Shooting video for european broadcast

M

mfro

Member
I'm shooting a music video for both U.S. and European Broadcast. I've read in Barry's book that 16:9 is the standard for broadcast in Europe, so I'm thinking that I'll have to cut two versions, one for US 4:3 and one for EU 16:9. This is going to create a lot of extra work but the band has a bigger following in Europe than the US. I haven't been able to find much definitive information about European standards but my understading is that they can't even use 4:3. Does anyone know if that is the correct assumption?

I'm expecting to shoot with the DVX squeeze mode to get my 16:9 and hopefully I can edit a 4:3 version from the same footage. I'm using Final Cut Pro HD. If anyone has any experience shooting for both markets, or can correct any of my assumptions, I would be eternally grateful for the advice. I'm just moving into video from web/graphic design so I'm pretty green.

Thanks!!
 
I hadn't heard that Europe had went totally 16:9? I thinks you got some mis-information there.
Most of Western Europe is PAL = 25fps 50Hz except for France and most of Eastern Europe which is SECAM

Here's some reading material:
TV Standards for Europe

WHY?

For Television broadcast I'd say shoot it NTSC 4:3 24p that way you can convert it to 60i for U.S. and and PAL 25fps for Europe
 
I can't speak for all of Europe but here in Ireland the standard is 25P/4:3.
 
I don't know that I said 16:9 is the standard in Europe, did I? I said that there's more acceptance of 16:9 in Europe than in America, and that in Europe they'll broadcast 16:9 on digital channels and 4:3 on analog channels.

That's my understanding, perhaps some European members will fill us in more.
 
Sorry barry, I actually misinterpreted what you said. I was confused about the 14:9 analog/digital issue. I guess I'm fairly confused at this point on the subject, but the feedback so far is reassuring to me that I can just shoot in 4:3. Thanks for the input everyone, keep it coming!!

thanks again.
 
I can't speak for all European countries and TV-stations but...

Most European channels broadcasts in PAL 50i 4:3. This is still widely used and most TV-sets are still 4:3 although 16:9 is getting more and more popular. To my knowledge there are no channels doing analog broadcasting in 16x9. The digital broadcasts though that are getting more and more accepted, can be, and are quite often made and transmitted in 16x9.

If you want the video shot in 4:3 there should be no problem sending this to the European channels. Just make sure you get a good NTSC->PAL conversion, because this is very the image can get really messed up.

If you have any further questions feel free to ask.

Good luck with your project!

-
Johan Lundberg
Technical Manager,
TECHCREW, Sweden
 
we had this discussion earlier. it seems like the UK is getting lots of 16:9. but most networks are doing 4:3 mainly still.
i suggest you shoot your 4:3 video the way you want to and then go to a good copy-house and get a NTSC-PAL conversion done. we get tons of american productions here (from music videos to nature and sports and feature films) and a good conversion does it all wether its 24p or 60i.
 
Barry - Just started the book last night and can't believe how much I've learned so far.

On page 35 you say " in PAL territories approx. 50% of the televisions are 4:3"

Mabe that's where the misunderstanding came from. That would seem to mean the other 50% is 16:9
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. You've reassured me that I can go with 4:3 and save a ton of extra work as I'm on a really tight timeline. It sounds like the only thing to worry about is the NTSC to PAL conversion at the end. One additional question: does this have to be done by a post house or can it be done in Final Cut Pro? I'm thinking FCP is not the way to go but I just want to double check.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top