviations . 11
4 Basic concepts and areas used for the framing structure . 11
4.1 Media content distribution (MCD) chain . 12
4.2 Communications infrastructures and services and Information Society Services . 12
4.3 Examples of simplified overviews of the main areas related to MCD . 13
4.3.1 ITU-T, IPTV concepts . 13
4.3.2 JTC Broadcast, DVB . 14
4.3.3 TISPAN . 16
4.3.4 Open IPTV forum . 16
4.3.5 ATIS . 16
4.4 Existing main distribution platforms . 17
4.5 Examples of overall, general matters to identify . 17
4.5.1 Views and needs of Content Providers . 17
4.5.2 Regulatory issues, social needs and policy matters . 17
4.5.3 Classes of service, QoS/ QoE . 18
4.5.4 Security and contents owner rights . 18
4.5.4 Audience measuring . 18
4.5.5 Security, billing and user data protection rights. 18
4.5.6 Location services and the need to geographical limitation . 19
4.5.7 MCD, delivery surveillance and control . 19
4.5.8 Other aspects covering several areas of MCD . 19
5 The set of deliverables in TR 102 688 series . 19
5.1 TR 102 688-1, Overview interest areas . 20
5.2 TR 102 688-2, Views and needs of Content Providers. 20
5.3 TR 102 688-3, Regulatory issues, social needs and policy matters . 20
5.4 TR 102 688-4, Use cases and needs . 20
5.5 TR 102 688-5, Standardization work . 20
5.6 TR 102 688-6, Mapping of implementations and "best practice" for service interoperability . 21
5.7 TR 102 688-7, Framework and roadmap proposal for service interoperability . 21
5.8 TR 102 688-8, Audience measurement . 21
5.9 TR 102 688-9, Content Distribution Infrastructure (CDI) . 21
5.10 TR 102 688-10, Content generation and acquisition, Content Providers . 21
5.11 TR 102 688-11, Content Aggregators . 21
5.12 TR 102 688-12, Communication Platforms . 22
5.13 TR 102 688-13, Service aggregators . 22
5.14 TR 102 688-14, Regional content aggregators . 22
5.15 TR 102 688-15, Access Networks . 22
5.16 TR 102 688-16, Users' terminals and networks . 22
5.17 TR 102 688-17, Infrastructures, equipment . 23
5.18 TR 102 688-18, Communication Services . 23
5.19 TR 102 688-19, Information Society Services (ISS) . 23
5.20 TR 102 688-20, Location services and the need of geographical limitation . 23
5.21 TR 102 688-21, Security and content owner rights . 23
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
4 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
5.22 TR 102 688-22, Security, billing and user data protection rights . 23
5.23 TR 102 688-23, Content surveillance and control (parental or other) . 24
5.24 TR 102 688-24, Classes of service, QoS/ QoE . 24
6 Working method . 24
6.1 Actions to achieve goals . 24
6.2 External relatio ns . 25
6.3 Reference time plan . 25
History . 26

ETSI

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
5 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (http://webapp.etsi.org/IPR/home.asp).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This Technical Report (TR) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Media Content Distribution (MCD).
This is a multi-part deliverable identifiable by the same main number and a common part of the title. This set of partial
deliverables (parts and sub-parts handled and published independently but treated in a coordinated form) builds a whole
deliverable handling the subject identified by the common part of the title.
The common part of the title is Media Content Distribution framework. Each part and sub-part of the present set of
deliverables covers a specific subject specified in the corresponding scope and referred to in the specific part of the title.
To each part and sub-part of the whole deliverable a specific number attached to the common main number of the
deliverable will also be assigned.
The present document is part 1 of a multi-part deliverable covering the Media Content Distribution framework, as
identified below:
Part 1: "Overview of interest areas";
Part 2: "Views and needs of content providers";
Part 3: "Regulatory issues, social needs and policy matters";
Part 4: "Use cases and needs";
Part 5: "Standardization work";
Part 8: "Audience measurement";
Part 9: "Content Distribution Infrastructure (CDI)".
This list refers to the parts published or close to publication. The successive editions of the present document will
update the list. Clause 5 refers to all the possible parts of the set of documents building the TR 102 688 [i.1] series as it
is conceived by the date of publication of the present document (part 1 of the series); all the parts referred to in clause 5
and not cited in this foreword may be cancelled or have the title or the scope changed according the evolution of the
standardization work.
For a rational maintenance and easy usage of the complete set of the documents, only the present document, i.e. part 1
of the set of the documents, will maintain an updated list of the documents in the series, all the other documents should
refer to the part 1. The present document works therefore as the central point of the series.
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
6 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
Introduction
ETSI Board#69 minutes [i.8] register the following text:
6.6 Creation of a TC MCD (Media Content Distribution)
Margot Dor (ETSI Secretariat - Director Strategic Projects) presented documents:
[ETSI/B69(08)58] - Creation of TC Media Content Distribution.
[ETSI/B69(08)42 rev.2] - Proposal for the creation of TC (MCD) Media Content Distribution.
After some comments and overnight drafting group resulted in [ETSI/B69(08)42 rev.3] which was approved.
D-B69/11 The Board approved the creation of a new Technical Committee for Media Content
Distribution (MCD) and appointed Mr. Truls Langeggen (Telenor ASA) as convenor for the
first meeting [ETSI/B69(08)42 rev.3].

Further to the discussion above, the Secretariat was requested to provide a more detailed background information
package.
A-B69/3 ETSI Director-General to provide a more detailed background information package on the
(MDS) issue related to Media Content Distribution [ETSI/B69(08)42 rev.3].

Background
Today multimedia content is delivered via broadcast networks, the Internet, IPTV, and mobile. Delivery methods
include broadcast, unicast (e.g. 3G streaming services), multicast and peer-to-peer, but the experience is seldom
homogeneous and seamless for the customers. Content delivery by its very nature also includes a number of restrictions
and rules regarding rights.
The worlds of broadcast and telecom traditionally have had their own standards track, based on different commercial
requirements. Convergence between both worlds for content delivery results in a proliferation of technical options and
specifications, which result in a "standards maze" and a lack of clear business models supported by an accepted
technology. This does not serve business and customers' interests, as broadcasters, telecom operators and internet
players are offering what could be seen as similar services from a consumer perspective.
In addition commercial solutions developed by different market players do not interoperate across platforms. The crux
of the matter is that at one end, content providers face the challenge to provide different content formats to the various
distribution pipes, which in turn generates unbearable costs, whilst at the other end, customers' buy-in remains well
below expectations.
In general, there are a number of already deployed technologies addressing each of these different services in different
markets and addressing various combinations. Arguably the most significant issue is that typically once a market has
selected a technology, it most likely sticks to that choice. Although replacing one technology with another is possible in
theory, in practice the barriers, often related to economical reasons, are substantial. Even where new functional
requirements arise, existing solutions can in most cases be extended to address them. This will normally be easier than
replacing the technology with a newer one. This underlines the need to promote correct interoperation of equivalent
services based on different technologies.
Many in the industry point to the fact that without interoperability and cross-platform solutions for media distribution
that really meet content providers and end users' needs, market figures for digital media distribution may stay what they
are today and investments may well exceed profits by far.
In the early 2008 ETSI Secretariat initiated consultations with industry to assess potential interest and support for an
initiative aiming at addressing some of these technical barriers. Following a number of preliminary meetings with a
large representation from the industry, particularly including content providers and broadcast related representatives, the
Board approved the creation of a TC-MCD (Media Content Distribution) in the decision B69/11 and assigned the action
B69/3 as stated above.
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
7 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
The present evolution of the communications market strongly influenced by convergence effects requires an extremely
wide analysis to understand the specific needs in the communications sector.
The growth of transmission rates supported by new technologies and offered by network operators determined
convergence phenomena between the broadcasting and the telecommunications businesses. The increasing capabilities
of new developed codexes, the digital transmission technologies together with fibre infrastructures and new
radiotransmission technologies are facilitating convergence between mobile and fixed services. The popularity of
internet, the penetration of PC and mobile phones and other smart terminals and systems accelerates the process of
evolution determining an overall convergence in the ICT sector (telecom-broadcast-informatics, radio-fixed lines).
This evolution forces infrastructures initially not intended for some services to be used to support them. What initially
can be considered a problem appeared to be an additional stimulus on the market to overcome the identified difficulties
and the result is that e.g. VoIP initial tentatives quickly took a relevant place on the market and the recent evolution on
IPTV and other IP based transmission systems are offering better performances and more functionalities at a surprising
evolution rate.
To support this evolution and enhance the industry performance in this context the standardization has a central role and
studies like the present one can bring together market players around the best solutions in order to deliver products and
services to consumers with shortest possible delays and highest performance at reasonable prices.
Risks and opportunities
Although classical Broadcast, IPTV, WebTV and MobileTV systems are operated independently from each other, many
digital TV components are shared, e.g. Content Providers infrastructure, some parts of public Networks, e.g. Internet,
CDIs (independent or operator), advertising insertion devices (SCTE), home devices and gateways (UPnP/DLNA),
terminals and probably many others. Excessive fragmentation and non-interoperability of solutions for content
distribution across platforms may:
• Generate prohibitive development costs for many market players (content provision and/or content
distribution).
• Impair the virtuous circle usage service content usage.
• Engender misgivings at both end of the line, i.e. for content providers (e.g. too many interfaces of different
types) and for end users (e.g. too many, too expensive devices and adaptors often with limited choice).
There are already activities relating to media distribution taking place in and outside ETSI. Particular care should be
taken not to duplicate work or overlap the scope of existing standards making bodies and organizations. In this context
the set of documents will be essentially informative and will reach the detail necessary to achieve the purposes of TC
MCD building strong cooperation relationships with the most relevant standards making bodies in the area.
The work TC-MCD is undertaking should be based on a 'neutral, objective, independent approach' in order to ensure
technology neutral consideration to facilitate for markets to make their own choices.
The way ahead
The objectives of this Technical Body are therefore:
• Understand current and future requirements and technical solutions of content delivery to improve
interoperability.
• Consider Broadcast, Hybrid, Broadband/Mobile and other MCD offers based on both managed & unmanaged
networks.
• Consider content distribution from content providers to end consumers.
• Improve coordination of standards efforts in content delivery in order to facilitate cooperation and information
flow between standards development organizations.
• Propose architectures, authoring formats, content trans-coding, protocol and metadata translations.
• Build on existing core specifications, where appropriate.
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
8 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
In line with the above, TC MCD adopted the decision to produce the present document in order to create a structure of
technical reports covering the whole scope of the technical body where the main contents is the result of the study
identified in the Terms of Reference of TC MCD.
At present, in this initial phase, the following specific deliverables of the structure to be created have been identified:
• Collection and prioritization of use cases.
• Views and needs from Content Providers.
• Regulatory issues.
• Standardization work within and outside ETSI.
• Mapping of implementations and "best practice" for service interoperability.
• Framework and roadmap proposal for service interoperability.
The activities covered by the present set of documents in later stages will include all areas identified in the scope.
The goal of this study is therefore to establish the correct framework to initiate the development of and ensure the
adequate standardization work to cover all areas. This should lead to a more favourable environment and beneficiate as
many devices and systems as possible.
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
9 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
1 Scope
The present document belongs to a set of deliverables proceeding to the widest possible coordinated study on the media
content distribution (MCD) matters with the primarily goal of identifying standardization and future work needed. This
set of documents will cover at least the following activities:
• Identify MCD overall requirements and provide a representation (e.g. functional diagram, or more) based on a
thorough analysis of different use cases and business models; collection and prioritization of use cases;
description of value chain and actors.
• Map current standards with the representation and describe the relationships among standards:
- consideration of work by other SDOs and external bodies;
- mapping of existing and evolving MCD implementations and "best practices" for service interoperability
and components that can further converge.
• Perform a detailed gap analysis highlighting the challenges in the end to end delivery of content including
analysis of current and future business dynamics:
- identification of issues and gaps within existing activities and implementations.
• Provide implementations guidelines (combinations of standards) aimed at enabling a viable scenario and fulfil
the basic requirements of a MCD framework.
• Provide the basis for Inter standard profiling to realize this MCD framework vision.
• Provide overall guidelines to ETSI Technical Bodies to foster a co-ordinated development of standards for
digital media distribution across unicast, multicast and broadcast networks:
- propose work areas and activities within TC MCD and other groups of experts for distribution and
delivery of content and interactive media over heterogeneous network topologies and implementations.
• Support the liaison with other relevant standard bodies or organizations, reuse their solutions in the general
framework and facilitate the adoption of a consistent set of worldwide solutions.
• Facilitate discussions with relevant bodies on regulatory issues and content providers to help in the
introduction of new business models, taking into account existing and evolving business relationships:
- facilitate the liaison and collaboration with the European Union, Member states and International
Authorities on regulation, including EC Directives and other aspects, on issues in the MCD area;
- facilitate the collaboration and co-ordination positions with other SDOs and industry fora, in particular
with those that look for a global approach to interoperable solution.
• Contribute to limit overlap of standards covering the same markets and geographical areas by providing
matching information for the most relevant market players.
The present document is part 1 of the set of documents, proceeds to a MCD base structuring analysis and establishes an
initial roadmap for the studies covering the wide scope of this set of documents. It should be used as a central liaison
element among the different deliverables in the series.
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
10 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
2 References
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific.
• For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
• Non-specific reference may be made only to a complete document or a part thereof and only in the following
cases:
- if it is accepted that it will be possible to use all future changes of the referenced document for the
purposes of the referring document;
- for informative references.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
http://docbox.etsi.org/Reference.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
2.1 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of the present document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For non-specific references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
Not applicable.
2.2 Informative references
The following referenced documents are not essential to the use of the present document but they assist the user with
regard to a particular subject area. For non-specific references, the latest version of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
[i.1] ETSI TR 102 688 (all parts): "Media Content Distribution (MCD); MCD framework".
[i.2] ETSI TS 102 034 (V1.1.1): "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Transport of MPEG-2 Based
DVB Services over IP Based Networks".
[i.3] ITU-T Recommendation Y.1901: "Requirements for the support of IPTV services".
[i.4] ITU-T Recommendation Y.1910: "IPTV functional architecture".
[i.5] Open IPTV Forum - Functional Architecture - V 1.2 [Approved Dec 12, 2008].
[i.6] ETSI TR 102 469 (V1.1.1): "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); IP Datacast over DVB-H:
Architecture".
[i.7] Ultimate Guide to IPTV, a 360-degree view of the IPTV Ecosystem, a special Supplement to
Americas Telecommunications in partnership with ATIS.
[i.8] ETSI/B69(08)62 Rev.2: " Minutes, decisions and actions".
[i.9] ETSI/B69(08)58: "Creation of TC Media Content Distribution".
[i.10] ETSI/B69(08)42: "Proposal for the creation of TC (MCD) Media Content Distribution".
ETSI

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
11 ETSI TR 102 688-1 V1.1.1 (2010-03)
3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
3G third Generation
CDI Conten
...