October 2007

Hooray for the Digital Transition ???

Some of the Tribune newspapers are running an article by Baltimore Sun technology writer Mike Himowitz titled "Those who don't convert will slip into dark ages." Undoubtedly first of many over the next fifteen months.

Snipe Update

Snipes have gotten soo bad that even the New York Times has devoted space to the problem.
(And see my original blog post "Woo ! Swish ! Snipe !" from February '06.)

Bohrman's Bus Beats B'casters w/ BGAN

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself - just had to write that headline.)

Actually, the BIG news is that CNN is the first out of the gate with an HD election bus. With all the talk about the Convention Pool being in HD, you would think that some other network would have made a similar announcement.

Or maybe one of them has something totally different up their sleeves?

UPDATE: See what Bohrman came up with next: http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/68876

No Sax Metaphor

Sorry, the headline is a cheap shot, but Mark Turner used it as a subhead in his article called Digital TV, Sax and Violins in the September 19th issue of TV Technology. As you know, one of my pet peeves is broadcast IT people crowing about how great it is that ubiquitous computing has made it possible for many separate devices (like CGs, still-stores, video switchers and audio consoles) to be combined into a time-line centric single (keyboard and mouse controlled) device.

Now I have nothing against the Ross Video Overdrive and the Thomson Grass Valley Ignite - they are great at automating repetitive tasks. But I have racked-up some flight time on Ignite's predecessor and you have keep in mind that when the excrement hits the fan (like truly breaking BIG news), you really want to have a couple of those old fashioned 'single button per function' devices and some warm bodies to run them in your control room. Otherwise you might be able to characterize your coverage as "no sax radio."