ZDF heute

Yep - saw that there is some projection going on when I watched a few more clips - though it doesn't look as comprehensive as some other implementations (though it looks to include autocue which is a neat touch).

I'm still surprised that they are shooting it and modelling it so flat though. With a VR set you can have far more depth than you have real space for - but they've instead gone for virtual flatness.

They've got some lovely robotic-motion control style jibs that can do a lot more than most remote cameras - yet the ability to track and jib a bit is lost if you don't have multiple layers at different depths. The stuff I've seen just looks odd as the presenters are on one plane and the background on another. When they move the camera AND animate the background elements at the same time - the motions fight each other and look distinctly odd.

ZDF isn't a commercial company - and I think they'd struggle to house other productions in that studio... (You couldn't exactly strike the desk between bulletins)

It looks to me as if that includes building the studio building, as well as equipping it?

I think ITN have been more succesful with depth in their implementation. Their camera movement provides a much better sense of depth and parallax than the Heute studio which is very flat.



Presumably they want them to look like it is a studio (just as the BBC corporate blue not-quite-VR set in the mid-90s also had CGI lamps that went up and down!) When it comes to keying them - you have a 3D model of the studio, you know what you want to mask, so you have a 3D garbage matte model that will force the background forward. In other words, if you point the camera at the ceiling, none of the camera output ever hits air. There is no chroma keying of a foreground signal going on - the background is forced forward by a garbage matte.

(Garbage mattes - or key masks - are what you use to shoot wide shots when you don't have enough green or blue backing. You only really need the green or blue backing where you have people in shot. The BBC Nine O'Clock News had real backgrounds that graduated from blue to orange - but the blue bit was the bit behind the presenter, allowing a CSO to take place. You didn't have to chroma key the orange bits out - instead there was a garbage matte forcing the background forward)

Yes, 30 m. in total.

Nice one noggin, I understand now. I just thought it was weird, why they don't show the real lights.

Whilst as noggin says they've got an awful VR set as it, the potential is amazing. And the "robokam" must strike fear into the heart of many cameramen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0hw4R-2990&feature=related

A rostrum/jib/remote op camera in 1 with super advanced track puts ITVs barcodes to shame. Very clever technology and what do they use it for... re-staging the moon landings.. Nice. Not sure any set/graphics can “change news forever” but it could change television production. As robots replaced people in factories and production lines, mount cameras, lighting and mics on robotic arms and soon you’ll only need 1 computer operator and the “talent” and you’re good to go… As David Mitchell said “the lights are going out on TV forevvvverrr….”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4GtuDpYHQ&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Isn't that how the BBC's news programmes are done now anyway? I thought it was just the newsreader and the director (or whoever) in the actual studio. Not sure if this is the case for the news channel though, as there are always various sounds in the background!

I guess I'm old fashioned when it comes those news channel studios, desks etc. I don't like virtual studios, the only one I like is ITV's 10'o clock news, the nigth London background looks beautiful and real, it's a perfect set and doesn't look fake.
This one is just a load of space with bright colours and a gigantic desk that looks like it's made of wood. If they wanted a modern fresh bright look what the heck is that thing doing there???

.... as an aside

Have been having a look at their player software, works like a treat and most content seems NOT to be GeoIP locked, Works well at maximum speed and looks fantastic on my Sony LCD via HDMI. Performs better (didn't think I'd say that in a hurry) than the iPlayer in SD mode,.

Will try some livestreaming tomorrow.

How it really looks like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wscQDx7uP4c&feature=related

Sometimes there is a single camera operator for some bits (mainly the BBC One simulcasts) but otherwise there is just a floor manager in the studio with the presenters.

HOWEVER - in the current BBC studios the cameras are "remotes" not "robots". That means that they can be remotely panned, tilted, zoomed and focused, and elevated BUT they can't be tracked or crabbed (i.e. the pedestal doesn't move on its own) - so if the camera needs to move physically then a floor manager can re-position it "off shot" (i.e. when it is not on-air) or a camera operator can crab or track it "on shot" to give nice moves.

When the BBC News studios were on the 6th floor they had "robots" and the cameras could be remotely positioned - and moved around like daleks - and crab and track "on shot". However the costs of maintaining them and the health and safety issues were significant.