December 22, 2005
Top Story
House sets Feb. 17, 2009, DTV transition date
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the budget reconciliation bill, which included the DTV Transition Act, early Monday morning setting Feb. 17, 2009, as the date certain for the close of the transition from analog to digital television.
By a vote of 212-206, the vote set the hard date for cessation of analog transmission and allocated $1.5 billion to assist the owners of the estimated 73 million television sets used for over-the-air viewing with the purchase of a digital-to-analog converter box.
The bill eliminated a provision that would have allowed cable operators to downconvert HDTV signals to SD.
A letter dated Dec. 19 to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) from NAB president David Rehr urged the Senator and his colleagues to support passage of the budget reconciliation bill.
The Senate is expected to take action on the bill as early as this week.
Industry News
Columbia University names winners of 2006 broadcast journalism award
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
Columbia University last week announced 13 winners of the 2006 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for broadcast journalism.
Six of the winners are investigative reports produced by networks, cable news and local television stations reporting on issues, such as terrorism, Wal-Mart's business practices and corruption in municipal government. CNN and ABC News also received awards for live coverage of international events, the 2004 tsunami disaster and the death of Pope John Paul II. Local winners include WFTS-TV, Tampa, FL; WJW, Cleveland, OH; and WPMI-TV, Mobile, AL.
Chosen from a pool of 628 radio and television news entries that aired in the United States between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005, the winners will be presented with silver batons, the symbol for excellence in television and radio journalism, at an awards ceremony Jan. 18, 2006, at Columbia University.
To view a list of the winners, click here .
Acquisition
Inmarsat launches global broadband network
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
Broadband Global Area Network, BGAN, the world's first mobile satellite communications service to provide voice and broadband data simultaneously through a portable device — some of which are no bigger than a laptop computer, officially launched operations Dec. 7 with a press conference at Inmarsat’s London headquarters.
Six years in development, BGAN offers IP data speeds of up to 492kb/s, with the option of guaranteed data rates up to 256kb/s. Journalists working in the most remote places on the planet can use the service to file text, audio and video packages, especially when using with store-and-forward technology.
Delivered via the Inmarsat-4 satellites, the service is initially available across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Following the launch of Inmarsat's second I-4 satellite Nov. 8, network coverage will be extended to North and South America during the second quarter of next year.
The two I-4 satellites will deliver seamless broadband coverage across 85 percent of the world's landmass and be available to 98 percent of the world's population.
BGAN lets users access their corporate network via a secure virtual private network connection, use e-mail and other office applications, browse the Internet, send large file attachments, stream video or audio and make a phone call at the same time. It also supports a range of encryption standards for secure communications.
Connecting to the service requires a lightweight satellite terminal. BGAN terminals can be connected in minutes using wired or wireless connections, including Bluetooth and WLAN 802.11b.
For more information, visit www.inmarsat.com/BGAN.
New chip promises to usher in low-cost consumer HDTV cameras
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
The drive to make HDTV ubiquitous got a boost last week with the announcement of the development of a commercial low power HD H.264/AVC system-on-chip (SoC) semiconductor for low-cost hybrid HD video and high-resolution cameras.
The A1 digital camera platform SoC was developed by Ambarella in Sunnyvale, CA. It combines an HD H.264/AVC codec, video processor, still image processor, audio compression and system functions on one chip. It has an operating power of less than one watt and is priced to bring the high definition experience to mainstream consumers, according to the company.
The A1 platform is based on the H.264/AVC video compression standard, the next generation of video compression technology. Ambarella’s platform delivers a 2.5x compression gain over current MPEG-2/4 solutions, providing the efficiency required to store HD video content in flash-based memory, according to the company.
For more information, visit www.ambarella.com/.
Newsroom
WWTV adds end-to-end digital news production system
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
WWTV, Cadillac, MI, is installing an end-to-end digital production environment for news creation, storage and playout from Avid Technology.
The CBS affiliate is replacing its tape-based systems with the all-digital system to improve overall operating efficiency and real-time, simultaneous access to content. Transitioning from an all-tape to all-digital production environment requires a substantial overhaul of infrastructure and workflow capabilities.
The new workflow is intended to provide the station with improved speed to air for its news content. It also will provide the quality the station was seeking as it transitions to the next generation of digital news coverage and broadcast.
WWTV's new end-to-end production environment consists of the Avid Unity for News shared-storage system with MediaManager software; seven Avid NewsCutter XP systems and a NewsCutter Adrenaline nonlinear news editing system for craft news editing; the Avid iNEWS newsroom computer system for automation; MediaStream for commercial playout; and an Avid AirSpeed video server for news ingest and playout.
WWTV currently uses an Avid Media Composer Adrenaline and Avid DS Nitris system for editing promotions and long-form features.
For more information, visit www.avid.com.
Iraqi satellite network adds digital newsroom
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
Iraqi satellite network Alsumaria TV recently has added end-to-end digital newsroom capabilities to enable its staff to plan, produce and playout daily newscasts from a single user interface.
The new open architecture Dalet News Suite system integrates video and storage technology from Omneon, Adobe and NetApp.
The system gives the satellite network’s news staff control of scripts, rundown and pictures from a single screen. With the Dalet News Suite, the staff can monitor all of the elements of a newscast and use advanced timing controls to more closely control the duration of its shows.
Alsumaria TV is one of the first broadcasters in the Middle East to take advantage of an open digital newsroom system like Dalet News Suite. At Alsumaria TV, journalists use the Dalet News Suite to browse video feeds from Reuters and APTN straight from their desktops. They can make shot selections on the fly using Dalet Media Logger and put together simple packages using Dalet Media Cutter.
Selected shots can also be sent to third-party nonlinear editors, such as Adobe Premiere Pro for advanced editing. All media is stored centrally in native DV 25 resolution on a NetApp Network Attached System (NAS) appliance and accessed across a Gigabit Ethernet network.
Packages from the field can be directly ingested to the production NAS using Dalet Ingest for Firewire. As material is scheduled for newscasts, it is migrated from the NAS to the Omneon Spectrum media server playout server. In addition to production and playout, Dalet News Suite is used by journalists and producers to browse incoming wire feeds, write scripts and build rundowns.
For more information, visit www.dalet.com.
New Products
Panasonic delivers handheld HD solid-state storage camera
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
 The AG-HVX200 is equipped with a MiniDV tape drive for shooting 4:3 and 16:9 images onto DV tape in 60i, 30p and 24p. |
Panasonic Broadcast has announced delivery of the AG-HVX200, handheld HD solid-state storage camcorder. The camcorder captures video in 21 video formats, recording in both 1080i and 720p at 100Mb/s DVCPRO HD. The format offers users cost-effective, intra-frame compression and full 4:2:2 color sampling. Video is recorded onto P2 cards as IT-friendly MXF files in 1080/60i, 30p and 24p; in 720/60p, 30p and 24p; in 50Mb/s DVCPRO50 and in 25Mb/s DVCPRO or DV.
Using two of Panasonic’s new 8GB P2 cards, the AG-HVX200 provides 64 minutes of record time in DVCPRO or DV, 40 minutes in 720p, 32 minutes in DVCPRO50 and 16 minutes in 1080/60i and 720/60p.
The HD and SD video recorded on the P2 card can be downloaded to a nonlinear editing system or server, or edited virtually instantly from the P2 card through an IEEE 1394 or USB 2.0 interface. The AG-HVX200 is also equipped with a MiniDV tape drive for shooting 4:3 and 16:9 images onto DV tape in 60i, 30p and 24p.
With two P2 card slots, a shooter has hot-swap capability and a loop-recording feature. To prevent missing the start of a press conference or event, the camera can be preset to pre-record (up to 7 seconds in DVCPRO and 3 seconds in DVCPRO HD).
The camera captures images at any of 11 rates between 12fps and 60fps. By using the camera to play back the recording at the normal rate, the shooter can preview the off-speed effect right on the spot, without the need for a frame rate converter.
The camera can downconvert off-speed recordings in 720p from a P2 card and copy it to a MiniDV tape. This allows the user to create special off-speed effects during DV production — a technique previously possible only with a complete VariCam system.
The AG-HVX200 offers eight gamma modes including Cine-Like gamma, and for newsgathering, a News gamma curve. This setting assists a news photographer by allowing him to suppress over-saturated highlight areas during sudden contrast changes.
The AG-HVX200 uses native progressive 16:9 1/3in, 3-CCD optical block and a wide-angle, 13X Leica Dicomar HD lens with optical image stabilization. The lens covers a wide range from 4.2mm to 55mm.
In the wide-screen mode, the 3.5in LCD monitor can display images in letterbox, which places vital camera operating information in areas above and below the active image area. In addition, the LCD permits the shooter to view and select thumbnail clips to speed editing and allows random access to the thumbnail-displayed scenes (from the P2 card) for instant playback and the creation of an in-camera storyboard.
Audio is supported with four-channel non-compressed 48KHz/16-bit digital processing in DVCPRO HD and DVCPRO50 and two channels in DVCPRO and DV. Interfaces include IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0, two XLR audio (with +48 volt phantom power) inputs, a component (D4) output, composite I/O, S-video I/O, audio (RCA) I/O and headphone.
The camera is a 2005 Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit winner, and was highly anticipated by the production community after its introduction at NAB2005.
Panasonic also announced that Apple’s Final Cut Pro, Avid’s Newscutter XP, Newscutter Adrenaline FX and Xpress HD, and Canopus Edius HD are supporting the camera with complete P2 editing solutions.
For more information on the AG-HVX200, visit www.panasonic.com/hvx200.
Focus Enhancement unveils Firestore FS-100 for AG-HVX200
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
Focus Enhancements has announced a series of FireStore FS-100 portable HD disk recorders for Panasonic's new AG-HVX200 DVCPRO HD P2 handheld camera-recorder.
The FireStore FS-100 provides the ability to record 90 minutes of material to hard disk and supports DVCPRO HD and DVPRO 50 in Panasonic's P2 MXF format and DV/DVCPRO in native NLE file formats.
The FireStore FS-100 accepts DVCPRO HD 100Mb/s and DVCPRO 50 SD streams from the HVX-200 handheld camera-recorder. Clips can be directly imported to a nonlinear editor’s timeline and edited immediately.
For more information, visit www.focusinfo.com.
Front Porch Digital integrates DIVArchive with Avid Unity systems
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
Front Porch Digital has completed integration of DIVArchive with Avid Unity systems via the Avid TransferManger 2.9.1 intelligent media file-transport application. Licenses for these integrations are reviewed and granted on an individual basis by Avid Technology.
Front Porch currently has deployed four successful DIVArchive installations with Avid licenses throughout Europe and Asia. A fifth Avid license has been approved for a DIVArchive installation for a broadcaster in Asia and is planned for delivery in the fourth quarter of this year.
Editors and managers in global broadcast facilities can leverage the capability of DIVArchive with the TransferManager API license by moving content seamlessly between Avid Unity storage and any standard tape library system. The integration can be scaled to meet expanding customer needs.
For more information, visit www.fpdigital.com and www.avid.com.
CP-2 hard disk drive recorder to offer P2 users longer record times
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
 The Specialized Communications CinePorter CP-2 HDD recorder is small and has an independent power source. |
The Specialized Communications CinePorter CP-2 HDD recorder, which is currently in development and not available, is intended to complement Panasonic P2 technology by offering a shock-mounted, on-board hard drive with capacity options ranging from 100GB to 240GB. The CinePorter will work like a large P2 card, allowing longer recording times, convenience, compatibility and reliability. The CinePorter is small and has an independent power source.
The company recently has added a Web site devoted to the CP-2 HDD where visitors can learn how the product is intended to mount to various P2 cameras.
For more information, visit www.spec-comm.com.
TV One rolls out new LCD monitors
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
 The LM-1911R and LM-1511R feature high-brightness, active matrix LCD displays employing a rack-mount design that tilts up or down to optimize viewing angle. |
TV One’s new 15in and 19in LCD monitors for the professional market come complete with built-in, freestanding desktop support, making them well-suited for studio and remote applications.
The LM-1911R and LM-1511R feature high-brightness, active matrix LCD displays employing a rack-mount design that tilts up or down to optimize viewing angle. An integrated swivel stand on the rear of both units is included to allow tabletop use.
Both have dual composite video, dual stereo audio inputs/outputs and automatically terminated composite video inputs. An S-Video input is also provided, while PC input is additionally provided that can accommodate resolutions up to SXGA for the LM-1911R and XGA for the LM-1511R.
For more information, visit www.tvone.com.
Canopus to offer PCI Express Version of EDIUS NX
Dec 22, 2005 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
Canopus has announced a new PCI Express-based EDIUS NX real-time mixed HD/SD video editing solution, which takes advantage of new dual-core CPU computer systems with PCI interfaces.
EDIUS NX offers a tightly integrated NLE software and hardware solution. At the heart of the EDIUS NX is the EDIUS Pro nonlinear editing software, which provides real-time, mixed format editing of uncompressed SD, HD, HDV, DV, MPEG2 and MPEG1 formats. EDIUS Pro delivers increased quality and real-time performance through the company's variable-bit rate Canopus HQ codec.
EDIUS NX with PCI Express compatibility includes professional features, such as real-time HQ batch capture from 1080i and 720p HDV cameras and decks, including the new Canon XL H1 24fps HD camcorder and JVC GY-HD100U full-resolution ProHD progressive camcorder.
For more information, visit www.canopus.com.
