USA DTV Transition Deadline Unrealistic

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

<http://news.com.com/Media+honchos+sound+off+on+emerging+TV+tech/2100-1041_3-5656246.html?tag=nefd.top>

However, the Federal Communications Commission's current
Dec. 31, 2006, deadline to limit analog television
broadcasts and promote digital television was deemed
unrealistic by NBC Universal's Bob Wright.

---

Kirk Bayne
alt.video.digital-tv Home Page
<http://www.geocities.com/lislislislis/avdtv.htm>

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"Drewdawg" <nope@not.here> wrote in message
newsiX4e.165$tK1.1239@news.uswest.net...
> K. B. wrote:
>>
> <http://news.com.com/Media+honchos+sound+off+on+emerging+TV+tech/2100-1041_3
> -5656246.html?tag=nefd.top>
>>
>> However, the Federal Communications Commission's current
>> Dec. 31, 2006, deadline to limit analog television
>> broadcasts and promote digital television was deemed
>> unrealistic by NBC Universal's Bob Wright.
>>
>> ---
>>
> I couldn't help but notice this paragraph ...
>
> <The reason has to do with cost of equipment needed to shoot shows in
> digital, which is expensive, according to Iger and Wright. Disney spent
> more
> than $100 million to build out its television operations for digital, and
> NBC Universal has spent more than $200 million. >
>
> So who exactly is still producing programming in analog and what format
> are
> they using?
>
> Perhaps they can buy old analog HD equipment from ebay.co.jp
>
> ;-)

Whilst the studios are shooting in HD, aren't a number of the local
affiliates still running analogue studios for local news etc.? Though
presumably if they are running a DTV transmitter, there is no FCC DTV issue
with them upconverting their 4:3 NTSC analogue studio output to 16:9 SDTV or
HDTV for transmission on DTV, and shutting off analogue?

In other words, the production format isn't relevant directly, it is the
broadcast format?

Steve


>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.digital-tv (More info?)

"Drewdawg" <nope@not.here> wrote in message
news:Icf5e.57$cu2.595@news.uswest.net...
> Stephen Neal wrote:
>> "Drewdawg" <nope@not.here> wrote in message
>> newsiX4e.165$tK1.1239@news.uswest.net...
>>> K. B. wrote:
>>>>
>>>
> <http://news.com.com/Media+honchos+sound+off+on+emerging+TV+tech/2100-1041_3
>>> -5656246.html?tag=nefd.top>
>>>>
>>>> However, the Federal Communications Commission's current
>>>> Dec. 31, 2006, deadline to limit analog television
>>>> broadcasts and promote digital television was deemed
>>>> unrealistic by NBC Universal's Bob Wright.
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>>
>>> I couldn't help but notice this paragraph ...
>>>
>>> <The reason has to do with cost of equipment needed to shoot shows in
>>> digital, which is expensive, according to Iger and Wright. Disney
>>> spent more
>>> than $100 million to build out its television operations for
>>> digital, and NBC Universal has spent more than $200 million. >
>>>
>>> So who exactly is still producing programming in analog and what
>>> format are
>>> they using?
>>>
>>> Perhaps they can buy old analog HD equipment from ebay.co.jp
>>>
>>> ;-)
>>
>> Whilst the studios are shooting in HD, aren't a number of the local
>> affiliates still running analogue studios for local news etc.? Though
>> presumably if they are running a DTV transmitter, there is no FCC
>> DTV issue with them upconverting their 4:3 NTSC analogue studio
>> output to 16:9 SDTV or HDTV for transmission on DTV, and shutting off
>> analogue?
>>
>> In other words, the production format isn't relevant directly, it is
>> the broadcast format?
>>
>> Steve
>
> I'd think most modern affiliates would be using digital equipment as
>
> 1) It's much easier to edit (non-linear & no control track issues)

Yep - though non-linear editing doesn't mean server transmission - it is
entirely possible to edit non-linear and dump to analogue Beta SP for
transmission.

> 2) Most modern production equipment is digital

Yep - though not all facilities have upgraded to digital.

> 3) Analog blank tapes are harder and harder to come by
>

Beta SP is an analogue (albeit component - though composite compatible)
format - haven't seen many warnings of Beta SP stock shortages...

> Most professional equipment manufacturers (IMHO) have abandoned analog for
> digital equipment back in the 90's. Then again I've seen some dot-matrix
> printers still in use. ;-)

Most UK broadcasters moved to 16:9 digital component SD production and
transmission of network shows in the 90s. Composite analogue sites still
exist regionally - wouldn't be surprised if US local broadcasters were still
using Betacam SP, GVG 200/250s, D2/D3 digital composite VTRs or even 1" VTRs
in some installations. I'd hope UMatic was dead...

Steve