HVX acceptable for HD broadcast? network rejection issues...

S

schteevie

Well-known member
I just got word from the distributer that my company works with that they can not distribute shows shot on the HVX200 to networks such as DiscoveryHD, National Geograpic HD, etc... because they will reject them!

I think this is due to the 1/3" chip in the HVX, vs. the 2/3" chip in the larger shoulder mount type cameras...

We don't have immediate plans for our current shows to go to those networks, but don't want to rule them out for future syndication either.

I am seriously considering just out and out lying if ever asked what the shows were shot on - they'll be delivered on HDcam tape in 1080i; so short of "knowing" what they were shot on, how is someone going to be able to tell?
Especially with lifestyle stuff where the image isn't generally pristine, because lighting is not always ideal at the best of times...

We are considering buying an HPX500 to cover ourselves, but that is not a small investment and we don't feel we really need it at this point + in some ways, shooting on the smaller HVX allows for getting cooler shots in a run and gun situation because the biger camera can be limiting some times - so which is the lesser evil? smaller chip, or bigger unwieldy camera??

any thoughts / experiences would be apreciated....
 
I bet MOJO HD would consider your show if it was the type of program they would air. I watch MOJO everyday and they have a show called "I Bet you" that seems to be shot using 1/3" CCD cameras. I say that because they show the cameras a lot. I have heard that DIscovery HD has a certain percentage of 1/3" footage they will accept in a production. Something like 75% 2/3" CCD and 25% 1/3" would be acceptable. I'm not sure of the exact numbers though.
 
Yes, most "biggies" like the ones you mentioned will not take a program shot 100% with the HVX200. But that doesn't mean you can't use the camera. It means you're limited with the amount of HVX footage that ends up in the final cut. Some allow 10-20%.
 
Just tell 'em it's RED.

What the heck is the difference between DVCProHD shot on the HVX and a 2/3" camera besides light gathering and DOF?
 
It was a JOKE man... you know... joke?

Clearly they have specs for a reason. Apparently, to keep broadcast firmly in the hands of people with $100k+ cameras.
 
I just watched a behind the scenes show of "Deadliest Catch" on Discovery Channel. The entire show was shot on small handheld HD cameras. (Sony, I think)

This is a great episode because it's all about the camera crews and the conditions they had to work in. I liked it better than the regular show.
 
that doesnt make sense. last i heard they used sony z1's on deadliest catch, survivorman and a few other shows. i think someones feeding you bad info...
 
I just checked some data on Discovery Channel Canada, and their is a PDF that limites the use of HVX to that of HDV at I think it was 10 or 15%. But this was dated 2006 and was specific to canada only.
 
So they are saying that they believed, in 2006, that the HVX was on par with the HDV cameras of the day?

Amazing.
 
That's just such a load of giant crap they are slinging. So many other networks are still shooting with DVXs and who cares what it's shot on... but I guess when they rely on derivitive reality TV shows then they have to spend their time focusing on something rather than finding an original program.

I would give no credence to this and if you have "killer" footage on a single chip DV, who cares.
 
I was at Bradley International Airport just north of Hartford, CT one evening picking up my girlfriend coming in from Texas. As I was waiting in the arrivals area I noticed three gentleman with several flight cases and a very distinctive Arri Light case. I decided to approach them and asked if they were videographers and they replied, Yes, and asked how'd I know they were videographers? I said I own two Arri Kits.... I then asked, "Who do you shoot for, and they said The History Channel.... I went ooooooooooooo.... and then asked what camera do you shoot with and they said the Panasonic HVX200, I then chuckled to myself and walked away...
I felt so proud to be a Panasonic HVX200 owner...
 
wgzn said:
that doesnt make sense. last i heard they used sony z1's on deadliest catch, survivorman and a few other shows. i think someones feeding you bad info...
Click to expand...

My point was that these cameras were not "$100K" or 2/3 chip. Yes still HDV vs. DVCpro which makes no sense on Discovery's part.
They mentioned they used 50 cameras and yes it was the Z1.
They wrecked them all!

Myth Busters and Dirty Jobs use "smaller" cameras as well. I think they do have bigger cameras on set though.
 
Clearly they have specs for a reason. Apparently, to keep broadcast firmly in the hands of people with $100k+ cameras.
Click to expand...

I cannot disagree with this more. Many shows use larger cameras to get the major stuff, while using smaller and cheaper insert cameras. Note Mythbusters, Deadliest Catch, Dirty Jobs...

F900s and other heavy duty cameras make appearances as well.
 
Discovery Channel has three tiers of programming in terms of the cameras used.

Bronze - ALL HDV or HVX-200...stuff like Deadliest catch and Survivorman. Survivorman is ALL HDV, no way he can carry around anything bigger, since he is alone out there.

Silver - Main camera must be F900, F950, Varicam, and other higher end 2/3" chip cameras, with 10-20% of the B-CAmera being HDV or HVX-200...or EX1. Typical stuff you see.

Gold - ALL F950 and Varicam...no lower end B-camera stuff. Stuff like PLANET EARTH...all 70mm film, 35mm film, very little super 16mm film, 5% Varicam. And BONE DETECTIVE, as bad as that show is, the A and B camera are both Varicam.

Nat Geo has their own specs, but allow small amounts of sub $10k camera footage on certain shows.
 
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