In early 2001, Patrick Grosswendt was working as a gaffer on Robert Altman’s Gosford Park, a murder mystery that was in production at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Like so many creative people working behind the scenes in film production in the pre-digital era, Grosswendt was constantly thinking of how the process could be improved.
Every video related trade show has to have an area to fly drones, it seems, and professional AV show Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) is no different. The Drone Arena has met with a “phenomenal” response on its debut according to Mark Wilkins, CEO, Stampede Global, a proAV distributor. His company is sponsoring the exhibit which features products from DJI, DragonFly and Yuneec. What is different is that drones for the professional or corporate AV market have arguably more business potential than the more narrowly focussed broadcast and film capture application.
Today, except for the few studio tent pole 3D movies, the format has become all but irrelevant for most non-theatrical applications. Digital photographer Barry Braverman says we still learned from the experience.
This year’s Super Bowl 50 live telecast, on CBS, will feature the typical grandiosity that is “The Big Game,” with roughly three dozen “traditional” broadcast high-definition cameras, 36 more POV HD cameras and a few 4K versions as well capturing the action. As in past years, there will also be some “pioneering” technology that usually exemplifies the world’s most watched single day sporting event. Last year’s Super Bowl was the most watched television program in US history, reporting more than 114 million viewers, and Super Bowl 50 looks to top that.
Drones are on a collision course for a major mid-air catastrophe according to senior figures in UK aviation. Figures released today show that in four recent separate incidents, UAVs were involved in near misses with craft, including a passenger jet, at UK airports.
Broadcasters face tough competition today. A variety of different news outlets are competing for the same story compounded by the fact that television viewers have a desire to be aware of news as it happens. If a broadcaster doesn’t tell a news story first and offer a unique perspective, viewers will find coverage elsewhere. This could result in viewer satisfaction, ratings, and ad revenue taking a dive. One of the main challenges of reporting on a breaking news story in a timely fashion is the cost of deploying additional video delivery equipment. If it is a large event, broadcasters may not be able to afford the extra equipment required in the field. Furthermore, it takes time to purchase digital mobile newsgathering equipment. If an event is happening spur of the moment, acquiring additional equipment could slow down a broadcaster’s ability to provide coverage. Broadcasters need a more affordable, scalable, and flexible approach to video production and delivery compared with traditional models. This article explores the main benefits of using cloud-based video distribution systems for breaking news and events coverage, taking a look at the key capabilities broadcasters should look for in a digital mobile newsgathering system hosted in the cloud.
Well-established technologies including smartphones, televisions and laptops will continue to drive US retail revenues and lead to one percent industry growth in 2016, according to the CTA (Consumer Technology Association), which owns and produces the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). While these categories – together with tablets and desktops – account for 51 percent of the consumer tech industry’s revenue, the catalysts for industry growth are newer innovations such as wearables, virtual reality and drones.
You don’t have to be a TV broadcaster for long to learn that lights, cameras and call letters can be fruitcake magnets. Several times in 2015, misfits turned local TV news into national news. This dangerous trend illustrates the escalation of illegal activities interrupting the otherwise controlled chaos of live local news.