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August 23, 2007
IBC Gets With The HD Program
High-definition broadcasters and experts from around the globe will descend on Amsterdam from Sept. 7-11 for this year’s International Broadcasting Convention.
The yearly event brings out hundreds of equipment manufacturers and thousands of attendees and this year, more than ever, HDTV will be at the center of the exhibition space and the program content.
Today almost every European country has some form of HD transmission. The transition from SD to HD is shaping up as one of the fastest adoptions of new technology in TV history with almost 100 million HD Ready displays predicted to be in European consumer homes by 2011.
In fact, there is no greater sign of the impact HD is having on the European market than that Gary Shapiro, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) president and CEO is delivering the IBC keynote address on Sept. 7. Shapiro's keynote will be part of a session called “The Next 40 Years: Surviving the Challenge or Grasping the Opportunity?”
The big HD event will be on the morning of Sept. 8 when Peter Symes, SMPTE director, standard and engineering, chairs a discussion of new HD formats, challenges and opportunities. SMPTE says the tutorial will provide the background fundamentals and understanding needed by all levels of management, operations, and engineering at media and entertainment facilities as HD rolls out across Europe.
IBC attendees interested in learning about HD’s past will want to check out the panel session “High Definition Past, Present and Future: A Celebration of 25 Years of HD Development in Europe” on the morning of Sept. 9.
The session will mark the anniversary of the first major European demonstrations of HDTV that were presented to the EBU in Ireland 25 years ago. Industry experts will review the progress of HD, provide an update on the current status and gaze into the future to systems beyond HD.
And later that afternoon a session will take a look at how TV systems will evolve beyond HD. Last year NHK demonstrated its 4000 line television system, SuperHiVision, and announced its bold plan to broadcast it using the 21GHz band in about 20 years' time. The panel will build on that demonstration and dive into whether definition is the most important aspect of HD or are there other factors such as scalable systems, colorimetry, bit depth and temporal rate have a bigger impact on quality.
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HD Leading To Bandwidth Crunch?
With DirecTV gearing up to deliver upwards of 100 HD networks and telcos like Verizon and AT&T wiring customers with large-capacity fiber connectivity cable operators may quickly find themselves in a bandwidth crunch if they expect to keep pace. Those are the findings in a new report from ABI Research entitled “Assessing CATV Bandwidth-Expansion Solutions.” Stan Schatt, ABI Research VP and research director, says the operators will be pinched not only by the demand for more HD channels but also by gaming and interactive applications.
Some of the solutions noted in the study -- such as rate shaping and expanding spectrum beyond 750 MHz -- have already been undertaken by some cable operators (particularly in the United States). However, a number of other solutions will come into play during the 2007-2012 forecast period, including spectrum upgrades coupled with node-splitting, switched digital video, PON overlay, MPEG-4 compression, and home gateway bandwidth management solutions.
“Cable operators have assumed that they would simply trade analog channels for digital channels but every time they add an HD network they lose that bandwidth,” says Schatt. “And Wall Street simply isn’t crazy about expanding the plants up to 1,000 GHz.” That leaves fiber overlay or MPEG4-based delivery as two alternatives. But even that might not be enough to keep up with bandwidth demand especially as operators will need to add more upload bandwidth for broadband services.
“Interactive gaming takes up a lot of bandwidth and it’s also a service that cable operators want to provide,” says Schatt. “Things like letting consumers click on an actor or actress on screen to learn more about them is a real value add and then there are the advertising opportunities.”
Schatt adds that $80 billion will be spent worldwide upgrading cable TV facilities for delivery of HD and other services. “The threat is churn to services like Verizon which will be able to do cool things interactively,” he adds.
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HD Continues To Make Cinematic Inroads
There was a time when both films for the big screen and broadcast news shared the same medium: film. But when broadcast TV embraced videotape in the 1970s in order to get programming on air more quickly and cost-effectively it signaled a shift that seemed irreparable.
HD equipment is closing that rift as low-cost HD gear continues to make inroads into film production with JVC’s ProHD 100 series camera being the latest example. CineVera Pictures, a cinematography company in Grand Rapids, Mich. recently used the system to shoot two films that have quickly proven that low cost doesn’t mean low quality. A.R.T.I.F.A.C.T. who three awards at the Compass Academy 24-hour Film Festival while Lucky Day made official selection for the Independents’ Film Festival. “We want the films that we shoot to have a unique and cinematic look to them and come close to Hollywood standard at a fraction of the cost of film," said Chad Terpstra, Director/DP.
Lucky Day was shot in just two days and marked the first time CineVera used the camera. “Everything from carrying it on your shoulder to the professional lens just feels right about this camera,” said Terpstra of the Nikon lens. Complex focus pulling was far easier with a manual lens."
CineVera has used JVC's camera in many adverse conditions including extreme heat and cold and Terpstra says the camera has always remained strong. "The camera was covered in frost during one cold night shoot, but after a careful cleaning, it was just fine and worked flawlessly all night."
Meanwhile the European community continues to advance to digital cinema shooting as well. “The gap between film and HD is rapidly closing with more cinematographers than ever recognizing that electronic origination brings greater creative flexibility than was ever possible with film,” says Paul Vos, elQuip BV managing director who recently participated in a European HD television workshop. “HD also delivers major cost benefits plus the huge advantage that you have immediate control over the characteristics of a shoot.”
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Cordillera Faces HD Challenge
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Andrew Suk
Cordillera Communications
VP of Engineering and Operations |
More than two years ago, Cordillera Communications announced a total conversion of news, production and promotional operations at its 13 broadcast stations to the Panasonic DVCPRO P2 solid-state memory recording system. Since that time, Cordillera has purchased scores of AJ-SPX800 camera packages and P2 drives used for both field acquisition and production throughout the group.
Andrew Suk, Cordillera VP of Engineering and Operations, discussed the move that has still not resulted in HD field acquisition.
Q: Why not record in HD in the field? Is it because it will be more costly or will workflows (time to air) be slowed down?
A: Bandwidth was the biggest concern. P2 records DVCPro100 at 100 megabits per second and the bandwidth requirements didn't meet what we felt was appropriate for the card size at the time. Certainly the additional costs of a quality HD field camera were also a consideration.
When we evaluated the picture quality differences between up-converted 50 megabit SD versus HD it was a tough call to justify the increased costs in an already expensive conversion. Remember that Lexington and Tucson are not in the top 50 markets and are two of the first smaller market stations to make the conversion to HD.
Q: When do you envision recording in the field at HD resolutions?
A: Our plan was to install the SPX800 cameras for the initial conversion and then re-purpose them to the smaller stations in our group as we converted WLEX and KVOA to HD field acquisition, when AVC Intra Capabilities became available. While those capabilities were introduced at NAB we needed to be up and running for the May book. Our intent is to take a close look at making that transition in our 2008 fiscal year.
Q: You mention the AVC Intra capability. Why is that important?
A: AVC Intra is attractive because we can now record DVCPro100 quality HD at the same bandwidth as we are currently using for SD that is 50 megabits. With 16 gig P2 cards that means very robust field loads with all the benefits of P2. As for taking delivery, that will be dependent upon our capital budget cycle. But we are committed to P2 with no drive assemblies, moving parts, or the associated costs and maintenance issues with a mechanical drive or removable media.
Q: What has been the feedback from viewers to the HD newscasts?
A: Viewer feedback from the newscasts has been exceptional. We've actually had viewers tell us that formerly they only watched the competition but were now loyal to us due to the HD conversion. We have not had a single viewer comment regarding field video being different from the HD studio.
--Interviewed by Ken Kerschbaumer
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FCC Sets Spectrum Auction Rate
(From an August 20 article at BroadcastingCable.com )
The Federal Communications Commission set Jan. 16, 2008, as the date to begin auctioning TV spectrum reclaimed in the switch to digital broadcasting.
The commission was required by Congress to start the auction by the end of January 2008 so that the money -- perhaps as much as $15 billion -- could be deposited in the treasury by midyear to help pay for the digital-to-analog converter-box program and programs to help first-responders, as well as for deficit reduction.
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WSOC Rolls Out Panasonic P2 HD Cameras
(From an August 20 article at BroadcastingCable.com)
WSOC Charlotte, N.C., is the first Cox Television station to fully convert to Panasonic's P2 HD solid-state camcorders for its newsgathering operations.
The ABC affiliate has 25 AJ-HPX2000 shoulder-mounted, multiformat 2/3-inch P2 HD camcorders, which it has been using for field production since April, when the station launched high-definition newscasts.
Cox originally committed to the P2 solid-state format for its 15 stations in 2004 and then announced in November 2006 that it would adopt the HD version of the camera once it became available. Sterling Davis, Cox Broadcasting’s vice president of engineering, said the rollout of standard-definition P2 gear is mostly complete and stations are buying HD cameras based on their individual needs.
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Sony Launches Recycling Program for Old TVs
(From an August 16 article at BroadcastingCable.com)
Consumer-electronics giant Sony is launching a nationwide recycling program in which it will recycle free-of-charge all old Sony TVs and all Sony-branded products in partnership with Waste Management.
The program is set to begin Sept. 15, with some 75 Waste Management dropoff centers throughout the United States. Sony's goal is to have some 175 centers operating one year from now.
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Federal Court Rules Daisy Duke Deceptive
(From an August 10 article at BroadcastingCable.com)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a lower-court injunction against a pair of now-familiar ads touting the satellite service, concluding that they were false and misleading and could hurt TWC's business.
But it reversed the lower court's decision that Web ads making similar claims were false and misleading, saying instead that they were too unbelievable to be taken seriously as guidance for multichannel-video-purchasing decisions. The decision was rooted, in part, in the court's conclusion that "There is no dispute, at least on the present record, that the HD programming provided by TWC and DirecTV is equivalent in picture quality."
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Hallmark to Launch HD Channel
(From an August 8 article at MultichannelNews.com)
Crown Media Holdings plans to launch a HD simulcast of Hallmark Movie Channel next year. Henry Schleiff, president and CEO of Crown Media, owner of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, unveiled plans for Hallmark Movie Channel HD during a second-quarter conference call.
“Early next year, we will be launching Hallmark Movie Channel in high def,” Schleiff said. “This will be a simulcast feed of the Hallmark Movie Channel and will include the presentation of many of our Hallmark Channel original movies in their pure high-def form.”
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HD DVD Wins Studio Exclusives
(From an August 20 article at TWICE.com)
The HD DVD format got a major shot in the arm Monday when Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG studios revealed that they will now exclusively support the HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. Paramount Home Entertainment said it will now issue new releases day and date as well as catalog titles exclusively on HD DVD.
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Panasonic Extends Plasma Half Life
(From an August 20 article at TWICE.com)
Panasonic became the first company to announce that it extended the phosphor half life of its consumer 1080p plasma displays to 100,000 hours from 60,000, exceeding the announced performance of competitors' plasmas.
The two-thirds gain in "life to half brightness" appears in the company's current 2007 model lineup, already available in stores, a spokesman said. If a household watches six hours of TV per day, it would take almost 46 years for the display to dim to half it original brightness.
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Independent Cable Group Seeks Converter Box Alternative
(From an August 20 article in TWICE magazine)
A group of independent cable TV operators has approached Congressional leaders about expanding the DTV converter box program with a proposal to provide free analog cable service for seven years to impacted residents. The movement, which is called the "Save Our Sets (SOS) Transition Plan Coalition," (www.saveoursets.org) proposes to encourage multichannel video service providers to offer free analog broadcast TV service to residents that currently rely on over-the-air TV signals.
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NFL Makes Move to HD Instant Replay
Forbes reports that the NFL is making the switch to HD instant replay a move in response, in part, to the growth of HD among consumers.
“As more people were getting high definition TV at home, they actually had a better view than the referee charged with making the decision,” said Dean Blandino, the NFL's director of instant replay. “That could've bit us in the rear if we continued that.” HD systems have been installed in all but three stadiums and will be in use during the preseason.
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How Do I Choose An HDTV?
The Chicago Tribune reports on the latest tips for buying an HDTV set. Among them: do plenty of research, figure out what type of programming you like (plasmas are great for movies and sports while LCD wins out for gamers or smaller screen sizes) and make sure you take into consideration how much light will be in the viewing area and how far away from the TV the couch will be located.
And, of course, know your budget.
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Two HDTV Technologies Worth Waiting For
PC World reports that two new technologies set to roll out by the upcoming Holiday season, LED backlighting and 120-Hz refresh rates, may make it worth putting off any HDTV purchases. Samsung, for example, recently showed off its latest lines of LCD HDTVs due out in August.
One line sports a 120-Hz refresh rate, double the 60 Hz of standard LCD TVs, making for sharper fast-moving images. Another line uses LED backlights, which dramatically boost contrast and allow for a wider range of colors.
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Hitachi The Latest To Enter The 1080 HDTV Battle
Brandweek reports that Hitachi will spend upwards of $30 million (about half of which will go to online efforts) to promote its new line of 1080p HDTV sets. The move comes at a time when the brand holds a mere 1.5% share (in dollars) for the total TV market, per DisplaySearch, a marketing and consulting firm in Austin, Texas.
Like its competitors, Hitachi is faced with the challenge of explaining exactly what 1080 is (the number refers to the 1,080 lines of vertical display resolution) and why consumers should care.
“t's a huge challenge to market this kind of thing,” said Daniel Lee, VP of marketing for consumer electronics for Hitachi, San Diego.
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DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Choose HD DVD
The New York Times reports that Paramount and DreamWorks Animation said will exclusively back the HD DVD format for the release of high-definition movies on disc. Among the movies the studios plan to release in the format are Transformers and Shrek the Third. Until now, Paramount has released titles in both HD DVD and a competing format, Blu-ray. DreamWorks Animation has not released a movie in either. Both studios are receiving a combined $150 million in financial incentives for their support of HD DVD.
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Closed Captioning for DTV
TV Technology reports on the challenge of sending caption information out over DTV signals. Early reports have DTV captions working reliably one day, then disappearing the next, or captions running off the right side of the screen. HD captioning also seems to have caught some parts of the post-production community by surprise.
A firm called Computer Prompting and Captioning, which makes a software-based product that inserts closed captioning directly into a pre-produced video file, said incompatibility between some different brands of servers has blocked the transfer of caption data as the video is transferred. http://email.BroadcastingCable.com/cgi-bin2/DM/y/hA0Hw5oy0A0DKoI0E3
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