The editors at Broadcast Engineering have been busy this summer working with some of our expert writers and authors on several new eBooks. Each of these training resources is written by a knowledgeable engineer or videographer. These authors have worked in broadcast and production environments, so they understand your problems and the issues you face. No matter your level of expertise, these eBooks are designed to cover a range of informational needs.
Over the last month, several new eBooks have been released and they are crammed with important and useful information to help you be a better engineer or operator.
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In the previous column, key issues regarding backup and archive solutions were reviewed. Each approach represents quite different solutions to non-similar tasks. A backup solution represents a business insurance policy. It helps the company continue operation over days, weeks, perhaps months after the occurrence of some catastrophic event. The data for a backup solution should be stored off-site, perhaps hundreds of miles distant. more…
Broadcasters and other content producers are increasingly facing huge amounts of data that must be stored, edited and played out. Now repeat that process. The result is that new ways are being developed to retain programming, both finished and raw, that permit online-like operation, but without the huge cost of vast arrays of spinning disks. more…
I just finished reading a May 2011 report titled, “If a TV station broadcasts in the forest.” It was written by Thomas W. Hazlett, professor of law and economics at George Mason University and managing director of Arlington Economics. Given the report’s title, I did not expect him to be complimentary to television broadcasters — and he was not. more…
The Open Video Mobile Coalition (OMVC) and Broadcast Engineering magazine today announced plans to jointly produce a one-day technical conference designed to provide television station, group and network engineers with the knowledge needed to ensure successful deployment of Mobile DTV service as part of their digital TV transmissions. more…
Is your station planning to tap into the 77 million household audience by providing mobile television programming? In a press release, Anne Schelle, executive director of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) said, “OMVC continues to track the progress made by broadcasters who are turning on mobile DTV. The numbers of broadcasters on-the-air with mobile continues to rise, with 76 stations now on the air in 32 markets … Between those stations already on-air and those who are coming soon, we project that mobile DTV will reach more than 77 million households — or more than two-thirds of all viewers in America – in the next twelve months.” more…
Two recent filings with the FCC provide a glimpse into the thinking of both MVPDs and content owners with regard to how viewers want to access programming. While it’s most common for cable and satellite providers to require a set-top-box (STB) to access programming, both FOX and Disney have filed Ex Parte letters with the FCC, which indicate other devices may be supported. more…
Thought not yet targeted at 3-D TV, Intel’s new 22nm transistor combines small size with a 3-D construction. Shown in a microscopic photo in Figure 1, the new transistor represents a fundamentally different construction technology for future microprocessor families: the combination of 3-D construction and extremely small 22nm design. Note especially the higher ridge cross connections. These represent the new transistor’s gate, and the device’s source and drain are on opposite sides of the gate. The new process is said to continue the pace of Moore’s Law. more…
Are you a mobile TV expert, engineer, consultant or enthusiast? If so, Broadcast Engineering is looking for a writer passionate about the mobile TV industry to take over responsibilities for the “Mobile TV Update” e-newsletter. more…
Building on Wednesday’s list, here are some more exciting new products and technology to be on the lookout for at the 2011 NAB Show.
iPhone interface
Ensemble Designs is featuring an iPhone-to-HD/SD-SDI video interface for the BrightEye Mitto scan converter. Mitto provides a solution for getting severe weather footage and breaking news from an iPhone into a news program. more…
