KitPlus | Articles

Keeping it real

by Will Strauss Issue 92 - August 2014 With Sky buying into an immersive video start-up, and the BBC trialling content on an Oculus Rift headset, virtual reality could be about to move from simply sets and studios to a whole new realm. Once residing purely in the realms of science fiction and, latterly, video gaming, it appears that virtual reality...

Submitted by Will Strauss#

Published 01 September 2014

Lighting for virtual sets

by Mike Perry Issue 92 - August 2014 We often get asked why lighting for a virtual set is not working well. The client has fitted a virtual studio painted with domestic green paint and fitted with presumably suitable lights, but the camera just can’t get a decent image. Where’s it all going wrong? Well, to answer questions about lighting a virtual...

Submitted by Mike Perry

Published 01 September 2014

Vision for the future of TV

Issue 92 - August 2014During the Commonwealth Games BBC Research and Development took the opportunity to unveil a range of new trials and public demonstrations as part of its Games showcase. These experiments brought together a wide range of industry partners and are helping to shape BBC R&D’s vision for the future of TV, and included a number of b...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 01 September 2014

DLED Dedolight Reviewed

by Justin Mills Issue 92 - August 2014 Ive been using Felloni LED light panels for over 18 months now, and have really enjoyed the ease of operating lights using battery power in my case, V lock batteries that I also use to power my cameras. No cable runs, easy to reposition and that much less time setting up and packing up. Although their 1ft x 1f...

Submitted by Justin Mills

Published 01 September 2014

Software defined workflows

by Steve Reynolds Issue 91 - July 2014 The rising popularity of over-the-top video offerings and TV Everywhere services continues to transform the media and entertainment business. Whether through pure-play OTT services from dedicated providers, catch-up TV offerings from broadcasters or authenticated TV Everywhere services from pay-TV operators, t...

Submitted by Steve Reynolds

Published 01 August 2014

Is the future virtual

by Dick Hobbs Issue 91 - July 2014 Just a couple of days ago, I went to a memorial service for a very nice man called John Wilson. If you have heard of John, it was probably for his work as the chairman of IBC in the 1990s, leading the move from Brighton to Amsterdam, then to an annual event, then to its management by an independent and professiona...

Submitted by Dick Hobbs.

Published 01 August 2014

Back to Basics with Media Transformation

by Craig Newbury Issue 90 - June 2014 With their shift toward use of file-based digital audio and video, rather than tape- or film-based media, broadcasters and other media companies have moved into a world that demands some familiarity with the concept of media compression. Because the video and audio captured by cameras and microphones often resu...

Submitted by Craig Newbury

Published 01 July 2014

Proprietary vs. off the shelf hardware for OTT video deli...

by Nivedita Nouval Issue 90 - June 2014 What are the main equipment at stake in an OTT video delivery system?An OTT video delivery system consists of an array of video servers that are able to store and stream content according to different formats defined by standards (e.g., HLS, HSS, HDS, and MPEG-DASH). Traditionally, there is an origin server,...

Submitted by Nivedita Nouval

Published 01 July 2014

Transforming Content and Caputure Distribution

by Russell Wise Issue 90 - June 2014 Within the broadcast industry, ongoing financial pressures have driven continued consolidation of operations, centralization of staff, and efforts to increase efficiency through smarter use of current and forward-looking media-focused technologies. At the same time, the rise of multiplatform content distribution...

Submitted by Russell Wise

Published 01 July 2014

Taming the Thames for Boat Race coverage

by Presteigne Charter Issue 89 - May 2014 Each April teams representing the two oldest universities in England, Oxford and Cambridge, meet on the Thames for one of the toughest challenges in rowing. A very popular event, this years race, which was covered by BBC Sport, saw Oxford claim an emphatic 11-length victory over their old rivals. Leading hi...

Submitted by Presteigne Charter

Published 01 June 2014

Head in the cloud

by Dick Hobbs Issue 89 - May 2014 Ive just had a look back through the archives, and I am pretty certain that this was my 25th NAB: a couple in the eighties and every year since 1992. In many peoples eyes this makes me just a beginner, I know. In the past I have spent the week on a stand, trying to sell something. My first ever NAB in Dallas, Texas...

Submitted by Dick Hobbs.

Published 01 June 2014

Tech trends drive more efficent and more flexible communi...

by Serkan Gner Issue 89 - May 2014 The emergence of new signal transport protocols and standards and the embrace of new methods of interfacing are changing the way communications are being handled for broadcasters. Increasing implementation of Audio Video Bridging (AVB) and the growing need and acceptance of remote mobile connections to intercom sy...

Submitted by Serkan Guner

Published 01 June 2014

Game Set Match

by Nico Lewis & Jon Ridel Issue 89 - May 2014 Sports events such as the Super Bowl, the Winter Games in Sochi and the Wimbledon Championships are among the most prestigious jobs for broadcast companies. The larger the event, the more viewers it reaches and consequentially, the more complicated and important the communication system becomes. Without...

Submitted by Nico Lewis

Published 01 June 2014

Centralised tapeless workflow at BT sport studios

by Steve Montgomery Issue 88 - April 2014 Part of the former International Broadcast Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London has been transformed into the new home of BT Sport with state-of-the-art production and broadcasting systems for BTs new television broadcast operations. BT sport is a broadcasting station with 24-7 operational c...

Submitted by steve montgomery

Published 01 May 2014

Whats in a name

by Dick Hobbs Issue 88 - April 2014 That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. Juliet, being a bit too passionate for her tender years, thinks that Romeo would, if he were not Romeo calld, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. When I was Juliets age, and had done something which deserved a treat, I wo...

Submitted by Dick Hobbs.

Published 01 May 2014