NG
And taken from ITV analogue, you can see ghosting on the pictures too. BBC network News pictures from other channels, and even the Beeb themselves are often a zoomed and cropped mess. It's hardly rocket science to record a proper anamorphic version. ITN manage it correctly every time, as do Meridian and BBC South.
The issue is that many channels have a mix of 4:3 and 16:9 content - and the BBC aspect ratio convert incoming digital off-air feeds prior to recording to their server (and VT) systems, as their basic journalist desktop editing system can't aspect ratio convert 4:3 content to 16:9. In an ideal world there would be a Pin 8 controlled ARC on the output - but there isn't...
Either you have someone watching the feed and switching the ARC in and out for 4:3 and 16:9 content - or you take a permanent 4:3 feed and permanently ARC it to 16:9 - ensuring a permanent 16:9 feed (albeit of 4:3 cropped pictures)... If you record the channel unconverted you are left with no method of fixing the 4:3 pictures, other than taking them into an edit suite, which is not an option these days much of the time.
When everything is 16:9 it will be easier - and it is possible to book a separate recording (or make one yourself if you know how) if you know the event is 16:9 and have the time to do so, and care enough to do so.
Welcome to the new low-cost world...
noggin
Founding member
Markymark posted:
And taken from ITV analogue, you can see ghosting on the pictures too. BBC network News pictures from other channels, and even the Beeb themselves are often a zoomed and cropped mess. It's hardly rocket science to record a proper anamorphic version. ITN manage it correctly every time, as do Meridian and BBC South.
The issue is that many channels have a mix of 4:3 and 16:9 content - and the BBC aspect ratio convert incoming digital off-air feeds prior to recording to their server (and VT) systems, as their basic journalist desktop editing system can't aspect ratio convert 4:3 content to 16:9. In an ideal world there would be a Pin 8 controlled ARC on the output - but there isn't...
Either you have someone watching the feed and switching the ARC in and out for 4:3 and 16:9 content - or you take a permanent 4:3 feed and permanently ARC it to 16:9 - ensuring a permanent 16:9 feed (albeit of 4:3 cropped pictures)... If you record the channel unconverted you are left with no method of fixing the 4:3 pictures, other than taking them into an edit suite, which is not an option these days much of the time.
When everything is 16:9 it will be easier - and it is possible to book a separate recording (or make one yourself if you know how) if you know the event is 16:9 and have the time to do so, and care enough to do so.
Welcome to the new low-cost world...
MA
The issue is that many channels have a mix of 4:3 and 16:9 content - and the BBC aspect ratio convert incoming digital off-air feeds prior to recording to their server (and VT) systems, as their basic journalist desktop editing system can't aspect ratio convert 4:3 content to 16:9. In an ideal world there would be a Pin 8 controlled ARC on the output - but there isn't...
All fair comment, except is there really much left that's taken off air, that's still 4:3 ?
There are two main types of material that are taken.
Sunday morning political interviews: All three broadcasters are all 16:9, BBC, GMTV, Sky.
Sports coverage: What's left in 4:3, only really stuff on Eurosport ? All the other 'terrestrial' and 'satellite' sports broadcasters are working in 16:9. Even F1.
noggin posted:
The issue is that many channels have a mix of 4:3 and 16:9 content - and the BBC aspect ratio convert incoming digital off-air feeds prior to recording to their server (and VT) systems, as their basic journalist desktop editing system can't aspect ratio convert 4:3 content to 16:9. In an ideal world there would be a Pin 8 controlled ARC on the output - but there isn't...
All fair comment, except is there really much left that's taken off air, that's still 4:3 ?
There are two main types of material that are taken.
Sunday morning political interviews: All three broadcasters are all 16:9, BBC, GMTV, Sky.
Sports coverage: What's left in 4:3, only really stuff on Eurosport ? All the other 'terrestrial' and 'satellite' sports broadcasters are working in 16:9. Even F1.
BR
The BBC could have done with BBC Parliament's space on Freeview this weekend too with the French Open, Rowing, Rugby 7's and Moto GP all running simultaneously on BBCi, plus more on BBC2.
Talking of which, John Inverdale in the studio at 11.30pm to give a run down of the afternoon of sport coming up, link to the rugby (he hosted) and Moto GP and then be live in the studio to discuss the rowing. Really, the only difference with Grandstand is that each segment gets their own titles, which really means the day just doesn't flow as well as it did under the one banner.
Talking of which, John Inverdale in the studio at 11.30pm to give a run down of the afternoon of sport coming up, link to the rugby (he hosted) and Moto GP and then be live in the studio to discuss the rowing. Really, the only difference with Grandstand is that each segment gets their own titles, which really means the day just doesn't flow as well as it did under the one banner.
JO
The only reason the Grandstand banner was sidelined is the same reason why News 24 is now BBC News. Management become scared that the core brand isn't associated with x service so plow through any existing service brand, no matter how well established/known, in order to get the core brand across.
BBC Sport on Saturday/Sunday is still Grandstand, nothing is remotely new or special, making the whole argument for dropping the Grandstand banner a load of marketing carp.
Brekkie posted:
Talking of which, John Inverdale in the studio at 11.30pm to give a run down of the afternoon of sport coming up, link to the rugby (he hosted) and Moto GP and then be live in the studio to discuss the rowing. Really, the only difference with Grandstand is that each segment gets their own titles, which really means the day just doesn't flow as well as it did under the one banner.
The only reason the Grandstand banner was sidelined is the same reason why News 24 is now BBC News. Management become scared that the core brand isn't associated with x service so plow through any existing service brand, no matter how well established/known, in order to get the core brand across.
BBC Sport on Saturday/Sunday is still Grandstand, nothing is remotely new or special, making the whole argument for dropping the Grandstand banner a load of marketing carp.
DU
The only reason the Grandstand banner was sidelined is the same reason why News 24 is now BBC News. Management become scared that the core brand isn't associated with x service so plow through any existing service brand, no matter how well established/known, in order to get the core brand across.
BBC Sport on Saturday/Sunday is still Grandstand, nothing is remotely new or special, making the whole argument for dropping the Grandstand banner a load of marketing carp.
With respect, that's a load of carp too.
Grandstand was dropped for one reason alone- a lack of sporting rights. The BBC would have (and indeed did) get criticism, from people such as yourself, for sticking on one event on a Saturday often as lowly as bowls under the "Grandstand" banner.
The fact is that with the BBC's current sports portfolio they are as likely to have a weekend like this one with multiple events as they are to have a weekend with next to nothing. Linear branding in this context makes sense.
Moto GP is moto GP, which is why nobody watches. On its own, it ain't "Grandstand".
Jonny posted:
Brekkie posted:
Talking of which, John Inverdale in the studio at 11.30pm to give a run down of the afternoon of sport coming up, link to the rugby (he hosted) and Moto GP and then be live in the studio to discuss the rowing. Really, the only difference with Grandstand is that each segment gets their own titles, which really means the day just doesn't flow as well as it did under the one banner.
The only reason the Grandstand banner was sidelined is the same reason why News 24 is now BBC News. Management become scared that the core brand isn't associated with x service so plow through any existing service brand, no matter how well established/known, in order to get the core brand across.
BBC Sport on Saturday/Sunday is still Grandstand, nothing is remotely new or special, making the whole argument for dropping the Grandstand banner a load of marketing carp.
With respect, that's a load of carp too.
Grandstand was dropped for one reason alone- a lack of sporting rights. The BBC would have (and indeed did) get criticism, from people such as yourself, for sticking on one event on a Saturday often as lowly as bowls under the "Grandstand" banner.
The fact is that with the BBC's current sports portfolio they are as likely to have a weekend like this one with multiple events as they are to have a weekend with next to nothing. Linear branding in this context makes sense.
Moto GP is moto GP, which is why nobody watches. On its own, it ain't "Grandstand".
RO
BBC Sport on BBCi will become a full time service following the Olympics - http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/06/bbci_to_offer_fulltime_sport_service.html.
Effectively then we're getting a BBC Sport channel
Quote:
The BBC is to launch a permanent interactive sports service on digital TV after the summer's Beijing Olympics.
The Red Button service will be available on digital satellite, cable, Freesat and over Freeview in more limited form, due to bandwidth restrictions.
The move is part of a multi-million pound internal project dubbed Mysportnow, which aims to deliver sports content across multiple platforms providing additional choice, immediacy and personalisation.
Ben Gallop, head of BBC Sport Interactive, said: "The BBC currently delivers multiple choice viewing for sports around major events like the Olympics or Euro 2008. We know there is a big audience for sport outside big events and we want to extend an interactive service to that audience on demand by maximising the assets available to us across the BBC."
Examples include making greater use of the corporation's existing rights which include US basketball, Formula 1 (from next season) and Premier League highlights, along with sports news, archive footage, and radio for events the BBC does not hold TV broadcast rights to.
"BBC Radio has a long and popular association with England cricket internationals, for example," says Gallop. "We could take that fantastic audio and bring it to life with graphics and statistics."
He added: "BBC Sport is very strong on the web and on radio. It is less strong on TV, where it is only associated with major events. We want BBC Sport to be a brand association across all platforms."
The Red Button service will be available on digital satellite, cable, Freesat and over Freeview in more limited form, due to bandwidth restrictions.
The move is part of a multi-million pound internal project dubbed Mysportnow, which aims to deliver sports content across multiple platforms providing additional choice, immediacy and personalisation.
Ben Gallop, head of BBC Sport Interactive, said: "The BBC currently delivers multiple choice viewing for sports around major events like the Olympics or Euro 2008. We know there is a big audience for sport outside big events and we want to extend an interactive service to that audience on demand by maximising the assets available to us across the BBC."
Examples include making greater use of the corporation's existing rights which include US basketball, Formula 1 (from next season) and Premier League highlights, along with sports news, archive footage, and radio for events the BBC does not hold TV broadcast rights to.
"BBC Radio has a long and popular association with England cricket internationals, for example," says Gallop. "We could take that fantastic audio and bring it to life with graphics and statistics."
He added: "BBC Sport is very strong on the web and on radio. It is less strong on TV, where it is only associated with major events. We want BBC Sport to be a brand association across all platforms."
Effectively then we're getting a BBC Sport channel
BR
Effectively they're just relaunching what is already there anyway. I do hope though they integrate the red button service with the text service so that the full BBC Sport news and stats pages can be access through the one service, rather than having to go out of it and into BBC Text.
Must admit the new look text pages are growing on me - they certainly look better than the blue anyway.
Must admit the new look text pages are growing on me - they certainly look better than the blue anyway.
SP
I wonder how this will work on Freeview. We already know that BBC Parliament is being removed from DTT for the Olympics coverage on BBCi.
I can't imagine them pulling Parliament from Freeview permanently without an outcry, not least from politicians. So I presume the new sports service will replace one of the BBCi video streams, meaning less in the way of interactive video accompanying non sporting programmes.
I can't imagine them pulling Parliament from Freeview permanently without an outcry, not least from politicians. So I presume the new sports service will replace one of the BBCi video streams, meaning less in the way of interactive video accompanying non sporting programmes.