Technological Development of Czech Television in 2002
In 2002, the technical base of Czech Television developed in line with the long-term plan drawn up by the Technical Council of Czech Television, taking into account the programming strategy and the need for renewal and gradual modernisation of the existing production and technical base, all this with due regard to efficient use of financial resources.
The basic aim for this year was the continuation of the digitalisation process in the internal structure of Czech Television technology, which included above all the proposal for the introduction of a tapeless technology in news production and programme dispatch as well as the continuing digitalisation of audio post-production processes. With regard to the decision to change the provider of distribution and contribution services, it was necessary to ensure the compatibility of Czech Television’s technical offices with transmission systems of the ATM Czech Telecom network.
At present, the preparation and dispatch of news programmes are based wholly on tape technology. This system, on one hand, has a relatively high level of technical reliability; on the other hand, it entails manipulation with the cassettes, which may produce undesirable complications. Materials for individual contributions come either from CT crews (both Prague and regional), or from international exchange. All material is processed by linear editing and the result is a cassette dispatched from an automatic robotic machine Betacart. Given the present-day composition of news reports and the amount of visual material, this technology has reached the limit of its possibilities.
For this reason, Czech Television invited a tender for the replacement of tape technology with server technology. The new solution must be more flexible, while maintaining the technical reliability of the previous system. The launch of the new technology has been broken down into two phases. In the first phase, the technical personnel must install and put into operation the broadcasting and production server, ensure communication with the superior control system and put into operation non-linear editing suites and supporting equipment. In the second phase the number of report-processing offices will be increased and the checking and editing of reports will be transferred directly to editorsí terminal offices, which will ensure a greater degree of interconnection with the editorial system.
Unfortunately, the outcomes of the tender were delayed by objections raised by some of the participants, so the deadline for the realisation of the most suitable project moved to as late as 2003. The winner of the tender, the SGI company, offered a comprehensive solution as well as acceptable economic and financial terms.
In addition to the technological changes implemented at the Prague News Department, there was also an intensive preparation for changes at the regional level. The regional editorial office in Jihlava, where an AVID DVexpres non-linear editing system was installed, was chosen for the realisation of a pilot project based on serial data transmission. The shooting was done with DVCAM camera. This project explored the possibilities for the transfer of news reports via the ATM network, formed the basis for technological changes in report production at all regional studios in the Czech Republic. It thus formed part of the ongoing framework project, which introduces tapeless technology into news reporting.
Another development in the history of Czech Television broadcasting, and one of similar importance, was the completion of specifications for the selection of technology that will ensure the distribution and contribution of the digital signal. This grand project, carried out in cooperation with Czech Telecom, a. s., includes the transfer of the digital signal of CT1 and CT2 channels via the optical ATM network to 41 terrestrial transmitters located all over the territory of the Czech Republic and the interconnection of the Prague, Brno and Ostrava Studios, which will enable not only TV signal transmission, but also the transmission of data and audio services. In a similar way, the system can ensure also the transmission of signal from mobile TV vehicles – outside-broadcasting vans.
The last task to be completed in 2002 was the data interconnection of the 11 regional studios in the same way as has been described in the case of the Jihlava studio. The project was aimed also at ensuring the possibility of dispatching regular news reports from Brno and Ostrava regional studios into the North and South Moravian transmitter network during the so-called "broken" times (slots reserved for simultaneous regional broadcasting from the Prague, Brno and Ostrava Studios, with each studio providing for its respective area).
After long-term testing, but also with regard to financial aspects, Czech Television chose the technology supplied by Scientific Atlanta. However, in this case, too, the realisation of the project has been delayed. This was mostly due to prolonged negotiations with the foreign partner concerning contractual conditions for the supply of the technology. The launch and further development of the said technology is also the precondition for successful transition to the era of terrestrial digital broadcasting (DVB-T).
It was exactly the issue of DVB-T, which was in the centre of attention of Czech Television's technical workers. They decidedly prefer for Czech Television to have a legal entitlement to its own multiplex not just for the existing channels, but also for the future ones, with the possibility of extending its offer by the addition of interactive services. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the state authorities set binding deadlines in 2002 for the consideration of the aforementioned issues, the relevant laws have not been passed in the end.
Still, the Czech Television technology used in the pilot projects that are currently being realised has taken part in the preparation and testing of new applications. Apart from that, strategic planning work is being done concerning the building of modernised dispatch and broadcasting rooms. They should be already conceived for the broadcasting of new formats as well as – just like in news production – for the replacement of the tape technology, now near the end of its service, by the modern server systems.
To sum up, it may be said that in 2002 Czech Television took further steps on the path to digitalisation, which will enable it to offer the viewers, in addition to higher-quality image and sound, also a number of other programming options. In the future, the production, processing, dispatch and distribution of programmes to the viewers should be bound up into one continuous technological chain, which, in its complete form, will exploit all advantages of modern technology. The whole transition phase, however, must be seen as a long-term process, both from the operational and economic points of view.
Czech Television Archives
Czech Television archives contain above all film and telemagnetic audiovisual recordings, sound recordings and text documents produced by the activities of Czech and Czechoslovak Television, the oldest among these materials dating back to the very first broadcasting day of the television studio – 1 May 1953. In the archive depositories there are approximately 200,000 hours of audiovisual recordings, either on film or telemagnetic material. If they were all to be broadcast again, it would take about 11 years, with 24-hours broadcasting on both Czech Television channels.
When they are handed over to archive workers, the recordings go through various phases of expert treatment – archives registration, documentation and input of information into databases. The purpose of all such expert work is to ensure their best possible future use. This use may take the form of repeats, the use of selected sequences in the making of other Czech Television programmes, or sale to external customers. The recordings are, nonetheless, also used for research and study purposes or to represent Czech Television at various domestic or international festivals.
The expert work of the Archives Department not only contributes to the production of new programmes through the selection and recherché work which it does for the programming and production centres and editorial departments, but it results also in the Department’s own scheduling propositions. In 2002 it has prepared for broadcasting 1,500 hours of programmes and began to prepare itself for the great pressure of demand that would come with the celebrations of the 50 years of television broadcasting.
Apart from the audiovisual programme library, the Archives Department preserves textual documentation related to Czech Television production and serves also as a high-quality study library, which was used by the creative workers much more extensively last year than in any of the preceding years.
A systematic creation, processing and use of archive materials is one feature that differentiates public service televisions all over the world from commercial broadcasters, the difference consisting mainly in the size of the programme libraries, the range of genres and, last but not least, also in the quality of processing and storage of the programmes and in the unrelenting attention paid to their high technical quality. In 2002, the Archives Department copied almost 2,500 hours of archive recordings from unsuitable U-matic cassettes and D3 to modern digital Beta material.
The innovation of methods used in the preservation of archive material, the processing of information on archive programmes and their use in both programming and studio work is also the principal task of the International Federation of Television Archives – FIAT/IFTA –, an association of seventy public service television archives. The Czech Television archives became a fully-fledged member in 1991 and since 1999 it has a representative in the Programming Commission of the organisation.
When thinking about how to make orientation in the archives easier and optimise the storage and use of the material, the issue of digitalisation and audiovisual metadata is ever more often discussed in the audiovisual archives world. In some of the great foreign archives this process is already under way, and Czech Television will adopt the new technology in the near future. Such step requires not only substantial financial investment, but also a thorough expert training.
It is true that the indispensable new technological methods are costly in terms of investment, but the investment will soon return in the form of higher-quality digital image and sound recording, lessened danger of mechanical damage, easier exploitation for the future fully digitalised production as well as reduced external and internal expenses on production and broadcasting. Czech Television therefore cannot avoid the task of archives digitalisation. Further delays in the launch of the new technology would be undesirable if the corporation is to keep abreast of the world's most advanced public broadcasters.
Czech Television Technical Equipment in 2002
Czech Television Prague
Broadcasting Technology
ODK1 and ODK2 Dispatch Complexes
They are used for the continual dispatching of Czech Television programmes, each separately for one of the two channels CT1 and CT2. The complex consists of an announcement room, TMZ office and the actual broadcasting production equipment.
VK1 and VK2 Output Control Rooms
These enable comprehensive checks on CT1 and CT2 broadcasting signals – the monitoring of video, audio, Teletext and the VPS code (including appropriate measurement instruments) and of the functioning of accessible ČRo, a. s. transmitters. This is also where programmes that have been broadcast are recorded onto cassettes, as required by law.
VK3 Output Control Room
Monitoring office of the CzechLink joint satellite digital distribution project, which enables simultaneous checks on five channels (CT1, CT2, Prima TV, Galaxie Sport, O Station) and one selected radio station (ČRo1, ČRo2, ČRo3, ČRo6/ČRo7, ČRo Region or Proglas).
Central Control Room
Commissions, connects, checks and adjusts all visual audio and communication signals entering and leaving the CT Prague Centre via satellites or terrestrial networks from/to both home and abroad (including external client services).
RK13 Directing Complex
A complex designed for programme production. If necessary, it can also serve as a backup dispatch complex for CT1 or CT2 broadcasting.
Visual Presentation Office
The Visual Presentation Office is based on AVID non-linear editing technology and commissioned for the production of supplementary programmes focused on the promotion of Czech Television.
The complex comprises:
- 2 select units enabling the use of C, D3, Digital Betacam and Betacam SP (SONY protocol) recording machines
- Digital suite with an output port for PDR 100 disk recording (Profile), that ensures transfers via the FibreChannel network to disk recordings in the OP1, OP2 and RK13 offices
- 3 AVID editing suites
- Graphics office (Adobe Digital Collection)
- Announcement room
Studio Technology
Studio KH1 (400 m2)
6 BTS LDK 9/P studio cameras
BTS DD 10 digital visual directing equipment
1 digital Beta
1 one-inch video recording machines (for reports)
Aston-Motif caption machine
Abekas equipment for special effects
KH2 Studio (200 m2)
5 BTS LDK 9/P cameras
BTS DD 10 digital visual directing equipment
1 digital Beta
2 one-inch video-recording machines (for reports)
KH3 Studio (300 m2)
4 cameras BTS LDK 91
BTS DD 10 digital visual directing equipment
1 digital Beta
1 D3 digital video-recording machine
KH 4/5 Studio (700/ 400 m2)
5 BTS LDK 10/P cameras
BTS DD 10 digital visual directing equipment
1 digital Beta
(If crews share cameras, both studios can be used simultaneously without the visual directing equipment in Studio 5, where the cameras are only sharp-edited)
RK14 Studio (80 m2)
3 LDK 93/9P cameras
BTS digital visual directing equipment
Editing Rooms
OFF LINE
Non-linear editing rooms (Lightworks) EST 11–23
ON LINE
Tape editing rooms A2–A8
Non-linear editing rooms A1, A9, A10
Video-recording Offices
These offices are equipped with the following video-recording machinery:
C one-inch
D3 video-recording machinery
analogue Beta
digital Beta
DVCAM
S-VHS
Film Scanning Offices
FS 01
Quadra film scanner and Da Vinci colour corrector
FS 02
SPIRIT Data Cine film scanner with Da Vinci 2K corrector and VS4 noise corrector
FS 15
FDL 90 film scanner
Electronic Graphics
Collage caption machine
Archive Office
Equipment for copying archive materials
Projections
VPS 1
Projection and presentation hall (Dolby stereo); it may be used also as a conference venue enabling individual computer connections for every participant.
VPS 2
Projection hall
Sound Technology
Audio Post-Production Offices 1–4
Sound Engineering Studio
Digital editing
Mixing Complexes 1 and 2
Music Studio
HARRISON control desk of the 10 B series, computer controlled with MACINTOSH II.X
24-track DASH format STUDER D 820 MCH
Soundscape SSHDR1 audio station + CH writer
Asynchronous Control Desk
Yamaha PRO MIX 02 digital control desk
Dialogue Studios
Film-to-Digital Format Conversion and Mixers
Outside Broadcasting Technology
Large Outside Broadcasting Vans:
PV1 – PHILIPS SDI
Cameras: 6x Philips LDK 20 S/P
1x Philips LDK 100
VTR: 3x DVW 500 P digital Beta
1x PDR 100 Profile Hard Disc
Visual directing equipment: Diamond 20
PRIZMA digital video effect with direct link to Diamond 20 control equipment
Collage CG caption machine
Sound: STUDER 963/8/4 mixing complex
PV3 – Philips SDI
Cameras: 7x Philips LDK 20 P/S
1x Philips LDK 100
VTR: 3x SONY DVW 500 P digital Beta
1x PDR 200 Profile Hard Disc
Visual directing equipment: Diamond 20
DV EXTREME PINNACLE digital video effect with direct link to Diamond 20 control equipment
Collage CG caption machine
Sound: STUDER 928/4/4 mixing complex
PV2 – Elvia SDI
Cameras: 4x BVP 570
VTR: 2x DVW 500 P
HD: 1x MAV 555
Visual directing equipment:14x visual input (6x external)
DME special effects generator
Collage CG caption machine
Sound: STUDER 963/4/4 STEREO mixing complex
PV6 – PHILIPS PAL component
Cameras: 4x Philips LDK 91
VTR: 3x SONY DVW 500 P digital Beta
Visual directing equipment: componential Grass Valley, 8x visual input (3x external)
Caption machine: PC Inscriber
Sound: STUDER 963 mixing complex
PV10 – PHILIPS PAL
Cameras: 3x Philips LDK 90
VTR: 3x SONY BCB 75, 2x review possibility
Visual directing equipment: Philips BTS R 51 ME, 8x visual input (3x external), special effects generator
PESA caption machine
Sound: STUDER 962 mixing complex
Single-Camera Outside Broadcasting Vans
12x digital Betacam camcorder – SONY DVW 700/707 camera
5x camera set for added-scene versions SONY BVP 570 + DVW 250 (digital Betacam)
Super slow motion
Camera set designed for high-quality slow motion, especially for live broadcasts of sports events
LDK 23 HS camera
VTR: PDR 200 Profile
IVECO 4910 vehicle
BMW motorcycle
A motorcycle specially designed to enable mobile shooting of sports and other events, with signal transfer via a transmission set linked to a helicopter
Sound Trucks and SNG
Z2 – sound recordings and sound engineering
SNG – MCL mobile satellite communication station
Power Plants
1x Polyma 100 kW Liaz self-propelled transporter
1x Polyma 50 kW Mercedes self-propelled transporter
1x Caterpillar 75 kW
News Building Technology
Studio Technology
Studio 6 (136,7 m2)
SONY DVS 8000 digital visual directing equipment
4x SONY BVP 375 camera – studio
3x SONY BVP 550 P camera – control room
Studio 7 (77.5 m2)
SONY DVS 7000 digital visual directing equipment
2x SONY BVP 500 P camera
1x SONY BVP 550 P camera
Studio 8 – virtual studio (99.8 m2)
3x SONY BVP 550 P camera
SONY DVS 7000 digital visual directing equipment
Virtual studio system from VizRT company:
- 2x SILICON GRAPHICS-ONYX graphics station
- 2x SILICON GRAPHICS-O2 graphics station
2x SONY BVP 550 camera to add to studio cameras where required by the demands of a programme
Sound Production RZ 1–5
Sound engineering for programmes, sound announcement room
Graphics
2x PaintBox graphics station from QUANTEL
1x animation equipment PaintBox FX F.A.T. from QUANTEL
1x animation equipment PaintBox FX HAL from QUANTEL
2x PictureBox picture accumulator from QUANTEL
1x SGI Indigo ancillary graphics station with Softimage 3D software
1x SGI Octane MX graphics station with AVID Media Illusion composition software
2x PC work station with I/O card dpsReality and Discreet Combustion composition software
1x PC work station with I/O NewTek VideoToaster card
1x output PC work station for 3D modelling in the Maya programme
1x PC work station with I/O card DV Raptor for conversion into multimedia format
1x PC work station for the processing of material for map reporting in the Curious World Maps programme
Control Room
It serves to ensure the completion of news programmes – foreign news desk, audio directing equipment with announcement room (to record comments and telephone calls) and News Room, from which most Czech Television news programmes are broadcast.
Recording technology
11 linear editing suites
1 linear editing suite with a fully digitalised signal processing
2 non-linear editing suites
3 news exchange offices
1 Bratislava editing and dispatch suite
1 Moscow editing and dispatch suite
The second half of 2002 saw the culmination of preparations for the server technology installation project for broadcasting and processing of news material in OZ.
Reporting technology
It provides audiovisual material for further processing at the news centre.
12 reporting team camera sets for the production of news programmes, sports news, a weekly economic news service, current affairs and the ďGood Morning? programme
7 digital semi-professional camcorders of the DV & DVCAM format
Permanent Routes "Parliament", "Government", "Senate"
Transmission links from the chamber of Deputies, Senate and Government enable 24-hour live broadcasts and the transmission of recorded materials to the news centre. Routes from the Chamber of Deputies and Government are made via an Alcoma microwave connection; the route from the Senate is via an optic fibre laser connection.
DSNG Van
A two-camera van equipped with satellite technology for signal dispatch
Regional and Foreign News Departments
11 regional departments (CT Prague, Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, Pilsen, Zlín, Olomouc, Cheb, Liberec, Tábor, České Budějovice, Jihlava); all departments are equipped with DV technology for data transmission of reports via the ATM network
6 foreign departments (Berlin, Bratislava, Moscow, Warsaw, Washington, Brussels)
Brno Television Studio
Studio Technology
Studio A (270 m2)
Availability of an additional 200 m2 space with dropped ceiling; option of adding 6 cameras, 2 x 12 stereo inputs, camera crane.
Studio B (70 m2)
(With a background for Chromakey), option of adding 3 cameras, 2 x 6 stereo inputs, reading equipment
RK – Directing complex – for both studios
5x SONY BVP 550 camera
2x SONY BVP 500 camera
SONY DFS 7000 digital visual directing equipment (including digital effects equipment)
Graphics equipment for the preparation and dispatch of captions and graphics
Dispatch Office
Processing and dispatch of connected programming slots, individual programmes and reports for national or international networks; programming cooperation with other studios; for regional broadcasting it is equipped with a remote editing unit for the relevant transmitter network. Central matrix control using a technological control network.
Office for the preparation and dispatch of closed captions
Preparation and dispatch of closed captions for live transmissions, used during broadcasts of South Moravian Evening News.
Sound Technology
ZT 1 Sound Production
Sound finishing work on programmes recorded on Digital Betacam format; 16 m2 announcement room (also for ZT 2); connection to the sound archive server
ZT 2 Sound Production
Sound finishing work on programmes recorded in any TMZ format; direct link to non-linear editing suites TMZ 9 and TMZ 10.
Sound finishing work on the Avid audio station in synchronous mode with video in Audiovision V 4.1 and Pro Tools V 4.1 mode; 16 m2 announcement room; active connection to sound archive server.
MG 1 Format Conversion Suite
Universal audio suite for multi-format re-recording and storing sound recordings in the database of electronic phono-tapes
Graphics
Graphics Office
Preparation of programme graphics – image scanning, 2D and 3D animation – morphing; layout of materials brought for editing; option of graphic design for printed materials
Composite Graphics Office
Layout and editing of video and graphics on a non-linear base with uncompressed quality; composition of an unlimited amount of tracks, animation, layer fading, keying, masks, effects with layers and masks; 2D and 3D animation; signature tunes and jingles, divisions, and short slots using intricate graphics.
Mobile Graphics Equipment
Captions and graphics for programmes produced at the studio or in an outside broadcasting van.
Recording technology
TMZ 1
Projection and copying of DVCAM, Betacam SP recordings on VHS; option of dispatching and recording contributions over a transmission route; option of special effects using FOR A vision control equipment.
TMZ 2
Application and editing of closed captions; production of an EBU broadcasting disk for closed captions and disks for subtitles; BVU player.
TMZ 3
Electronic editing suite; sharp editing from DVCAM, Betacam SP to Betacam SP; re-recording of Betacam SP, DVCAM to VHS (also with an inserted time code).
TMZ 4
Electronic editing suite; sharp editing from DVCAM, Betacam SP, S-VHS and VHS to Betacam SP; dispatching of reports over a transmission route.
TMZ 5
Multiformat editing suite – Digital Betacam master format; editing with control transfers from D3, Digital Betacam and Betacam SP; 2D and 3D effects; on-line editing under EDL to disk from the TMZ 9 and TMZ 10 suites; captioning and inclusion of graphics; 4-channel audio processing.
TMZ 6
Broadcasting and universal format conversion suite; broadcasting and recording using D3, Digital Betacam, Betacam SP, Profile video server and visual M-O disk; co-operation with Studios A and B; conversion between D3, Digital Betacam, DVCAM, DVCPro, S-VHS, Betacam SP, U-matic; option of multiple transfers to VHS; control of recording machinery and the Profile visual server using the technological control network.
TMZ 7
Recording, re-recording and broadcasting office; broadcasting and recording using Digital Betacam and D3 format; dispatching of contributions from the Profile visual server; control of equipment using the technological control network
TMZ 9
Non-linear editing suite with the option of using large amount of control operations between several tracks; fading, special effects (wipe), 2D and 3D digital operations; colour corrections and captioning; audio editing - up to 16 tracks; transmission of graphic data via the graphics data network.
TMZ 10
Non-linear off-line editing suite enabling a large amount of control operations; option of editing materials at 24/25 windows per second (film projection); transmission of graphics data via the graphics data network; connection to the sound archive server.
TMZ 11
Non-linear on-line editing suite based on the NT platform of the AVID Symphony system; finishing work for processing projects prepared in the non-linear off-line editing suites (TMZ 9 and 10); use of non-compressive technology; wide range of real-time colour corrections; the last non-linear post-production technological link.
TMZ 12
Multimedia suite, non-linear editing suite with DV25 compression format, DVD (DVD-R), SVCD and VCD production, creation of video and audio files (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVI, Quick Time, WAV, Mp3), creation of internet files, DVD and VHS projection, DVD-Digital Betacam conversion, succession (preparation of the digitalisation list for NLE Avid).
Outside Broadcasting Technology
BO 8
Five-camera outside broadcasting van - PAL set with recording facilities
5x Panasonic AQ11/20 cameras
GVG-200P visual directing equipment
STUDER 963 sound production (24 inputs)
2x Digital Betacam recording machinery
BO 7
Two-camera outside broadcasting van with SDI signal distribution and video-recording facilities; standard equipment that enables Digital Betacam recording from two SONY DXC-D30 cameras or from external sources to one DVW 500P recording machine and a MAV555 disk recorder; DFS 700 digital visual directing equipment; WZ 14:4:2 audio directing equipment; the van enables "shot-by-shot" production of simple current affairs programmes, short reports (including dispatches) and sports programmes, and ensures cooperation with other outside broadcasting vans.
BO 10
Two-camera outside broadcasting van with SDI signal distribution with video recording facilities; equipped with two SONY DXC-35WSP camera chains; option of taking 16:9 format shots; two Digital Betacam recording machines with an identical master time code. The van enables recording via a ‘shot-by-shot’ approach, direct programme dispatches and the option of communicating with other outside broadcasting vans; own electric supply centre; suitability for off-road use.
R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5
Reporting sets; SONY DXC-D30 camera; SONY DVCAM DSR-1P
R 7
Separate SONY DXC-D35 camera with the option of working in 4:3/16:9 visual format and with a portable Digital Betacam SONY DVW-250
R 6, R 8, R 9
Betacam SP camcorders; SONY DXC-D30, DXC-D35 DXC-637, SONY PVV-3A
R 10, R 11
Digital Betacam SONY DVX-709WSP camcorders with the option of working in 4:3/16:9 visual format
RDV
DV reporting mini-set; SONY DCR-VX1000E digital camera
Camera Crane
Maximum arm length 7.5 m
Ostrava Television Studio
Studio Technology
Studio 1 (120 m2)
Studio 2 (160 m2)
Atelier (New Recording Studio) (400 m2) used as a hall for the live-broadcast style of recording
RK – SONY Control Complex
SONY DVS 8000 C digital directing equipment
DME 5000 digital effects equipment, PC-based SILICON GRAPHICS technology
LEITCH server, dispatching of digital news reports,
2x BVP- 375 WP camera, 4:3/16:9 format
2x BVP- 90 WP camera, 4:3/16:9 format
Video-recording machinery: 1x Digital Betacam, 2x Betacam SP
SOUNDCRAFT Delta AVE audio production
BOSCH FDL 60 film scanner for 16 mm and 35 mm formats
CamMate studio camera crane with remote control functions, 5 m long with a permanently installed BVP 90WP camera
Recording technology
TMZ 1
A universal format conversion suite using various recording machinery (from Betacam SP and Digital Beta to 2" AMPEX and VHS) with the option of entering the digital news system via the LEITCH server
TMZ 2, TMZ 3
Betacam (SP and digital) tape editing suites, ACE 25 Editing Controller, Vista visual directing equipment, PESA caption machine
TMZ 4
Format conversion and broadcasting suite – Betacam (SP and digital) equipment
PD 1, PD 2
Off-line data preparation with S-VHS equipment
PD 3
Off-line data preparation with U-matic and VHS equipment; editing for the insertion of closed captions
PD 4
Non-linear off-line editing suite with disk memory (128 GB – 31 hours of recording) on the basis of the AVID Media Composer 8000
PD 5
Non-linear off-line and on-line editing suite with disk memory on the basis of the AVID Media Composer 1000 (M. Dock – 128 GB, i.e. 4.5 hours / 256 GB, i.e. 9.5 hours of on-line recording)
PD 6
Non-linear on-line editing suite with disk memory AVID Symphony, extended operation, colour corrections, captioning
ENG 1, ENG 2 ENG 3 – non-linear digital news editing suites
LEITCH VR-375 server, SW NewsFlash, RAID – shared disk array,
1x SONY DSR 2000 (DVCAM format)
2x SONY Betacam (PVW series)
SONY BVE-600 editing unit
SOUNDCRAFT audio equipment
Sound announcement room
Sound Technology
ZVV 1, ZVV 2
Digital audio station based on PRO TOOLS 24 MIX (8 inputs), SOUNDCRAFT DC 2020 audio equipment (24 channels), U-matic BVU 900, other co-operating audio equipment, connection of the stations with the shared disk array via optic fibre, control server
ZVVAs
Asynchronous sound production suite for the transfer and processing of sound from various audio sources, standard audio equipment, GENELEC 1031 active speaker system
Outside Broadcast Technology
5KPV
Large outside broadcasting van (LIAZ), 5 cameras (option of 6)
4x SONY BVP 90 P camera with FUJINON zoom lens
1x SONY BVP 7 AP camera with CANON lens
GRASS VALLEY 200 2 CV video switcher (20 inputs)
PAL GEMINI 3 assistant video production (4 inputs)
1x SONY Betacam SP BVW 75 P, 4-channel HD video-recording TEKTRONIX Profile PDR 200
SOUNDCRAFT Venue II stereo audio equipment (28 inputs)
CamMate camera crane with remote control for exteriors (7 m long)
2KPV
A two-camera outside broadcasting van (Mercedes Benz), option of 3 cameras
1x SONY BVP 570 WS digital camera, FUJINON A 10 x 4.8 lens
1x SONY BVP 550 WS digital camera (upgrade to 570)
Betacam BVW 75, portable digital Beta DVW 250 P
Grass Valley GVG 110 CV video directing equipment
SONY MXP-61 audio directing equipment (12 inputs)
VSB 1–VSB 3
Compact remote camera sets – SONY BVW 507 AP camcorder, i.e. BVP 7 camera and Betacam SP BVW 5 P recording suite with accessories
VSB 4, VSB 5
Remote camera set with digital camcorder SONY DVW 790 WSP (4:3/16:9), FUJINON lens A 15x8 with accessories
RPV 1–RPV 5
News reporting team cameras in digital acquisition format DVCAM
5x SONY DSR 500 WSP camcorder (4:3/16:9), DVCAM cassettes
Lens: 4x wide-angle FUJINON A 12x6.8 BRM, 1x FUJINON A 19x8.7 BERM
SENNHEISER wireless microphone
Accessories
RPV 6
Sports reporting team cameras
SONY BVW 507 AP camcorder, Betacam SP
RPV 7
SONY DXC 537 camcorder, Betacam SP
Note: RPV7 and RPV5 reporting sets used in the Olomouc regional office.
DVKA 1, DVKA 2
Small DVCAM SONY DSR PD-150 digital camcorder for documentaries and news reports
Czech Television Signal Distribution
The distribution of both CT1 and CT2 to the viewers is done in two ways: via the traditional terrestrial TV transmitters as well as by modern satellite distribution technology.
Terrestrial analogue broadcasting of Czech Television
This type of signal transmission is ensured by high-power transmitters, TV converters and repeaters and low-power transmitters with satellite reception. Their numbers from the inception of television broadcasting in 1953 till the end of 2002 are shown in the following table:
|
CT1*
|
CT2*
|
Total
|
| High-power transmitters (installed output at least 50W) |
40
|
31
|
71
|
| TV converters |
442
|
295
|
737
|
| Repeaters |
5
|
5
|
10
|
| Low-power transmitters with satellite reception |
30
|
48
|
78
|
Total
|
517
|
379
|
896
|
* Channel names since 1993.
The law requires Czech Television to provide a public service through programme production and broadcasting over the entire territory of the Czech Republic. Within the intentions of the Czech Television Act, Czech Television thus endeavours to ensure that as many viewers as possible receive its signal properly. Whenever local authorities inform Czech Television about an insufficient quality of signal reception, it sets about building local TV signal converters, repeaters or low-output transmitters, provided that this is efficient and technically feasible.
The following table shows how much equipment has been put into operation during the last twelve years:
| Year |
CT1* |
CT2* |
Total |
| 1991 |
|
1 |
1 |
| 1992 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| 1993 |
|
|
0 |
| 1994 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 1995 |
12 |
19 |
31 |
| 1996 |
16 |
54 |
70 |
| 1997 |
11 |
77 |
88 |
| 1998 |
5 |
45 |
50 |
| 1999 |
16 |
42 |
58 |
| 2000 |
22 |
53 |
75 |
| 2001 |
8 |
18 |
26 |
| 2002 |
7 |
12 |
19 |
| Total |
99 |
321 |
420 |
* Channel names since 1993.
Viewers within reach of stereophonic transmitters can receive a double channel transmitted sound, i.e. programmes broadcast stereophonically or optionally in two language versions (dual). The same option is available to viewers who receive the signal from local TV signal converters connected to the main stereophonic transmitters.
Stereo and dual facilities mean an increase not only in technical standards, but also in the artistic and practical value of programmes. As not all programmes broadcast by Czech Television are in stereo or dual versions, the relevant details are provided in programme guides.
Czech Television has been transmitting stereo signals to all TV transmitters in the Czech Republic since 1997. Despite exerting systematic pressure on the transmitter operators, notably Czech Radio Communications, we have not yet managed to provide 100% stereophonic terrestrial analogue sound broadcasting. This problem will probably be resolved with the introduction of terrestrial digital broadcasting. The CT1 and CT2 signals are complemented by additional services – Teletext, closed captioning and the VPS code for controlling VHS home video recorders.
In addition to the main network transmitters, CT1 is broadcast on a further 428 low-output transmitters, CT2 on a further 300. Low-output transmitters also include local transmitters with satellite reception, TV signal converters and TV repeaters.
Czech Television signal penetration in 2002
|
Territorial penetration (%)
|
Household penetration (%)
|
CT 1
|
93
|
97
|
CT 2
|
92
|
96
|
Satellite Broadcasting
With increased demand for the transmission of audiovisual information in broadcasting television signal (stereo, duo), Czech Television had to face the task of securing the transmission of its signal to the transmitters of Czech Radio Communications. Certain transmitter routes could not be extended any longer due to frequency allocations, for which reason, after an economic analysis had been carried out, the digital satellite distribution was chosen as a variant. The distribution of the signal of both CT channels was launched in July 1997 in the multiplex Czech Link via the Copernicus satellite, located at an orbital position 28.5" east.
Philips technology is used for the MPEG2 compression and multiplex signal, Advent technology for satellite broadcasting. Broadcasting that was originally intended only for primary distribution is encoded by the CryptoWorks system. With the rapid development of commercial digital satellite receivers many viewers started to rely on satellite broadcasting as a result of imperfect TV signal coverage by Czech Radio Communications. This development led Czech Television to change its strategy by encoding its programmes and distributing CryptoWorks decoding cards. In view of the imminent expiry of the Copernicus satellite, its successor, Eurobird1, was launched (in the same orbit as Copernicus) at the beginning of 2001.
Since May 2001 Czech Television has been broadcasting via the Eurobird satellite, which has a higher output and a guaranteed life of 12 years. Receipt of the satellite signal now makes it possible to have a satellite aerial of 70 cm in diameter. To obtain a higher quality TV signal, satellite broadcasting is also used by cable television and in areas that are insufficiently covered by the Czech Television terrestrial signal.
Technical parameters of Eurobird1:
Satellite position
|
28.5" E |
Polarisation
|
Horizontal (X)
|
Symbol speed
|
27.5 MS/s
|
FEC error correction
|
3/4
|
Digital system
|
DVB MPEG-2
|
Modulation
|
QPSK
|
Coding system
|
CryptoWorks
|
|
