noggin's posts, page 137

Top of the Pops

Japan has pretty strict regulations these days too I believe. The US has some legislation but doesn't seem to mandate testing.

One interesting area is that a number of overseas channels (TV3 Sweden for instance) are Ofcom regulated as they are licensed in the UK. They use the Ofcom 'P' logos for product placement warnings - as they should - but I don't know whether they are that hot on PSE stuff.

BBC World/BBC News - Technical Issues Again??

That's a radio running order though - so likely to be on a different OpenMedia server to the various TV services (themselves on different servers to each other).

I suspect that's a World Service radio R/O - and as deejay has said - they can still dual run in Radio as they are still in the process of switching (Domestic TV and BBC World News TV in London have switched fully I believe - but I don't know about the language TV services)

Top of the Pops

The UK has probably the strictest standards regarding Photosensitivity issues of any broadcaster around the world. All recorded shows really have to pass a Harding FPA or equivalent test (that checks for flashing images, red flashes, spatial patterns that can cause issues and extended lower threshold issues). if content fails it either has to be replaced or modified to ensure it passes. Reducing contrast, slowing down elements or field/frame blending to smear content can all be techniques that allow content that fails to pass.

Top of the Pops

Yes - but legally they have little choice other than to edit the material out entirely. They can't chose to ignore a fail and just broadcast this content - Ofcom requires that all recorded content passes a Harding FPA or equivalent test. It's not negotiable. If it fails Harding, it can't be broadcast. So it either has to be removed or repaired.

The only exceptions are live programmes or very fast turnaround inserts - where an apology / warning can be used in extremis.

Doctor Who (2018 onwards)

https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/site/Opening_and_closing_Credits.pdf

The BBC has rules on who/what can be credited in the opening :

"Where feasible (eg in Dramas) key talent, Writers and senior editorial/production staff should be credited in the opening sequence instead of the end credits. Opening credits should not be repeated in closing credit sequences except credits for performers."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/production/articles/credits-branding-trademarks#a-z

So writers, producers and directors should, ideally, be credited in the opening, along with lead actors.

Doctor Who (2018 onwards)

Yes - BBC Studios is the major brand being pushed now, as it is the production company that makes Doctor Who, and is commissioned by the BBC to do so. It may be made by the BBC Studios drama operation in Wales, but AIUI it's not made by BBC Wales any more technically (it's being made by BBC Studios in Wales)

All dramas now using different aspect ratio

No reason at all - and I'm sure you could if you wanted. When SD 16:9 was introduced there were some crude anamorphic adaptors used to allow you to shoot 16:9 content on 4:3 sensors.


No - but all the major producers of drama seem to be moving to 2:1 - with content appearing in that format on Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. AIUI. That little bit of letterboxing does seem to subliminally signal 'cinematic'...

What I don't know is whether the UHD 2:1 active standard is 4096x2048 or 3840x1920, I suspect the latter as it is nicely compatible with a 3840x2160 raster. Similarly for HD I expect 1920x960 is the active area within a 1920x1080 raster?

All dramas now using different aspect ratio

Not strictly true.

Just because 2:1 is close to 16:9 doesn't mean you can make the link that it won't make any difference to filming.

One reason to shoot 2:1 is to use anamorphic lenses (which will shoot onto a narrower or taller sensor area) to give you a different 'look' (that was a decision taken by the team making Doctor Who this season). Anamorphic lenses give a different shape bokeh and a different 'feel' to pictures, that isn't just related to the aspect ratio of the frame.

There are a number of different ways of shooting 2:1 - and you need to be careful not to jump to conclusions as to which is being used.

All in one streaming solution

There are reasons other than HDCP for tablets not streaming to HDMI outputs. My iPad won't let me use Sky Go via the Apple HDMI adaptor as they have restricted viewing to the tablet only. This isn't an HDCP issue - it's a rights issue. Are you sure your issues are HDCP related and not related to other rights.

It's REALLY rare for a mainstream TV with an HDMI socket NOT to support HDCP properly.

If you have a DVD player or Blu-ray player with HDMI output and it works on your TV, or if you have had a Sky box or VM TV box via HDMI and it works, then your problem isn't necessarily HDCP related.

Good books to read about British TV channels

Dished! does go into huge detail - far more than a TV doc would.

All in one streaming solution

What problem are you trying to solve - I'm not clear?

What is your display model and why do you think it doesn't support HDCP?

An AVR in the path won't remove the requirement for HDCP handshaking - though there are plenty of solutions that can't really be discussed here that will.

But pretty much any TV sold with an HDMI connector will support the HD-flavours of HDCP - and any which were branded HD Ready or better will (it's a requirement of the licensing of that logo)

All in one streaming solution

Almost any TV sold in the UK with HDMI will support HDCP - so you are unlikely to have any issues either way. Only very early, slightly unusual, TVs will have HDMI but not support HDCP. If you have an HD Ready or better display - HDCP won't be an issue for HD content.