Rewiring the Studio

Recently I had the pleasure of helping to reconfigure the internal wiring of the television studio. To accomplish this task I had to return to Wagga Wagga a week early. That sucked. Basically the idea was to run two SDI lines from the studio to the video router and sync lines from the black generator to use the two new JVC HD cameras on the studio floor. We also has to rewire some SDI inputs into the vision switcher to accomodate more routable inputs.

I arrived and got to work straight away. We had to run 4 cables through concrete walls, under floors and terminate them on each end. This proved to be fairly simple but I had to make sure the new connections were integrated into the studio video router correctly. This turned out to be a very difficult task. The Lecturer in charge of the operation did not remember how to use the router and the instructions were written by an engineer with no concept of end user. I left on the Monday with lots of new cable but no picture.

The next day I arrived at 9am and immediately got to work looking throught the tome that was the Router Manual. I started fiddling with the windows 3.0 reminisent software. I has some successes and finally the video came up onto the monitor. Great but now I had to totally reconfigure the remote routing panels to accomodate these new system inputs. Two hours later and after a strange visit from the Department of Immegration Affairs video people the system was up. All I have to show is four sockets and three labels on some random panels.

Broadcast Router Manufacturer

IT Networks and Television 1

The broadcast industry has in the past-required very specialised equipment in order to operate, from high quality video recording machines and reel-to-reel recorders to editing, sound and processing equipment. The expense of this equipment has allowed only well-financed and large organizations to be involved in television broadcast because this equipment is necessary for the production of high quality material that is expected from broadcasters. The broadcast industry has in the past, been slower than other industries to take up new technologies because of the cost of investment in it and the investment in past technologies. There have been few times in the television industry’s history has a technology changed the way content is produced. The technology behind television has become more streamlined, smaller and higher quality but few changes in technology have been revolutionary.

However in recent years the merging of information technology systems into the broadcast environment has opened up new and unique possibilities that have started to change the nature of broadcast television. From acquisition to broadcast, editing to facilities management, information technology is merging with the world of broadcast technology. In particular the traditional data network is revolutionising broadcast television and as the end viewer become more connected to the Internet with broadband and mobile communications become faster and more accessible this trend is set to continue.

Traditional information technology networks are having impacts both on the production and broadcast of traditional television as well as new distribution methods that are now becoming available, specifically IPTV (internet protocol television). This emerging area of the broadcast industry is very exciting both for those working in television creating and delivering the content and those consuming it.

Broadcast Television Papers
Broadcast Engineering.com

TV OB Info

I was looking through the different technical documents that Free TV Australia have on their website and i saw something that I found very interesting. They have drawn up documents that specify the OB requirements of various sporting events. From swimming to football, just about every detail of the camera layouts and cable requirements have been spelt out.
Free TV Engineering Page.

It was interesting to see that Free TV has taken this step. I thought about why such a move was made and came to the conclusion that these documents must have been produced by the people who actually broadcast and organize these events. For example in the cricket plan there are 24 cameras that are specified that should be used. However these include the third umpires cameras and the cameras used by the Hawk Eye technology.

After reading the brief on the technical documents the reasons why they need these documents at all. Free TV tell us it is to create common operating practices, match the international expectations and to make sure the required safety measures are in place.

Such documents would also be very helpful to those people who are in charge of or building venues that may be broadcast from. It would be much more attractive to broadcast from a venue which has taken into account the possibility of a major outside broadcast at the venue. As a student I found the engineering information very interesting as i am very interested in pursuing Outside Broadcasts as a career option. It also made me aware of the immense amount of planning and technology that goes into seeing the sport we love put onto TV. It also shows the extent of the need for very consideration to be taken into account regarding the particular needs of each sport.

Apple Hype Effects

It seems with all the hype surrounding Apple products something has to give. Just take a look at die hard Apple fan sites like AppleInsider and Think Secret and you begin to get the picture. Rumours of products, product updates, inside information and secret patent filings from ten years back. Who really knows what is what. Not only do most of these rumours seem to come from 28 year old apple nerds who don't have a life many of them are plain stupid. One particular one made note of a patent filing by Apple about six years ago that showed a mock up of an iPod design for demonstration purposes and this was turned into a new secret mega iPod Steve Jobs has been working on in his lair.

I am a Apple fan and user but I am getting sick of all the ideas people are getting that they somehow have the ability to look inside the working of one of the most secretive companies in Silicon Valley. I have no problem with speculation but please keep things real. Not only can such hype reate negative sentiment for Apple over expected products that will never exist but for the normal people who like Apple we want to know what is really happening.

The Evil Genius Dilemma

One thing that has always really bugged me about the whole superhero movie genre is that the evil villian never wins. Sure the villian may get ahead but by the end of the movie (or trilogy) the villian is foiled and destroyed. I have several theories about why this is the case but I think I'm going to disregard the obvious answers and look to the fantasy world to find out why.

1. Supervillians are Conditioned to Fail

Supervillians are super villians becasue they have failed in the past. For example in Batman Forever Edward Nygma is fired from his job a Wayne Enterprises. He fails at his job and he is also romantically a failure. Nygma then transforms himself into the Riddler alterego. At first he tricks Batman but ultimatly loses. Once a failure always a failure, Supervillians are conditioned through the riggors of life to fail.

2. Supervillians and Superheros are in Cahoots

Superheros and supervillians always seem to have some sort of connection above and beyond the nemesis relationship. One prime example is Spiderman and the Green Goblin. These relationships ineviably leads to the idea that the supervillians and superheros might be setting up confrontations to raise their own profiles. Villians like Lex Luthor often reoccur, why doesn't Superman kill him? Becasue they are in Cahoots and the good guy always wins so they can keep up the charade.

3. Supervillians are Socially Mal-Adjusted

Much like point 1 supervillians are socially mal-adjusted. They do not know how to interact wth their society so they resort to violence and madness. Pick any supervillian and they are all socilly weird; TwoFace Harvey, the Joker, all X-man villians and well they all seem socially disfunctional. Society has rejected them already and their final defeat by the superhero is simply the final act.

4. They Never Kill the Superhero (Even when given the chance)

Every single supervillian has the oppertunity to fill their nemesis superhero but doesn't. Instead they organise an elaborate and time consuming way for the hero to be destroyed. The villian then proceeds to leave the hero to his/her own devices. Plain stupid. The hero escapes and wins, beating the villian from the inside out.

4.1 Supervillians Always Reveal the Plan

As an addition to not actually killing the hero when given the chance the villian also reveals all the horrible details of their plots. This gives the hero all information to he needs to stop the plot and defeat the villian. Superman, Spiderman, X-men , James Bond and others have all taken advantage of this and beaten the bad guy.

5. Villians Lack PR Knowhow

Villian will never succeed becasue they just can't market themselvs. In the free market economy only the best and most respected brands survive and no evil villian is able to understand this to take the advantageous market position to overcome the market forces of good.

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I hope this give some insight into why villians never win. They really need to take note and stock of their positions to gain the upper hand.

O Week TV DVD's Available

For all those people who have not heard the 2007 O Week TV DVD is now available. Not onyl do you get all 5 episodes digitally remastered but bonus features not available anywhere else. All this in a two disc set is an offer too good to refuse. For only $10 you can have all this. I hear some asking how can we do it that cheap. Well using our patented process we can but be one of the first 50 customers and get two copies for the inceadible price of $20. That is unbeatable. DVD's available by contacting me on swillm02@postoffice.com.au or get them direct from House 309 Nappy Ally.

CSU TV Site

Note: Only people from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, Australia can take advantage of this once in a life time offer.

Computer Networks and Broadcast Television?

Television today now relies on so much computer and information technology that in order to understand how an image gets onto your television screen you need to understand how it travels through a traditional data network. This is the area of research I have selected for my third year television research project.

Everything from video editing, scripting, signal broadcast to equipment management needs computers. One particular area of growth in television is IPTV (internet protocol television). IPTV is the big catch word for content providers at the moment. But what exactly is it and what does it do. Basically instead of receiving the television signal through an antenna it is received through a broadband internet connection.

IPTV is available in two varieties, Video on Demand and live TV (multicasting) Video on demand is where you can select when and what you watch and live TV is exactly the same principle as free to air TV. At Charles Sturt University a multicast IPTV channel operates where television production students are able to broadcast their work to all on campus computer and even broadcast live shows and content.

With internet connection speeds increasing, prices dropping and more people being connected IPTV looks set to become to TV what TV was to radio. It is very exciting and means that the cost to broadcast is many times lower than it has ever been because no special equipment is required other than a computer. However is also means that people like me wanting to enter the broadcast job market need to have strong information technology skills as well.