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Broadcast still requires server equipment at each site—but the server handles computations once. A broadcast site could deliver video to 1,000,000 devices simultaneously, with the server outputting a single stream. In contrast, unicast requires the server to process all 1,000,000 streams individually. For this reason, server infrastructure at the broadcast site was not included in the energy calculation, as its contribution is negligible. When accounting for the energy used by each playback device, both wireless broadcast/multicast and unicast show a linear increase in overall energy consumption—something not reflected in this graph.
Scenario 1: Data centers & CDNs vs. a full power UHF direct-to-mobile broadcast for a 2-hour 1080p live stream, consumed by 100,000 devices in a region:
Using conservative energy use averages of 0.01 kWh for data centers and 0.11 kWh for unicast data transmission per stream1, unicast transmission methods are at a major disadvantage environmentally as it increases linearly. For a 2-hour live stream, the energy usage equates to 0.24 kWh per live stream. The SISO broadcast would have a 1,000 kW ERP with input power of 77.1 kWh and electricity demand of 154.2 kWh for the duration of the 2-hour stream, regardless of how many people are watching the stream. At 100,000 concurrent devices, the data center and CDNs would use 24,000 kWh, while the broadcast would use only 154.2 kWh. This is a 99.35% reduction in electricity use, and thus, a 99.35% decrease in CO₂ emmisions. With an average of 0.4 lbs CO₂ per kWh, unicast would emit 9,600 lbs of CO₂ into the atmosphere, whereas broadcast would emit just 61.68 lbs of CO₂. Since broadcast is using relatively little electricity to begin with, 0-emission broadcast infrastructure is more feasible compared to unicast infrastructure.
*The energy usage for broadcast in this scenario is based on WTVJ in Miami, FL: 77.1 kW of input power + 11.13 dB antenna gain = 1000 kW ERP
Scenario 2: Data centers & CDNs vs. a low power UHF direct-to-mobile broadcast for a 2-hour 1080p live stream, consumed by 1,000 devices in a small region
Using the same conservative energy use averages as before: 0.01 kWh for data centers and 0.11 kWh for unicast data delivery per stream, a 2-hour live stream would require 0.24 kWh per stream. The SISO broadcast would have a 3 kW ERP with input power of just 0.009 kWh and electricity demand of 0.018 kWh for the duration of the 2-hour stream, regardless of how many devices are consuming the stream. At 1,000 concurrent devices, the data center and CDNs would use 240 kWh, while the broadcast would use only 0.018 kWh. This is a whoping 99.99% reduction in electricity use, and thus, a 99.99% decrease in CO₂ emmisions. With an average of 0.4 lbs CO₂ per kWh, unicast would emit 96 lbs of CO₂ into the atmosphere, whereas broadcast would emit just 0.12 ounces of CO₂. Since broadcast in this example is using extremely little power, 0-emission broadcast infrastructure is incredibly realistic.
*The energy usage for broadcast in this scenario is based on WWHC-LD in Buffalo, NY: 0.009 kW of input power + 25.23 dB antenna gain = 3 kW ERP
The LPTV broadcast example in scenario 2 is so efficient, that as long as there is at least 1 person watching, broadcast actually uses less electricity than unicast. The broadcast signal is in the air, travelling for many miles without any in-between infrastructure over that distance, and is received passively. If the power is a low extreme like this, broadcast wins due to its simplicity and coverage!
In theory, broadcast becomes the most efficient when there is a Single Frequency Network (SFN) of broadcast sites using high gain directional antennas with extremely low input power. In addition, energy calculations for broadcast have been calculated so far as if 1 stream requires the entire broadcast power. Multiple services can be carried per broadcast, lowering energy usage per video stream even more.
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