14 June 2004
To complement their existing range of FDP prompters, Autocue have developed new entry level Flat Display Colour Prompters – the 12.1″ On Camera unit and the 18″ On Camera Unit.
The 12.1″ FDP comes complete with hood, glass, cabling and a universal mounting plate for fluid heads. The 12.1″ FDP has composite and VGA inputs as well as a built in 240-110AC power supply. The 12.1″ FDP is the perfect solution for studio based prompting applications and can be used with all the software packages available from Autocue.
The 18″ FDP is the perfect solution for use when the talent and position call for larger prompter displays. The 18″ FDP comes complete with hood & glass assembly and a suitable mounting maybe required for certain head or pedestals, again Autocue can supply this for you. The unit has an external power supply to reduce the overall mounting weight and also has the features of composite and VGA inputs.
14 June 2004
Representatives of nine broadcasting associations from around the world met in Geneva to assess the progress that is being made towards their goal of an international treaty to protect broadcasters’ rights to be concluded under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Speaking after the meeting Moira Burnett of the European Broadcasting Union said: “There is now a fair chance that WIPO will call a Diplomatic Conference in 2005 on the basis that further work on the protection of webcasters will be postponed until after the broadcasters’ treaty has been adopted.”
The nine broadcasting associations referred to are the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Europe (ACT), Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), European Broadcasting Union (EBU), North American National Broadcasters Association (NABA), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Union of National Radio and Television Organizations of Africa (URTNA), National Association of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NAB-Japan), Televisa, Mexico.
14 June 2004
June 7 marked the first broadcast from ESPN’s new purpose-built, 120,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Digital Center in Bristol, CT, and also the beginning of regular High Definition transmissions of its flagship SportsCenter programme. In the process, the US sports fan benefitted from the same leap of viewing experience as the change from black and white to colour in the 1960s. The new HD SportsCenter programme represents the output of the world’s first fully tapeless integrated digital HD production system.
The broadcast technology behind this feat of engineering is spearheaded by UK company Quantel. The digital production system comprises 6,000 hours of random access storage on 68 Quantel HD broadcast servers and nearly 250 Quantel edit and viewing stations. June 7 is the realization of an incredible 18 months’ partnership between ESPN and Quantel,” says Richard Taylor, Quantel Executive Chairman. “When we first started it was all little more than a gleam in our eyes. Now, Quantel technology and ESPN sports coverage prowess are together creating a revolution. We know that the sports broadcasting industry around the world is watching with bated breath. Soon every major sports broadcaster will be following the trail blazed by ESPN and will go HD,” Taylor concludes.
“Sports coverage on television is about providing fabulous pictures with all the immediacy, drama and stats so loved by the sports fan,” adds Chuck Pagano, ESPN Senior Vice President of Technology, Engineering and Operations. “Our Digital Center allows us to achieve this beautiful stuff in; beautiful stuff out.”
8 June 2004
Professor David Flint has announced that he intends to step down as Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Authority from the end of this week.
With the imminent introduction of legislation to merge the ABA and the Australian Communications Authority, which seems to have bipartisan support, and the public interest in that merger proceeding seamlessly with a minimum of controversy, there would be an advantage in having both the chairmanship of the ABA and the ACA vacant.
It is fortunate that both the ABA and the ACA are endowed with highly professional staff and strong boards which will ensure the merger is a success.
Notwithstanding the recent controversy, I am encouraged by the observation of my colleagues that they cannot recall an occasion when I have demonstrated actual bias in any decision I have taken. This mirrors the comments I have received from those who have, over two decades, worked with me in encouraging the responsible self regulation of the media.
Professor Flint will take leave until his resignation takes effect on 2 July 2004.
8 June 2004
GIobeCast has launched a new satellite distribution platform for new digital cable television networks in North America on Galaxy 10R from the companys Los Angeles broadcast center. GlobeCasts service uses C-Band transponder capacity on PanAmSats Galaxy 10R satellite, part of the Galaxy cable neighborhood of satellites. The Galaxy 10R satellite offers access to most cable head-ends in the U.S., allowing cable operators to receive GlobeCast platform channels via existing downlink antennas.
Networks joining GlobeCasts multiplex service will share the same cable orbital position with established programmers on Galaxy 10R including: A&E, DMX Music, Toon Disney, ESPN News, ESPN HD, Lifetime, CMT (West), MTV (West), Nickelodeon (West), Showtime (West), Showtime Westplex, The Movie Channel and Flix (West), TVN and The Outdoor Channel.
Channels can access GlobeCasts new Galaxy 10R platform in America via local points-of-presence in New York, Washington DC, and Miami, or worldwide via the companys global fiber network, which interconnects 15 teleports and technical operations centers on five continents. In America, in addition to Galaxy 10R, GlobeCast operates a cable network distribution platform on the AMC-1 satellite from the companys studio, post-production, and network origination center in Miami. Leading American cable networks such as CNN, Discovery, Viacom, Turner International, TV Guide, USA Networks, Sci-Fi, Home & Garden TV, and MGM rely on GlobeCasts satellite distribution and services in America and internationally.
8 June 2004
As announced at NAB 2004, Harris Corporation has developed new technology that offers FM stations a significantly more efficient method of transmitting an HD Radio(tm) signal. The patents-pending approach of the company’s new Split-Level Combining System can reduce an FM station’s energy costs by as much as 25 percent over High-Level Combining, and enables stations to continue using existing FM analog transmitters that are already operating near peak capacity.
“This new, more efficient method of adding HD Radio to FM stations is sparking great interest among FM broadcasters,” said Jeremy C. Wensinger, president, Harris Broadcast Communications Division. “Our engineers estimate that a station’s overall power consumption could be between 5 and 25 percent less than with High-Level Combining.”
Split-Level Combining utilizes the existing FM transmitter and a new common-amplification FM/HD Radio transmitter to generate the required FM analog power. Driving both ports of the high-power combiner with analog FM power improves combining efficiency, reduces combiner losses, reduces existing FM transmitter power requirements and improves overall system efficiency, resulting in lower monthly operating costs. With the Split-Level Combining System, the analog transmitter is no longer required to operate at higher-than-normal power levels to offset combining losses.
Split-Level Combining also allows a station to use the existing transmission line and antenna system for optimum radiation of both the digital and analog signals. Additionally, for stations with physical space constraints at their transmitter site, Split-Level Combining allows broadcasters to remove the current backup transmitter and utilize the common amplification FM/HD Radio transmitter as a lower power backup FM transmitter.
