Broadcast Center Research Articles

The new No. 1 court and Broadcast Centre: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has been host to the World's Senior Grand Slam Championship since 1922. In the early 1990s it became clear that, in order to cope with the increasing demands of the Championships, a major upgrading of its facilities was required. A study in 1992 by BDP resulted in a proposal to construct a new No. 1 court together with a new Broadcast Centre and a new facilities building. This paper describes the design options which were put forward and then how the final chosen designs were implemented.

Optical video/audio signal distribution network for a broadcast center using WD/TD/SD hybrid multiplexing

Today's TV broadcast centers require large capacity and flexible routing networks for handling uncompressed serial digital video signals. Fuji Television's new broadcast center employs a newly developed optical video/audio signal distribution network This paper describes the design concept, the system structure, and the performance of the optical network. A wavelength-division and time division hybrid multiplexed (WD/TD) optical network has been applied to the broadcast center. This type of optical network is attractive for a broadcast center application, because of its large capacity, multiple format handling, and flexible operation capabilities.

Arab Television Goes Commercial

Taking the current debate on commercialism in broadcasting as a point of departure, this study sheds light on the promise of private television as a viable alternative to government-controlled broadcasting in the Arab world. It compares programme outputs carried by two satellite broadcasters belonging to two different models of television: the privately controlled commercial model represented by the London-based Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) and the government-controlled model represented by the Egyptian Space Channel (ESC). The study found that both channels seem to devote a fair amount of programming time to reach audiences in the Arab world and beyond. Yet, MBC was found to be far less entertainment oriented in its content than was the government-controlled ESC. MBC was especially distinguished in its Western-style programmes compared to ESC's mostly traditional formats. MBC news was also modelled on Western, especially American news programmes which draw on the report as the basic unit of the newscast. The article concludes that based on this preliminary study, private television in the Arab world seems to hold many promises for the development of broadcasting, long monopolized by governments.

22-5 フジテレビジョン新館光ネットワークの開発(2) : 設計/開発

22-5 フジテレビジョン新館光ネットワークの開発(2) : 設計/開発

Challenges in a Digital, Server-Based Broadcasting Environment

DIRECTV, Inc., initiated operations at its all-digital Castle Rock Broadcast Center (CRBC) in Colorado on June 17, 1994. The broadcast center contains a 512 × 12 SMPTE 259M serial digital router, controls more than 300 digital VTRs, and transmits nearly 200 channels via the DIRECTV geosynchronous direct broadcast satellites. This paper describes the issues and challenges facing DIRECTV in evolving the CRBC and its other facilities toward a “server-based” architecture. Tentative conclusions may change as requirements change and technology matures. It is also intended to provide a basis for industry discussion of key issues.

Practical Implementation of an Optical Network in Broadcast Stations

The new broadcast center of Fuji Television Network Inc. requires a large capacity and flexible routing network for video/audio signals. It has been decided to employ the newly developed wavelength-division and time-division hybrid multiplexed (WD/TD) optical network for video/audio signal distribution/transmission in the new facilities, in order to extend possibilities in the coming multimedia era. A prototype WD/TD optical network has been developed to examine basic operation and preliminary reliability issues. The prototype has been designed to distribute/transmit 240 digital NTSC video signals, employing a newly developed flat gain optical amplifier and a 2.29 Gbit/sec time-division multiplexer/selector. The prototype has been under field trials at the master control room of Fuji Television Network Inc. and has shown successful operation.

２１世紀に向かって動き出したディジタル放送 ディジタル放送技術の現状 ＣＳディジタルテレビの放送局

２１世紀に向かって動き出したディジタル放送 ディジタル放送技術の現状 ＣＳディジタルテレビの放送局

Direct satellite broadcasting in the Arab Gulf region: Trends and policies

During the past decade, the six Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) states, comprising of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain have taken long strides in the development of their mass media and national telecommunications infrastructures. One of the areas positively affected by this trend has been direct satellite broadcasting and reception. Not only have AGCC states made possible their populations' exposure to DBS television programming, but they themselves have become active participants in international satellite broadcasting, some of them are even beaming their TV materials on an around-the-clock basis. This study argues that the rise of DBS in the Gulf is part of a three-decade trend of commu nications development in the region whereby national broadcasting systems in the six states have acquired high degrees of sophistication and maturity. The study notes that major DBS broadcasters to the Gulf region range in background from CNN International, to Middle East Broadcasting Center, London, to the French International Channel (CFI). Local Gulf popula tions watch DBS programs through direct-to-home transmissions, telecasts of selected foreign and Arab satellite services by national TV channels, and finally through microwave distribution systems. The authors note that while DBS in the Arab Gulf region is here to stay, it has to be approached with a balanced vision that takes into account the national interests of Gulf societies and media systems. While total blackout approaches seem to be unrealitistic in light of accelerating innovations in DBS reception techniques, openness to international television via satellite should serve as a means of fostering intercultural interactions and of enhancing national media performance.

アトランタ・オリンピック オリンピック放送システム ＩＢＣ

アトランタ・オリンピック オリンピック放送システム ＩＢＣ

Serial Digital Master Control

The CBC's Toronto Broadcast Centre master control room (MCR) is considered to he one of the largest in North America using bit-serial component digital technology with AES/EBU embedded audio. A sophisticated, powerful, and user-friendly control system allows the operator to monitor, assign, administer, and troubleshoot any television signal routed to or from any news or production studio, videotape editing facility, or remote feed that enters or leaves the Broadcast Centre. Because it would be difficult to rebuild an MCR while the television network is in operation, futuristic vision, ergonomics, flexibility, reliability, and simplicity were the key elements to the design and equipment acquisition. This paper presents the main tasks and traditional role of the MCR, along with the design philosophy and system implementation in a multiformat environment. The MCR's monitoring techniques are also discussed.

Bit-Serial Digital Signal Jitter Causes, Effects, Remedies, and Measurement

This article reviews the CBC experience in identifying the causes, assessing the effects, and effecting remedies of bit-serial digital jitter at 270 Mbits/sec and describes the current CBC test methods. This experience was gained during activities related to the implementation of the Toronto Broadcast Centre Project.

Implementation of a Large Digital Routing System at the CBC Broadcast Centre

In the design of a digital television broadcast plant there are many issues to consider, such as digital format, tape format, embedded audio, and future advanced image formats. The heart of any broadcast plant is the central routing and distribution system. For CBC's new Broadcast Centre in Toronto, a large, multimatrix digital routing system was designed by a multidisciplinary team formed from several different companies. The design incorporated a complex, custom-designed control and supervisory system, and CRT-type custom control panels. In the absence of final standards and established test procedures for digital systems, new approaches were investigated to establish testing criteria and methodologies.

An Overview of the Mechanical Building Systems for the CBC Toronto Broadcast Centre

This article provides an overview of the life-safety, air conditioning, and heating systems for the new CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. The 1.7 million sq. ft. radio and television Broadcast Centre is a complex building that requires a high degree of flexibility during operation of its mechanical systems. The major mechanical systems are described, as well as some details concerning air quality and the cooling of technical equipment racks.

Training for the CBC's New Broadcast Centre

In August 1992 the CBC began its move into the new Broadcast Centre in Toronto. When the move is completed, all CBC Radio and Television departments ― for many years scanered across 26 different locations in the Toronto area ― will be under one roof for the first time. The building of a totally'new broadcast center provided an opportunity to create a new production environment virtually from the ground up. To prepare for the move to the new facilities a detailed assessment of equipment, facilities, and related technology was carried out to determine what impact, if any, a changed production environment would have on program makers and engineering staff

Design Considerations for Television Facilities in the CBC's Toronto Broadcast Centre

As one of the first North American broadcasters to commit 4:2:2 serial component digital technology to large-scale use, the CBC's design philosophy was based on the availability of key systems within a time frame complementary- to its long-range goals. Various design objectives for the new broadcasting center are discussed in this article, as well as details relating to specific completed system elements such as a single-level multi-router switching network with data throughput rates beyond 360 Mbits/sec. Also discussed are several new concepts and technologies relating to serial digital component technology

Acoustical Considerations for the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto

A large broadcast center such as this requires severe acoustic criteria. The concept provided protection from various intrusions by locating the technical facilities towards the inside of the new building. The sound isolation was achieved by «floating » the building of resilient pads and by building sound barriers such as concrete floating floors, resilient ceiling membrane, and multiple-cavity walls. Once the required privacy was achieved, the production areas were «tuned» using sound-absorbing materials installed mainly on the walls and the ceiling

Planning of the Canadian Broadcasting Centre Toronto, Canada

Over the past 30 years the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has planned for the consolidation of its temporary facilities in Toronto. In July 1992 the CBC received the occupancy permit For the new Broadcasting Centre from the city of Toronto, and 3,200 employees and contract personnel employed in TV and radio production by the CBC began to move into the 1.7 million sq. ft. building from 24 dispersed locations. This article reviews the site-planning principles and building concept planning principles For the accommodation of a mixed-use development on the 9.3-acre site in downtown Toronto

Performance Evaluation and Acceptance Testing of Bit-Serial Digital Video Equipment and Systems at the CBC

This article presents an overview of CBC test methods for evaluation and acceptance of bit-serial digital video equipment operating at 270 Mbits/sec. It is the result of a CBC development program aimed at selecting, defining, measuring, and establishing limits of acceptable deviations from standard values of performance-indicative parameters affecting the end-picture quality. These methods have been applied to activities related to the implementation of the Toronto Broadcast Centre project

Introducing the CBC Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Canada

Introducing the CBC Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Canada

Development of a Multimatrix Routing Switcher Control System for the CBC Toronto Broadcast Centre

The extensive and diverse routing switcher requirements of the CBC's Toronto Broadcast Centre called for the development and implementation of a multimatrix system with previously unavailable control system functionality. This control system has been developed to specifications to provide the flexibility and future expansion required by CBC operations. The system is highly redundant and protected from failure. Various strategies are used to maximize the robustness of the system. The control panels provide user features such as direct key-entry or menu-driven source selection. Besides a source name, each input has an associated descriptor and optional text note. User help is built into the panels. By configuration, each panel in the system can control any bus or buses on any matrix. The requirements for the system, analyses used to meet those requirements, and system implementation and operation are described in this article.