The Newsroom

Al Jazeera English from The Shard

Split from Al Jazeera English & Al Jazeera America (November 2014)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
MA
Markymark
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Markymark posted:
JDN posted:

Thank you. I thought they had given up. Maybe in time for their tenth anniversary?

I remember when they installed new computers months back, and thought they would start moving back in, but never happened. Maybe they have changed their plan and are now looking at revamping the studio floor.


The 'refurb' at Doha is a massive project, completely new installation, technology, and workflow. It's nothing like a bunch of new computers, and a repaint of the studio floor ! It's been going for two years now, I'm told by some there's at least another 12 months work ahead (I suspect, even longer)

Here's the temporary facilities (a project in itself) provided while the main work is continuing

http://www.gravitymedia.co.uk/client-al-jazeera-2/

Why would they start with an SD temporary set up and later upgrade? Surprised you can still buy SD kit.


Most of the equipment mentioned in that article is HD, I suspect the journo who wrote the piece has got his/her wires crossed. I recall AlJ putting out to tender the provision for that system, it started as a request for a long term OB truck rental solution, but looks as if it evolved into that solution, possibly kicking off with some second hand SD kit.
RK
Rkolsen
Markymark posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Markymark posted:

The 'refurb' at Doha is a massive project, completely new installation, technology, and workflow. It's nothing like a bunch of new computers, and a repaint of the studio floor ! It's been going for two years now, I'm told by some there's at least another 12 months work ahead (I suspect, even longer)

Here's the temporary facilities (a project in itself) provided while the main work is continuing

http://www.gravitymedia.co.uk/client-al-jazeera-2/

Why would they start with an SD temporary set up and later upgrade? Surprised you can still buy SD kit.


Most of the equipment mentioned in that article is HD, I suspect the journo who wrote the piece has got his/her wires crossed. I recall AlJ putting out to tender the provision for that system, it started as a request for a long term OB truck rental solution, but looks as if it evolved into that solution, possibly kicking off with some second hand SD kit.

Where exactly do you find information about the tender?

Could it be possible that they got the HD equipment with the intent to start out SD and then transfer to HD when time, budget or distribution allows? I know some local stations may have some HD capable equipment that they operate in SD until the upgrade the rest of their system - typically from what I've seen are graphics engines and when a company buys/standardizes on ENG cameras.
IS
Inspector Sands
Rkolsen posted:

Could it be possible that they got the HD equipment with the intent to start out SD and then transfer to HD when time, budget or distribution allows? I know some local stations may have some HD capable equipment that they operate in SD until the upgrade the rest of their system - typically from what I've seen are graphics engines and when a company buys/standardizes on ENG cameras.

AJE Has been produced in HD since it launched in 2006, so the rest of their systems are already HD
MA
Markymark
Rkolsen posted:
Markymark posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
Why would they start with an SD temporary set up and later upgrade? Surprised you can still buy SD kit.


Most of the equipment mentioned in that article is HD, I suspect the journo who wrote the piece has got his/her wires crossed. I recall AlJ putting out to tender the provision for that system, it started as a request for a long term OB truck rental solution, but looks as if it evolved into that solution, possibly kicking off with some second hand SD kit.

Where exactly do you find information about the tender?


You often don't, certain integration companies are invited to apply confidentially .

EU broadcasters are obliged to follow specific guidelines

http://www.bbc.co.uk/supplying/opportunities/tenderprocess

26 days later

LL
London Lite Founding member
dvboy posted:
Back in HD this evening.


It didn't last long as AJE has been broadcasting upscaled SD for at least the remainder of the month on Freeview.
LL
London Lite Founding member
Typical! I post about AJE not being in HD and it returned when I tuned in at 1300.
HA
harshy Founding member
Seems to be a regular occurance with AJE, I can't remember any other channel having these sort of issues.
LO
Londoner
AJE was removed from Freeview SD at midday today
IS
Inspector Sands
harshy posted:
Seems to be a regular occurance with AJE, I can't remember any other channel having these sort of issues.

Not many other HD channels you can see are distributed from that part of the world!

I assume that it's fed off their internal fibre network. I think Freeview is one of the few places it's available in HD, so it's not worth their while to provide an HD backup when it's not possible to get the HD version to London
RK
Rkolsen
Inspector Sands posted:
harshy posted:
Seems to be a regular occurance with AJE, I can't remember any other channel having these sort of issues.

Not many other HD channels you can see are distributed from that part of the world!

I assume that it's fed off their internal fibre network. I think Freeview is one of the few places it's available in HD, so it's not worth their while to provide an HD backup when it's not possible to get the HD version to London


Looking at their satellite frequencies it appears your right. I wonder if it's fed directly from Doha or down linked somewhere in mainland Europe and sent over. Does AJE have local commercials or do they just carry the international feed?

Edit : I should really have looked at the drop down menu below the header that allows you to select the location, channel or satellite. As a side note I never heard a group of channels on a transponder referred to as a bouquet.
DV
dvboy
AJE has disappeared from Freeview in SD to make way for Home.
IS
Inspector Sands
Rkolsen posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
harshy posted:
Seems to be a regular occurance with AJE, I can't remember any other channel having these sort of issues.

Not many other HD channels you can see are distributed from that part of the world!

I assume that it's fed off their internal fibre network. I think Freeview is one of the few places it's available in HD, so it's not worth their while to provide an HD backup when it's not possible to get the HD version to London


Looking at their satellite frequencies it appears your right. I wonder if it's fed directly from Doha or down linked somewhere in mainland Europe and sent over.

As I say I'm pretty sure it comes via their internal fibre network, the fact that they lose it in HD would suggest that.


Although looking on Lyngsat, one of the two satellite beams that AJE HD is on is available in the UK so theoretically that could be used as a backup if they wanted. I assume they are uplinked from Doha, their footprint includes Qatar

Quote:
Does AJE have local commercials or do they just carry the international feed?


I don't think they have very many commercials at all!

There was a plan for a UK version of AJE with 'local' opt outs but presumably the fact that only the geographically limited HD version exists on Freeview now would suggest that its not going to happen

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