9 March 2006
Throughout the 2006 Winter Olympics the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) provided near-instant highlights of each event as well as two 30-minute highlight packages every single day on Quantels news system in a box – Newsbox. These packages were distributed to the EBUs 60 members spread throughout Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East and seen by tens of millions of viewers.
To offer coverage of any event of this size and scope requires meticulous planning. Fernando Pardo, Head of EBU Sports Operations, explains, We dont want to play with dynamite. In the Games we stick to what we have planned because this is not the time for experimenting.
Having used Quantel sQ server-based systems for the compilation of the daily reports for the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the Euro 2004 football championships in Portugal, the EBU wanted to use the same winning formula for the Torino 2006 Winter Games. This time Quantel offered a production system based on Newsboxes which is based on the same robust sQ server technology and aimed at meeting the specific needs of news and sports events.
The real challenges were the timeframes and the scale of the operation. Based in the Olympic International Broadcast Centre (IBC) the EBU set-up had access to feeds for the various events. Two six-channel Newsboxes each with 110 hours of storage and configured as five inputs / one output, provided the core server, storage and management. In addition a third Newsbox with 50 hours storage gave backup for the bigger events such as semi-finals and finals. The three Newsboxes formed the core of the video and audio operations, responsible for simultaneous multi-channel ingest, editing and replay.
The openness of Newsbox and its ability to integrate with IT equipment was one of the major reasons for its selection by the EBU. The video/IT split system created the whole workflow where the IT usage was not just to make the system cost effective, but also to address the pressing needs for distributing information. The whole workflow from the live event to the member broadcasters transmissions had to be lightning fast and totally reliable.
To handle the volume of work, eight sQ Cut editing seats worked in parallel to share the load and created all the highlights and summaries. Based on its recent Olympic experience, the EBU saw it as essential that they produced not only the video and audio, but also information about the footage to guide local commentaries. Pardo points out that, The operators are editors; not VTR editors but sports editors! This was of major importance as they were called on not just to cut together the highlights and summaries but also to write the information to make up the detailed shot lists so the members commentators could prepare their voiceovers even ahead of seeing the video.
Pardo reflects on the Turin operation. We are more than happy. And we expect to develop the equipment even further for our future operation in Beijing or anywhere else; we never stop!
8 March 2006
According to a report in Britain’s Independent newspaper, TF1, France’s main TV channel, has appointed a black journalist as “substitute” presenter of the country’s most-watched news bulletin. The move follows pressure from President Jacques Chirac, the paper suggests.
From July, 32 year old Harry Roselmack – born on the French Caribbean island of Martinique but brought up in Tours, western France – will become the first non-white person to present a prime-time, mainstream television news programme on France’s most-watched channel.
During the rioting by multiracial suburban gangs of young people in November last year, French television companies were criticised for their failure to present an ethnically diverse picture of French society.
The paper continues that although journalists of Arab or African origin have presented the news on minor channels or out of prime time, the main news bulletins have been an all-white preserve. This was said to reinforce the sense of alienation felt by black and Arab youths in poor, French suburbs. After the riots, President Chirac urged all the French media, and especially television companies, to make greater effort to hire journalists from ethnic minorities.
TF1 said it had hired Roselmack to respond to the President’s appeal but also because “he is a very good journalist”.
Roselmack’s abilities are undisputed. Formerly a radio journalist, he has become a popular figure on the i-TELE cable news channel in the past six months. He has been praised for his clear and faultless presentation and his ability to exude seriousness and warmth.
He was described by one French newspaper as “having the looks of a play-boy, smiling and sexy”.
From the summer, he will present regular news bulletins on TFI’s 24-hour news channel, LCI. More importantly, he will, from July, become the face of the 8pm TF1 news while its veteran presenter, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, is on holiday.
7 March 2006
The AIB is supporting two major media conferences taking place in London this
month.
The FT Digital Media and Broadcasting Conference takes place at London’s
Dorchester Hotel on 6 and 7 March. This annual event – subtitled Reinventing
the Digital Boom – is the pre-eminent gathering of the leading decision
makers, strategists and visionaries in the media industry from all over the
world for debate of the challenges and opportunities across the Digital Media
World.
AIB members are entitled to a 25% discount on full price delegate
registration – one of the many benefits of AIB membership. Contact the AIB head
office for more details.
For more information about the Conference, please log onto
www.ftconferences.co.uk/digitalmedia/.
Also running in London in the week of 6 March is the IPTV World Forum.
The first day of this three-day conference will be chaired by AIB chief
executive, Simon Spanswick.
The IPTV World Forum 2006 will provide the perfect and timely opportunity to
meet and network with the key players across the industry. The IPTV World Forum
is the key UK event for the industries leading telcos, content and technology
players to get together and discuss service delivery, marketing, and content
over IPTV technologies and devices.
The IPTV World Forum is aimed directly at the industries supporting the
markets growth; telcos, broadcasters, content providers, device manufacturers,
technology providers, software providers, system integrators and broadband
providers.
More details online at
www.iptvforum.com.
2 March 2006
AIB chief executive Simon Spanswick will chair the first day of the IPTV World Forum 2006 in London on 6 March 2006.
The annual IPTV World Forum conference and exhibition brings together almost 500 people involved in the development of IPTV, from technology through to business plans.
It provides the perfect and timely opportunity to
meet and network with the key players across the industry. The IPTV World Forum
will be the key UK event for the industries leading telcos, content and
technology players to get together and discuss service delivery, marketing, and
content over IPTV technologies and devices.
The IPTV World Forum is aimed directly at the industries supporting the markets
growth; telcos, broadcasters, content providers, device manufacturers,
technology providers, software providers, system integrators and broadband
providers.
More information at www.iptvforum.com.
1 March 2006
The latest editorial calendar for the AIB’s quarterly magazine, The Channel, has been published.
The
Channel reaches more than 5,000 regular subscribers in media
organisations, regulators, production houses, transmission companies, satellite
operators and governments in well over 120 countries. The magazine is also distributed at major exhibitions, conferences and trade shows, boosting the readership of every edition to more than 8,500.
With strong editorial
content, the magazine is well-read and well-respected throughout the world.
Combined with the AIB’s regular electronic news letters covering strategy,
programming, distribution and technology, the AIB has unprecedented reach among
decision-makers in broadcasting and multi-media operators worldwide.
To have your brand associated with the AIB’s unique and high profile
publications, contact Samantha Woollett:
T +44 (0) 775 939 4916
E sam.woollett@aib.org.uk
Download the AIB Media Pack with comprehensive information about all
the advertising opportunities the AIB provides
here.
