ors, mechanically and elec- trically sectioned to capture small parts or areas of a scene. With some amplification and care, the image(s) can convince humans that they can see something in the way of a reasonable and acceptable representation-analog of the real scene. Digitized audio and video content become an object in computer lingo, capable of being automated and manipulated in many ways not remotely possible in analog form. Content in bits, bytes, cells, or packets can be encapsulated in containers and interfaced to digital transport media. Clocking, synchronization, and timing become crit- ical parameters and characteristics that must be constantly attended to. Content transport means to move the content from one point to another or from a single location or source to multiple locations. PRACTICAL IP AND TELECOM FOR BROADCAST ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS Content can be transported live, or in real time, and used immediately or stored for further editing and packaging before being staged for the ultimate purpose. An often-used metaphor has digitized content in liquid form that is carried in a digital pipe. Supposedly, the content flows through the pipe like water. Not exactly an ideal description, but close. Maybe a more appropriate metaphor would use marbles instead of water. Imagine replacing marbles with watermelons. Both have unique characteristics, are quite different in size, and respond differently to the relatively fixed and rigid characteristics of any particular trans- port media type. With a little more imagination, it is easy to see that both should be packed and protected differently for the trip. Packing marbles with material normally used to protect watermelons may turn the marbles into small pieces of glass by the end of the journey. On the other hand, packing watermelons in material suitable transporting marbles may make watermelons unaffordable at the point of sale. In summary, and to be practical, content is valuable property as long as it gets to the point of a transaction. Someone has to w