Phil Maker
Well-known member
It the HVX "broadcast quality"?
Stupid Question
- Thread starter Phil Maker
- Start date
Phil Maker
Well-known member
I wasn't sure exactly what they meant by "broadcast quality" I thought maybe there was something else to it.
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Traditionally a "Broadcast Quality" camera has 3x 2/3" CCDs and records (analog or digital) Component video at 4:2:2 or higher.
BETACAM-SP is Analog TV's "Broadcast quality" tape standard, and Digital-BETACAM is Digital production's. DVCPRO-50 almost equals DigiBETA for technical quality, and is commonly valid too.
Component video is the analog broadcast production signal standard, and SDI is the digital.
Of course times, technology, and production styles are changing, and a much wider question - with no clear answer - is "what quality will broadcasters accept?"
- Mikko
BETACAM-SP is Analog TV's "Broadcast quality" tape standard, and Digital-BETACAM is Digital production's. DVCPRO-50 almost equals DigiBETA for technical quality, and is commonly valid too.
Component video is the analog broadcast production signal standard, and SDI is the digital.
Of course times, technology, and production styles are changing, and a much wider question - with no clear answer - is "what quality will broadcasters accept?"
- Mikko
Barry_Green
Moderator
Indeed, "broadcast quality" is a nebulous and squirrelly term to pin down. When I worked on an episode of "Travel Sick" for Comedy Central, the guys shooting it used PD150's; next week we were doing "Fashion Police" for E! and it was 2/3" BetaSP. Tons of shows on cable are shot on standard-def DVX100s. Yet the BBC's new HD requirements mean they won't consider HDV or any 1/3" camera, and they even rule out all 720p cameras (except the HDX900 and VariCam).
So -- Mikko's got the question exactly right. Instead of worrying whether something qualifies as "broadcast quality", ask whether your footage is worthy of being broadcast. During wartime coverage tons of footage from video phones and cell phones is broadcast -- does that count as "broadcast quality"? Of course not, but it was broadcast... or, think of "America's Funniest Home Videos", which was broadcast on a major network for years, despite much of the content originating on VHS.
If you're talking about what do networks and broadcasters use, Mikko's spot on, typically it'll be a 2/3" camera recording to a professional format such as DVCPRO50 or DigiBeta, or HDCAM or DVCPRO-HD. Panasonic's "broadcast" lineup includes the HPX2000 and HPX3000. Of course, hundreds of broadcasters and networks are using HVX200s and I've even seen press releases where a few channels were using JVC HD100s.
As always, it boils down to this: if your footage is compelling and lots of people want to watch it, broadcasters will broadcast it regardless of what format it was shot on. And if you're going in with a new pitch trying to get a network to bankroll your show, you'll have to tell them exactly what you plan on shooting on, and they have to pre-approve that format.
So -- Mikko's got the question exactly right. Instead of worrying whether something qualifies as "broadcast quality", ask whether your footage is worthy of being broadcast. During wartime coverage tons of footage from video phones and cell phones is broadcast -- does that count as "broadcast quality"? Of course not, but it was broadcast... or, think of "America's Funniest Home Videos", which was broadcast on a major network for years, despite much of the content originating on VHS.
If you're talking about what do networks and broadcasters use, Mikko's spot on, typically it'll be a 2/3" camera recording to a professional format such as DVCPRO50 or DigiBeta, or HDCAM or DVCPRO-HD. Panasonic's "broadcast" lineup includes the HPX2000 and HPX3000. Of course, hundreds of broadcasters and networks are using HVX200s and I've even seen press releases where a few channels were using JVC HD100s.
As always, it boils down to this: if your footage is compelling and lots of people want to watch it, broadcasters will broadcast it regardless of what format it was shot on. And if you're going in with a new pitch trying to get a network to bankroll your show, you'll have to tell them exactly what you plan on shooting on, and they have to pre-approve that format.
TedRR
Well-known member
In my 30 years in the industry, "Broadcast Quality" has become a joke. As Mikko and Barry clearly demonstrated, anything Broadcast is BQ. :grin:
Now days, the same clients who used to pound us for the BEST IKI Camera's and glass, don't seem to care what we use as long as it's cheap.
That's why when I was looking at a $100,000.00 camera and lens for HD, and then I found the HVX, it was an absolute NO BRAINER. Sure made moving to HD an affordable option. Disposable cameras are here to stay for much of todays productions. I guess that's good...and Bad.
Now days, the same clients who used to pound us for the BEST IKI Camera's and glass, don't seem to care what we use as long as it's cheap.
That's why when I was looking at a $100,000.00 camera and lens for HD, and then I found the HVX, it was an absolute NO BRAINER. Sure made moving to HD an affordable option. Disposable cameras are here to stay for much of todays productions. I guess that's good...and Bad.
Years ago we shot and provided for local broadcast several commercials in DV from a VX2000.