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News
McCain calls for original 2007 spectrum return
Sep 16, 2005 12:11 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), angrily reacting to the failure of emergency communications in the Katrina disaster, charged last week that television broadcasters are “blocking access to spectrum for first (emergency) responders who serve over 50 percent of the country.”
The senator called on Congress to move up by two years the consensus date that broadcasters must give back the extra spectrum they were given for the transition to digital TV to the original date of Jan. 1, 2007.
“After spending millions of dollars in funding and additional spectrum for our nation’s first responders why aren’t we better off than we were on 9-11 when it comes to interoperable communications?,” McCain asked in a Senate floor speech. “Because the spectrum Congress provided to first responders in 1996 is being held hostage by television broadcasters even though broadcasters have been given new spectrum.”
Even after the Katrina communications failure, McCain said he would be “watching to see if the broadcasters find a way to once again delay the hand off of this spectrum to first responders.”
The senator noted that in 1997, NAB President Eddie Fritts stated on "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer" that broadcasters’ use of spectrum allocated to first responders was merely a “loan to facilitate an orderly transition.”
McCain responded: “Mr. Fritts, this ‘loan’ has gone on long enough. Congress must now call in your ‘loan.’ You got your spectrum, now give the first responders their spectrum.”
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, (R-AK) said last week that he is circulating draft legislation among colleagues that would expedite the DTV transition. Stevens told the National Journal that “a couple of items” in the draft still must be resolved. He said he plans to meet individually with some senators to try to settle those issues, and possibly discuss some broader telecommunications issues.
Stevens said he has not decided on a timeframe for introducing a DTV bill or moving it through his committee.
IBC 2005 Coverage
IBC2005 special: Broadcasters urged to choose their future
Sep 16, 2005 1:44 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 At IBC2005, choice was everywhere. |
At the recent IBC2005 conference in Amsterdam, choices were everywhere. It was evident in most of the marketing campaigns and multi-format equipment and technology offered by vendors. It was also on the minds of many European broadcasters, the majority of which are at the tipping point of deciding which direction to move forward.
Many broadcasters have developed their digital plans and begun to implement them. Rather than concentrating on high-definition production and transmission, as most U.S. broadcasters are, however, many European media companies are also trying to figure out how to use their digital spectrum for sending additional video services to mobile devices, such as cell phones, and are working on ways to develop two-way interactive and on-demand and business models. Broadband connections are key as well.
International broadcasters are also faced with the decision of how to implement these new services. Most of the HD services now available, such as Premiere-HD in Germany, Euro 1080 in Belgium and BSkyB, in the UK, which will go HD in 2006, are satellite-delivered services, although some cable companies are also getting into the act. While baseband video is still the dominant method for producing and distributing video programs, many (particularly the telcos, which are quickly building IP-based systems to compete with terrestrial stations, cable companies and satellite TV providers) see IP-based technology as an easy way to deploy an infrastructure without laying cables or broadcasting over the air.
At IBC, hundreds of companies displayed technology and systems related to facilitating IPTV distribution in one way or another. Two companies, SkyStream and Teleste, ran a joint contest at the show whereby the winner would receive a compact IP headend for free, just by visiting its “Blue Light District”-themed booth. Teleste is reselling SkyStream’s Mediaplex-20 and iPlex IPTV headends to cable and telco IPTV providers. Many trials are taking place in Europe and in Scandavian countries.
The choice of advanced codecs necessary to fit lots of HD channels in limited spectrum was also on the minds of many, although far differently than last year. In 2004, exhibitors at the IBC conference were fairly split between the MPEG-4 AVC and Microsoft’s VC-1 compression formats.
This year, after talking with many in the industry, it appeared that MPEG-4 H.264 would be the eventual winner and take over the lion’s share of the content delivery market. Some attendees said that after they got a closer look at the specs within VC-1, it was looked to them that currently MPEG-4 can do a better job of providing a high-quality, compressed picture. That is, if and when the appropriate set top boxes become available.
Several companies showed real-time MPEG-4 encoding of HD material (both 720p and 1080i) at about 8-, 10Mb/s. The quality was good to the naked eye, with very little artifacts, even when compressing scenes of fast motion, like sports. Avid announced it is collaborating with Microsoft to deliver native VC-1 support among its editing systems and Digidesign and M-Audio sound production products, so the format is by no means going away any time soon.
As for the other technology displayed on the exhibit floor, many of the products and systems were those shown at the NAB convention in April. Some products were now shipping or had new enhancements. While most equipment manufacturers touted the freedom of choice among their product families, using off-the-shelf IT technology to keep prices down, many understand that these same companies have little choice but to do so. Customers want affordable technologies and systems that can do multiple tasks to reduce the reliance on manpower.
Automation, master control, graphics and server systems are only the beginning. At IBC, makers of intercom systems, remote monitoring software and digital infrastructure products also are now heavily reliant on IT components and users are reaping the benefits.
Indeed, even digital cameras are leveraging more IT than ever before. At the show, Thomson introduced its new Grass Valley Infinity series digital media camcorder, which offers a choice of resolutions (SD and HD, at up to 75 Mb/s); four types of recording media (including a 30-second internal cache memory); and three compression schemes. It records to a 36GB Iomega Rev Pro disk, but also uses a solid-state Compact Flash card.
Panasonic and Sony both displayed their respective non-tape-based product families, which now support everything from 25 HDV to 100Mb/s HD data rates, with a full array of options to fit any type of budget and application. Letting the customers decide, Panasonic’s AJ-HDX200 captures either 720p or 1080i images or 480p SD pictures on solid-state PCMCIA memory cards (P2) or MiniDV videotapes. Sony’s XDCAM HD camera allows users to record multiple data rates on the same disc. Ikegami and JVC also offered a choice of CCD sensors (FIT and IT CCDs or CMOS chips).
IBC said the number of attendees was more than 42,000 — up 5 percent. Many were eager to commit to new technology on the show floor, according to many manufacturers exhibiting. Some broadcasters are still operating analog facilities with small digital islands. Others are making the push into digital with a vengeance. At IBC it was clear that, especially when having to decide a future path through the highly competitive television landscape with its multiple distribution platforms, the options are numerous.
For publicly traded companies, bigger is better
Sep 16, 2005 2:16 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
With the news that Harris had decided to buy Leitch, and months earlier, Avid’s purchase of Pinnacle Systems, it appears that the large, multifaceted conglomerates of the mid-to-late-90s are making a come back. Yet what’s behind this increase in company size has little to do with technology. It’s all about the stick price, shareholder value and reach. These companies are beholden to the shareholders to grow the company, and acquisitions are the quickest and most reliable way to do that.
Indeed, according to executives at Avid, Harris and Leitch, “bigger is better” for capturing new business. They all claim that offering end-to-end systems helps them win accounts by offering a smaller piece to the puzzle.
For example, Tim Thorsteinson, vice president of Leitch (who will remain in his position), stated that a major deal with ABC would not have come to fruition had Leitch not acquired Inscriber Systems earlier this year. He also said that he was considering buying a small automation company before the Harris offer came about.
With the Leitch acquisition, Harris is now better positioned to attract more business, he said, in markets it didn’t address before. As an example, before the announced acquisition plans, Leitch had one person on staff to handle the government market. Harris, a long-time supplier to the military, has several hundred.
David Schliefer, vice president of Avid Broadcast and Workgroups, expressed similar sentiments, saying with the assets of Pinnacle under his belt, he’s now able to have “different conversations with customers, ones that are not solely based on price of equipment but on solving broadcasters’ problems.” he said. Jeremy Wensinger, president of Harris’ Broadcast division, said customers increasingly want a single supplier that understands the entire production/broadcast workflow and can actually do something about it without having to bring in a third party.
Panasonic ends run as IBC exhibitor
Sep 16, 2005 2:39 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
At the end of its annual IBC press conference, Panasonic surprised all in attendance by stating that 2005 would be their last time exhibiting at IBC2005.
This news followed the decision months earlier made by Snell & Wilcox to also pull out of the show. Many were left wondering whether this was the beginning of a trend to move away from Amsterdam as the key European show for new broadcast technology.
Both companies have stated that their decisions, arrived at separately, were not based on financial issues but on a desire to reallocate resources.
Could other companies be soon to follow? While many companies were well aware of the high costs of exhibiting in Amsterdam, many still felt it very necessary to exhibit at the show. Several companies, both large and small, agreed that hosting an exhibit stand, whatever the price, is simply the cost of doing business.
At the start of the conference this year, IBC announced that it had considered moving the show to another location, citing the limited number and high cost of hotel rooms in Amsterdam. Officials said they looked at other locations in Germany and Spain, but had signed an agreement with the city of Amsterdam — where it’s been since 1992 — to return in 2006 and 2007.
Industry Updates at IBC
BBC Broadcast transmits first HD broadcast in MPEG-4 AVC
Sep 16, 2005 2:41 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
At the IBC conference last week, BBC Broadcast staged a demonstration of one of the first MPEG-4 compressed HD broadcasts, using a dedicated channel simultaneously distributing both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC from its Broadcast Centre in West London to the RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre in Amsterdam.
The test channel was broadcast using the Eutelsat EUROBIRD1 satellite and included a variety of program types to demonstrate the benefits of HD. The transmission from the Broadcast Centre to IBC was made possible with help from systems integrator TSL, and the following equipment manufacturers: Axon, Miranda, Omnibus, Pro-Bel, Snell & Wilcox, Trilogy, JVC, Omneon, Pixel Power, Screen Subtitling Systems, Tektronix and Vistek.
TANDBERG Television supplied MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC HD encoders and professional receivers, with connectivity and uplink facilities being provided by Siemens.
Eutelsat provided a full transponder on EUROBIRD 1, and MPEG-4 HD receivers were supplied by Pace Micro Technology and Eldon Technology.
SeaChange demos MXF interoperability with EBU at IBC
Sep 16, 2005 2:52 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
SeaChange International joined other participants to showcase MXF interoperability at the European Broadcast Union’s (EBU) Village at IBC2005. MXF file wrapper capabilities, inherent across SeaChange’s broadcast systems, support standard definition IMX/MXF content at 30Mb/s for the EBU’s content subtitling demonstrations.
The EBU Village brought together exhibits from a number of EBU members and affiliates to highlight a range of advancements in television technologies. This year, eight demonstrations from members such as the BBC and IRT, in addition to affiliates including WorldDAB and DigiTAG, showcased some of the new technologies available.
MXF was designed to ensure file format interoperability among broadcast components in an IT television infrastructure. It works between cameras, storage, software applications and I/O subsystems, resulting in faster workflow.
At IBC, SeaChange demonstrated the scalability and interoperability of the MediaCluster-based MediaLibrary storage and SD and HD MediaClient codecs. Applications feature MPEG-2 and DV encoding/decoding and integration with numerous clients including Final Cut Pro NLE and Sony’s MXF-based XDCAM removable optical storage.
For more information, visit www.schange.com.
Mobile video standards war hinders deployment
Sep 16, 2005 3:00 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
While many companies and broadcasters were talking about mobile video services, several issues must be resolved before full deployment can succeed. European broadcasters, just like U.S. broadcasters, must find new content to support these next-generation services and a single standard for delivering video and audio elements needs to be agreed upon. Thus far, neither has happened.
The competing standards, DVB-H, T-DMB and MediaFLO are all being used sparingly for various tests throughout the continent (and were on display in a special Mobile Video area at the IBC conference), but none has overwhelming support.
There have been reports of channel changes taking up to 15 seconds when using the DVB-H scheme. Dermot Nolan, an expert on mobile video technology, said if this continues to be the case, the technology is “dead in the water.”
In the U.S., the same format war, between DVB-H and MediaFLO, is inevitable. Nolan suggested that American telco companies would choose DVB-H because it includes more open technology than the competing technology developed by Qualcomm. The company has established a new venture, MediaFLO USA, which intends to provide interactive multimedia services to consumers in cooperation with U.S. cellular operators. MediaFLO USA was structured as a subsidiary because Qualcomm said it intends ultimately to spin off its ownership of the business to its shareholders.
Subscribers of mobile video services will have access to a broad range of content from the entertainment industry’s media companies. The services will give TV stations and networks, cable TV and satellite operators and networks, and other content providers a new distribution channel that complements their current offerings, enabling them to reach their increasingly mobile audiences.
New Products & Reviews
Sony unveils XDCAM HD
Sep 16, 2005 3:11 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 XDCAM SD and HD use the same disc. It is completely backwards compatible and offers all the speed advantages of its standard-definition sibling. |
Combining 1080-line picture quality with the workflow benefits of nonlinear, file-based production, XDCAM HD uses MPEG Long GOP encoding at a selectable bit-rate of 18-, 25-, or 35Mb/s. XDCAM HD is backwards compatible and offers all the speed and workflow advantages of its SD sibling.
XDCAM HD records low-resolution proxies and metadata onto reusable XDCAM professional disc media.
The same Professional Disc media is used for both the SD and HD versions. The XDCAM HD products will play back DVCAM material recorded with an XDCAM SD machine. However, the XDCAM HD system will not play back MPEG IMX material.
For more information, visit www.sony.com/professional.
Avid announces CBS News sale
Sep 16, 2005 3:19 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 CBS News has purchased multiple Avid NewsCutter Adrenaline news editing systems for its new upgrade. |
Avid Technology recently announced the largest single sale in its history: a multimillion dollar broadcast deal with CBS to install Avid digital newsroom systems at the network’s New York City headquarters and London news bureau.
The renovation will replace several tape-based news production systems. It will be delivered to CBS in four stages. The first is currently underway. The entire project is scheduled for completion by December 2006.
As part of the deal, CBS has purchased Avid Professional Services for training alongside a comprehensive mix of products, including: Avid Unity for News with up to 64TB of storage; Avid NewsCutter Adrenaline news editing systems; Avid Workgroup logging and browsing solutions; and a comprehensive digital archive system with third party partners SGL and StorageTek.
The capabilities offered by the new systems — such as high-resolution clip-browsing from anywhere in the newsroom, and editing during the ingest process — will allow CBS to dramatically improve its production workflow and capacity.
Once complete, Avid’s digital news production systems will be deployed at three of the major network news operations in the United States: ABC, NBC and CBS.
For more information, visit www.avid.com.
Panasonic shows updated VariCam at IBC
Sep 16, 2005 4:02 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 The new Varicam’s signal processing is improved with sampling increased from 10 to 12 bits which equates to better signal-to-noise and a greater dynamic range when using the HDSDI output. |
Improvements include a newly developed 3-CCD system enhancing performance throughout the camcorder. The camera’s signal processing is improved with sampling increased from 10- to 12 bits which equates to better signal-to-noise and a greater dynamic range when using the HDSDI output. Even when recording in-camera the pictures will be significantly improved.
The camcorder has new high-resolution emulation mode. It is adjustable in camera and gives greater control of the overall sharpness of the images. The lens mount has been strengthened and lens files can be written to an SD Memory Card.
The updated model also features two individual HD-SDI outputs and frame rate switching that can now be assigned to a user button for easier access while shooting.
For more information, visit www.panasonic-broadcast.com.
Leitch launches large-scale router line
Sep 19, 2005 10:00 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
Leitch Technology launched its Platinum line at IBC2005, a new line of multi-format routing switchers for large routing applications.
The routers provide signal routing up to 256x256 in 15RU, and 512x512 in 28RU.
The high-capacity switchers support a mix of almost any type of signal within the same frame — including high definition. It features redundant, load-sharing power supplies and fans that are individually replaceable without taking the system offline.
For further reliability, Platinum scales in increments of eight inputs or outputs, thereby limiting the number of signals affected by any one module, while also enabling cost-effective scaling as customers increase the number of signals. In addition, Platinum’s front-loading, hot-swappable modules ensure the customer’s system remains online even during upgrades.
For more information, visit www.leitch.com.
TSL demos digital audio advances at IBC
Sep 19, 2005 10:08 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
TSL, a broadcast systems integrator and manufacturer, showed two new audio monitoring developments in its audio monitoring range at IBC2005: Dolby E monitoring and multi-standard HD video downconversion.
Dolby E allows up to eight audio channels to be carried in a single AES stereo pair. Used to carry 5.1 surround signals or multi-language services, Dolby E facilitates the expansion of audio capacity in a typical digital facility.
TSL showed its new AMU2 8 Dolby unit that allows Dolby E and Dolby Digital signals to be accurately monitored in a wide variety of system applications.
The unit also offers assignable phase monitoring, crucial in the surround sound environment, to prove the accurate visual correlation of related signals at a glance. It offers SNMP monitoring of errors and metadata for use in sophisticated third-party alarm and error detection systems.
TSL also demonstrated HD-ready audio monitoring units for the same price as SD. The all-new HD-ready AMU range allows HD video signals, at any standard resolution, to be downconverted in the unit and then displayed on an SD or composite monitor.
The units will also offer HD/SD pass-through with re-clocking. One of the core advantages is that by using TSL’s technology, only one BNC need be connected at any given operator position to be able to see both the video and hear the audio. The new capabilities will initially be launched with the AMU2 8 Dolby and the TektronixT-style AMUT range, with other products to follow.
For more information, visit www.televisionsystems.com.
Anton/Bauer develops Pro Battery mount for JVC HDV camcorder
Sep 19, 2005 10:14 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 This specially designed Gold Mount supplies the proper regulated operating voltage to the JVC GY-HD100 camera while providing the ability to use standard 12V video accessories |
As the basis for this system, Anton/Bauer developed a Gold Mount for the GY-HD100. This specially designed Gold Mount supplies the proper regulated operating voltage to the GY-HD100 camera while providing the ability to use standard 12V video accessories such as on-camera lighting —all powered from the same high performance battery.
The mount also features a real-time interface to the camera, which JVC employs to display the battery’s remaining runtime in hours and minutes directly in the viewfinder of the camera. Mounting directly to the battery “box” and mechanically secured to the camera body, the QR-JVC7/14HDV allows Anton/Bauer batteries to be used to extend the runtime of the camera and to power accessories that would otherwise have required additional batteries.
A single Anton/Bauer Dionic 90 will operate the camera for up to five hours. A HyTRON 120 can provide similar runtime with a light and accessories —a single battery for virtually all day professional shooting.
The combination of Anton/Bauer batteries and the ability to attach other accessories enhances the operating features and performance of the camera and can serve to counter balance the lens weight.
For more information, visit www.antonbauer.com.
Omneon adds HDV playout to Spectrum server
Sep 19, 2005 10:31 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
Omneon Video Networks’ Spectrum media server system now supports the emerging HDV format. HDV support allows Spectrum users to implement a capture, edit, and play workflow that takes advantage of lower-cost HDV equipment for affordable HD production and playout.
In the new workflow, users can use a new generation of camcorders to capture HDV footage, ingest that material into an HDV editing platform such as Apple’s Final Cut Pro, and then transfer edited content directly to the server for playout.
HDV playout functionality can be combined with all of the other 4000 and 4100 series MultiPort module capabilities, including simultaneous HD and SD outputs, and SD and HD on the same timeline. Omneon’s 4100 series MultiPort modules allow HDV clips to be played back-to-back with an automatically upconverted SD clip on the same timeline. Both the 4000 and 4100 series MultiPort modules feature automatic horizontal scaling from 1440 to 1920, enabling HDV and other HD-format clips to play seamlessly back-to-back on the same timeline.
For more information, visit www.omneon.com.
Rohde & Schwarz shows handheld TV analyzer for broadcast
Sep 19, 2005 10:37 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 The R&S FSH3-TV combines the functions and characteristics of a full-featured spectrum analyzer with the functionalities of a TV test receiver. |
The R&S FSH3-TV combines the functions and characteristics of a full-featured spectrum analyzer with the functionalities of a TV test receiver; enabling all measurements essential in field use to be performed with only one instrument. It comes equipped with a TV board, a preamplifier and a tracking generator. It supports all common analog TV standards such as B, G/H, D/K, N, I, L, M/NTSC and M/PAL, and can be upgraded any time for DVB-C, J.83/B or ATSC/8VSB.
It also provides many predefined settings. In addition to direct frequency entry, the R&S FSH3-TV offers tuning by means of channel numbers. Predefined channel tables for numerous countries are already included and can be modified as required at any time. The R&S FSH3-TV provides a wide range of specific CATV measurements, including the display of constellation diagrams for digital TV signals.
The R&S FSH3-TV is operated using intuitive menus and soft keys. A rotary knob ensures fast and easy variation of input values or selection of menu items. The result memory of the TV analyzer can store up to 100 measurement results and settings; which can be transferred via USB interface to a PC for further evaluation.
For more information, visit www.rohde-schwarz.com.
AVS selects LinkHD for wireless production
Sep 19, 2005 10:47 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
AVS (Aerial Video Systems) has ordered several LinkHD wireless camera systems from Link Research to facilitate HD and SD digital production in the field.
LinkHD, Link’s first wireless camera system for HD that was on display at IBC2005, provides AVS with a wireless capability for live sports events to go where cabled cameras can’t. It offers clear, detailed HD pictures combined with a robust RF signal and low transmission delay.
For more information, visit www.aerialvideo.com and www.linkres.co.uk.
Pixel Power unveils HD/SD Clarity 5000
Sep 19, 2005 10:51 AM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
Pixel Power used the IBC conference to show its new Clarity 5000, an SD/HD, multi-format, multichannel character generator system for broadcast and post-production. The Clarity 5000 is used to create graphics for up to two output channels in traditional 4:3 and 16:9, plus all forthcoming screen formats with embedded still-store, video clips, 2-D DVE, real-time 3-D and audio capability.
Each Clarity 5000 channel provides a dedicated preview output with key in addition to program output. These auxiliary outputs can even function as additional program channels with text and still image display.
Clarity 5000’s latest Clarity Version 7 software includes clip capability, DVE, timeline animation and 3-D options. Providing flexible interfaces to new and legacy master control and newsroom automation systems, version 7 software is available in TG, CG and GX versions.
Available in single and dual channel configurations, Clarity 5000 supports SD (525/625) in any aspect ratio, plus all common HD formats including 1080i60, 1080i50, 720p60, 1080sf48, 1080p24 and 1080p25. Single-channel systems are HD/SD switchable, while dual-channel systems can host separate or simultaneous HD and SD.
For more information, visit www.pixelpower.com.
