Discovery Channel and HVX

6

6society

Member
I did a search and came up with conflicting info. Someone said that Discovery will not accept any docs shot exclusively on the HVX.

Then in another thread, someone was emailed a list of specs from a Discovery rep, and they said that DVCPRO HD 100-mbs was acceptable.

Anyone know where to find definitave info on the subject?? thanks.

Also, is 720p acceptable to the brodcasters, or is it just 1080i.
 
I think it depends more on what your footage is. I mean if you captured bigfoot on a cell phone video it would be good enough. :)

Frankly, I think allot of them wouldn't know the difference what the footage was shot on.

I mean Barry will tell you that people watching some of my footage that he played at NAB were convinced it couldn't have been shot on the HVX.

I've seen productions that used HVX footage mixed in with Varicam footage and it held up very well.

While many on this board may argue that they could pick out the HVX footage from the Varicam footage as easy as breathing, I would argue that if the footage was well shot and well lit, they would have a much harder time doing so than they think.

I've also seen Varicam footage that looked like total junk too.

So for any entity to say we don't accept this or that is foolish.
I would also venture that if there are specs of that nature, people are submitting footage on DVCPro tapes and they would be none the wiser.
 
There have been several discussions on DCI delivery requirements here. If you are producing for DCI, you have a contractual obligation to provide deliverables in the format they specify.

Once you have a DCI producer coordinating your agreement, you'll be able to negotiate the terms of your specific project. From the DCI two-page HD agreement:

"...Discovery HD requires programs to be mastered in the 1080i 59.54 signal standard. Programs may be acquired in the 720P 59.94 signal standard and mastered in 1080i 59.94 for delivery only with prior approval. Programs may be acquired and delivered in 1080 psf 23.98 or 25, or 1080i 50 only with prior permission from Discovery HD."

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overlandfilms said:
There have been several discussions on DCI delivery requirements here. If you are producing for DCI, you have a contractual obligation to provide deliverables in the format they specify.

Once you have a DCI producer coordinating your agreement, you'll be able to negotiate the terms of your specific project. From the DCI two-page HD agreement:

"...Discovery HD requires programs to be mastered in the 1080i 59.54 signal standard. Programs may be acquired in the 720P 59.94 signal standard and mastered in 1080i 59.94 for delivery only with prior approval. Programs may be acquired and delivered in 1080 psf 23.98 or 25, or 1080i 50 only with prior permission from Discovery HD."

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Click to expand...

These are the guidlines that are set in place to establish a formal consistancy in the current standards. I think exceptions to these standards are often made within existing programs with proven production histories on the network. Maybe not specifically with Discovery HD, but many shows that are established have been able to focus more on using what works, even if it means bending the rules. In these instances it becomes closer to what Kevin mentions in that the subject matter can take some precedance over the technicalities of specific format requirements.
 
Just by the nature of the question it appears that you do not have a contract with DCI to produce a show. If you did you would already have the necessary info on deliverables. So with that being said, I assume you would like to shoot a doc and then try and sell it to DCI. If that's the case, go ahead and shoot on the HVX. If you can, shoot 1080/30p and it will transfer quite well to a 1080/59.94i master. If you must shoot 720p then just transfer to a 1080i master to send to them for viewing. IF the content is something that they really desire, I'm sure they will make an exception for the acquisition format.
 
I visit the discovery channel-hd meeting during the IDFA documentary festival, and they told me that they restricted the HVX200 as they do with general HDV material. The HVX it is not approved unless it's only max 15% participation in the final movie, the same rule for HDV 1080i material. DVCPRO100 as a format is approved as is Sony HDcam and XDcam HD (35mbit), but not the HVX-200. As a SD cam it is ok they said.
 
xray said:
I visit the discovery channel-hd meeting during the IDFA documentary festival, and they told me that they restricted the HVX200 as they do with general HDV material. The HVX it is not approved unless it's only max 15% participation in the final movie, the same rule for HDV 1080i material. DVCPRO100 as a format is approved as is Sony HDcam and XDcam HD (35mbit), but not the HVX-200. As a SD cam it is ok they said.
Click to expand...

That sounds about right. I think that is essentially the same wording they put in print.
 
whats wrong with shooting 1080 on the HVX? Couldnt you use the same settings as do the sony's? I'm a bit confused on what this is about.
 
I also saw a document a while back from them stating that they weren't to happy with file based source footage. In situations where you are turning over the footage and edl's at the end of a project, they wanted to have all P2 acquired footage transfered to tape and the edl's reflect the timecode on the new source tapes.
 
Can be, but it is not P2 related, shooting with another P2 cam DVCPROHD 100 is no problem. It is the resolution the 'definition in the material' shot with the HVX that is the problem.
 
In my opinion, the main reasons for limiting the HVX as an acquisition camera for Discovery HD are ...

1: Because the HVX is a 1/3 inch chip camera with a low pixel count and fixed lens - which translates to a low end camera in the professional world

2: Professionals feel the need to protect the industry that currently uses very high end equipment from having to compete on the same level as Joe Blow off the street that happened to go out and get himself his own nice camera.

I can see the logic in those reasons but I do not necessarily think that industry professionals are always better than starting entrepreneurs.
 
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