Broadcast Gadgets

UHD TV: Ready for Primetime?

Posted by Michael Gonzalez on in Broadcast Gadgets, Television Broadcast

 

Ultra High definition TV’s or UHDs as they are called have been in talk, quite as much now. These are also known as 4K as these can display content which is four times the resolution of today’s most technologically advanced television sets – the 1080p high-definition ones.Couple watching television set while their children busy in different activities

Obviously, these 4K sets are not cheap. But then that could get over time. Question arises, will there be high quality content made available to be viewed on this high end resolution?

Broadcasters were able to provide content for HDTV after a considerable amount of time. What will be UHD TV’s fate then?

The difference between an HD TV and a UHD is not very remarkable. The television industry has another problem area. The market is already saturated; the demand that already exists is churning good profits.

Now, it seems that arriving at a content solution will not be easy. Television networks will have to make an enormous investment in cameras, control room sophisticated technology as also cable and satellite providers will need to check ways to upgrade their networks in order to be able to carry signals.There is hope that content will be delivered online. Comcast and Samsung will partner to stream UHD programs to Samsung televisions of the same make.

All such partnerships are definitely an appreciable start. There is another glitch, however.UHD is known to take up a lot more bandwidth than the usual HD content. This could mean more pressure on the entire internet infrastructure to deliver quality data whenever and wherever necessary to watch such shows in UHD.

Akamai, a Cambridge based organization that is specialist in providing high-speed internet content has been working on this issue. Akamai CEO ,Tom Leighton mentioned that the Internet  will be able to support limited 4K at the current time but, “ it takes a lot more gigabytes to show a 4K video. The capacity at the local level – the last mile is less of a problem than at the data centers”

He also mentioned how he aims to bring content closer to the consumer:

 “We want to get that video into the neighborhood once only, even if a thousand people are watching it,” he said.

Akamai has partnered with Qualcomm to develop and innovate on technology to store ultra-high-definition at the consumer’s residence. So whenever possible, instead of streaming live on demand, the technology will anticipate the consumer’s interest and stream it way ahead of time.This way the consumer can gain access whenever he/she wants.

But when can such technology appear? Is 4K really ready for prime time television?

Digital Broadcast Technology – A Primer

Posted by Michael Gonzalez on in Broadcast & Management Systems, Broadcast Gadgets, Content & Asset Management, Content Delivery, Desktop Production, Transmission And Distribution

new-york-1071162_1920It’s no wonder that most companies are switching over to digital production methods, and have been doing so for the past decade or more. Being able to assemble a neat edit or a fantastic audio setup running through several computers rather than a suite of more archaic (but still reliable and high-quality, to be fair) tech is a great step forward for those who want an easier way to interface with the digital realm.

But what about the actual investment and training process? Switching from one set of technology to another can be a difficult adjustment period, but the benefits are clear – entire radio setups can be rendered down to a mic, some good software, and a capable computer. Television can be put together on a tablet. The future of broadcasting about anything from sports to the latest O2 technology has become brighter, faster and more efficient.

It’s worth looking into a more powerful computer, too – it’s no longer just a tool used for communication, or research. It can compose, edit, shoot, animate, and construct virtual products and services faster than any previous process. What it means for broadcasting companies is better, faster-made and higher-quality content, which in turn will allow for higher audience numbers and fund the required technology.

But what if you’re moving over to digital after years of analogue broadcasts? Not much has changed – production still has the same objectives and output – the process has just shifted slightly, and production software is nothing new in the industry. As far as hardware is concerned, however, things are shifting, and we aim to help you keep track of the best possible equipment and hardware to use in order to stay at the forefront of broadcasting evolution. It’s an exciting time to be involved, so don’t fall behind.