JTFC
03-14-2008, 11:07 PM
This email probably arrived in most ABC freelancers mailbox. thought I would share it.
To: #ABCTV News ALL
Subject: Digital Transition -- Next Steps
As you know, we began several years ago our transition of ABC News to digital and, ultimately, to high definition. In 2003, we created the Digital Media Center for digital ingest, editing, and playout. In 2004, we were the first to broadcast the State of the Union Address in HD (acting for the pool). In 2005, "Good Morning America" became the first morning network news program to be broadcast in HD, and we broadcast the Inauguration in HD that same year. Since then, we've done many hours of long form and news magazines in high definition.
This year, we will take several important further steps.
Later this spring we will at long last be moving to digital cameras for field acquisition. Training on the new cameras will begin in the next few weeks, with full usage scheduled by June 1. Initially, we will continue to acquire in the 4X3 format -- both so that we can get used to the cameras and to give us time to set up the edit rooms for the larger, 16X9 format. By the end of the year, we will be moving to 16X9 across the board.
This spring will also see the launch of the Digital Media Archive Center as the first tranche of historic ABC News video becomes digitally available. Over the next few years, we will be digitizing additional portions of our library. We are proceeding through the library beginning with the most often used video and moving on to the less used.
Next month "This Week" will begin broadcasting in HD when it moves to the Newseum in Washington. It will be followed at the end of the summer by our broadcasting the conventions in HD and beginning HD broadcasts the week of September 8th for "World News," "Nightline," and the newsmagazines.
In order to make the transition for the programs, all programs now using the TV-3 control room will move to use TV-2, a new HD control room. We will then re-make TV-3 into an HD control room and move back into it in the summer of 2009. For the time being, the "World News Now,"" America This Morning," and our 24X7 coverage will remain in Standard Definition, although using the new TV-2 and TV-3 (when it is completed) control rooms.
To make all of this work, we will need your participation and support. There will be a fair amount of training going on over the next 18 months; we need you to find the time for this to be done properly. In addition, in moving to digital field acquisition, we will be implementing a new process of attaching "metadata" to each video that we shoot. Some of these metadata will come automatically from the cameras themselves (such as time stamps and format); other metadata will require insertion from the producer or others (such as short descriptions of the material).
If we do this right, I can promise you three things. First, our audience will have a better experience in watching ABC News programming in the coming months and years. Second, everyone producing pieces drawing upon material shot in the past -- whether yesterday or 20 years ago -- will have instantaneous access to all of the relevant video presented in a way that we can quickly assess what will make the piece the best it can be. And third, by doing it right, we can speed the process so that we get to digital and HD faster even than our timetable provides.
I attach a timeline and a sheet of frequently asked questions that will help everyone understand better what's ahead. Some of us will be coming around to meet with individual groups to lay our digital plans out in greater detail and answer questions.
Thanks in advance for your help. Whatever challenges this digital transition may bring, it's also the source of real excitement. We've heard about it in various ways; we've seen others try it. Now, it's our turn.
Some pertanint FAQ's (there were five pages of questions. I'm only suppplying FAQ's that relate to the topic of HD Cameras)
3. Why are we staying with an SD camera instead of going HD?
No vendor currently has an HD camera that fits our needs at ABC News. The Panasonic solid state camera comes with prohibitive media costs and Sony has yet to offer a suitable 720p camera. We are pursuing an HD solution with Sony, Panasonic, Ikegami and Grass Valley and expect a vendor to produce a suitable camera in the next two years. We are deploying two Panasonic P2 cameras in Washington along with XDCAMs to test that workflow.
4. What do our competitors have?
CBS and CNN – XDCAM.
NBC is going to use a tape HD camera as a bridge until Sony has a camera that meets their needs.
Fox Business Channel – Panasonic P2.
ABC Owned Stations – 9/10 will go Panasonic P2, WLS XDCAM
6. Is the XDCAM format being adopted by all of ABC News?
Yes. However, as the ABC News Magazines and Long Form units begin their transition to HD, there will be a greater utilization of ABC’s current fleet of Panasonic’s DVC PRO HD and JVC’s HDV for their field acquisition.
9. Can we continue to have freelancers shoot beta?
Yes, but we will encourage all crews to shoot digital if they don’t have XDCAMs.
10. Will Sony be extending any discounts to ABC’s freelancers?
No, but it has agreed set up a purchase program that ABC freelancers can take advantage of. Details of this program will be available shortly.
37. When will ABC news begin widescreen SD acquisition?
The target is to begin the migration to widescreen SD by December 2008 beginning with magazines followed by all of hard news by April 2009.
38. Will any shoots still be in 4:3 after April 2009?
None by ABC staff cameramen after Spring '09, but 4:3 material will continue to be produced by agencies and affiliates and of course, stock footage from the library will be 4:3.
39. Will freelancers be required to shoot in widescreen SD when ABC does?
Yes. The most important component of this camera/format change for ABC News is the commencement of widescreen SD shooting. Freelancers will be required to shoot in widescreen SD and provide this content to ABC News in an acceptable format, preferably digital. Many Beta cameras can shoot 16:9, but it doesn't match the quality of a digital camera.
To: #ABCTV News ALL
Subject: Digital Transition -- Next Steps
As you know, we began several years ago our transition of ABC News to digital and, ultimately, to high definition. In 2003, we created the Digital Media Center for digital ingest, editing, and playout. In 2004, we were the first to broadcast the State of the Union Address in HD (acting for the pool). In 2005, "Good Morning America" became the first morning network news program to be broadcast in HD, and we broadcast the Inauguration in HD that same year. Since then, we've done many hours of long form and news magazines in high definition.
This year, we will take several important further steps.
Later this spring we will at long last be moving to digital cameras for field acquisition. Training on the new cameras will begin in the next few weeks, with full usage scheduled by June 1. Initially, we will continue to acquire in the 4X3 format -- both so that we can get used to the cameras and to give us time to set up the edit rooms for the larger, 16X9 format. By the end of the year, we will be moving to 16X9 across the board.
This spring will also see the launch of the Digital Media Archive Center as the first tranche of historic ABC News video becomes digitally available. Over the next few years, we will be digitizing additional portions of our library. We are proceeding through the library beginning with the most often used video and moving on to the less used.
Next month "This Week" will begin broadcasting in HD when it moves to the Newseum in Washington. It will be followed at the end of the summer by our broadcasting the conventions in HD and beginning HD broadcasts the week of September 8th for "World News," "Nightline," and the newsmagazines.
In order to make the transition for the programs, all programs now using the TV-3 control room will move to use TV-2, a new HD control room. We will then re-make TV-3 into an HD control room and move back into it in the summer of 2009. For the time being, the "World News Now,"" America This Morning," and our 24X7 coverage will remain in Standard Definition, although using the new TV-2 and TV-3 (when it is completed) control rooms.
To make all of this work, we will need your participation and support. There will be a fair amount of training going on over the next 18 months; we need you to find the time for this to be done properly. In addition, in moving to digital field acquisition, we will be implementing a new process of attaching "metadata" to each video that we shoot. Some of these metadata will come automatically from the cameras themselves (such as time stamps and format); other metadata will require insertion from the producer or others (such as short descriptions of the material).
If we do this right, I can promise you three things. First, our audience will have a better experience in watching ABC News programming in the coming months and years. Second, everyone producing pieces drawing upon material shot in the past -- whether yesterday or 20 years ago -- will have instantaneous access to all of the relevant video presented in a way that we can quickly assess what will make the piece the best it can be. And third, by doing it right, we can speed the process so that we get to digital and HD faster even than our timetable provides.
I attach a timeline and a sheet of frequently asked questions that will help everyone understand better what's ahead. Some of us will be coming around to meet with individual groups to lay our digital plans out in greater detail and answer questions.
Thanks in advance for your help. Whatever challenges this digital transition may bring, it's also the source of real excitement. We've heard about it in various ways; we've seen others try it. Now, it's our turn.
Some pertanint FAQ's (there were five pages of questions. I'm only suppplying FAQ's that relate to the topic of HD Cameras)
3. Why are we staying with an SD camera instead of going HD?
No vendor currently has an HD camera that fits our needs at ABC News. The Panasonic solid state camera comes with prohibitive media costs and Sony has yet to offer a suitable 720p camera. We are pursuing an HD solution with Sony, Panasonic, Ikegami and Grass Valley and expect a vendor to produce a suitable camera in the next two years. We are deploying two Panasonic P2 cameras in Washington along with XDCAMs to test that workflow.
4. What do our competitors have?
CBS and CNN – XDCAM.
NBC is going to use a tape HD camera as a bridge until Sony has a camera that meets their needs.
Fox Business Channel – Panasonic P2.
ABC Owned Stations – 9/10 will go Panasonic P2, WLS XDCAM
6. Is the XDCAM format being adopted by all of ABC News?
Yes. However, as the ABC News Magazines and Long Form units begin their transition to HD, there will be a greater utilization of ABC’s current fleet of Panasonic’s DVC PRO HD and JVC’s HDV for their field acquisition.
9. Can we continue to have freelancers shoot beta?
Yes, but we will encourage all crews to shoot digital if they don’t have XDCAMs.
10. Will Sony be extending any discounts to ABC’s freelancers?
No, but it has agreed set up a purchase program that ABC freelancers can take advantage of. Details of this program will be available shortly.
37. When will ABC news begin widescreen SD acquisition?
The target is to begin the migration to widescreen SD by December 2008 beginning with magazines followed by all of hard news by April 2009.
38. Will any shoots still be in 4:3 after April 2009?
None by ABC staff cameramen after Spring '09, but 4:3 material will continue to be produced by agencies and affiliates and of course, stock footage from the library will be 4:3.
39. Will freelancers be required to shoot in widescreen SD when ABC does?
Yes. The most important component of this camera/format change for ABC News is the commencement of widescreen SD shooting. Freelancers will be required to shoot in widescreen SD and provide this content to ABC News in an acceptable format, preferably digital. Many Beta cameras can shoot 16:9, but it doesn't match the quality of a digital camera.