Minimum requirements for broadcast?

OGUL wrote on 9/14/2011, 3:51 PM
Hi all,
What should be the minimum requirements of a footage for TV?
1920 x 1080 ? 2K? 4K?
50 mbps? AVCHD? HDV?
and all such things!

Since some episodes of "House" shot with Canon 5D Mark II
I wonder why not to film this movie's another version with GH2.
http://www.amazon.com/Femme-Defendue-Prohibida-Spanish-Subtitles/dp/B001US2CRU

Thanks in advance.

Comments

farss wrote on 9/14/2011, 4:48 PM
To get footage to broadcast it only needs to meet minimal technical specs and even then if they really want it, they'll buy it. As such you could shoot with a $5 web cam. That doesn't really help you much.

Probably better to consider something like the BBC's requirements for contracted projects they fund. First off the main camera, the one used to shoot around 80% of the footage must pass their testing. All the vDSLRs are out because of the aliasing problems. I think the cheapest camera that passes muster for HD is the EX1.

Their next hurdle is you must be recording to 4:2:2 so you'd need to put something like the Convergent Design NanoFlash on the back of the camera. For one local BBC funded project they also required that long GOP recording was out so you'd need to be running the Nano in one of its I frame only modes.

If you want to future proof your production and you have hopes of it screening on the silver screen then sure, go for 4K but you'd better have very deep pockets. At the next level down, 2K which is really only 1920x1080 then Arri's Alexa is a very good camera that shoots stunning images in the right hands. For the indie with little money the Sony F3 with the kit lenses is a bargain. Remember when you get into shooting for the cinema the cost of lenses is a bigger part of the costs for the camera department than the camera itself.


Now here's a tip. Stop worrying about all this because in my experience you're going about it all the wrong way. If you think you've got a killer story that must be told go hawk your script, better yet have a fully worked screenplay with a story board. A short teaser, even better. If it really is that great an idea someone will fund it and take care of all the nuts and bolts for you. In other words sell the movie BEFORE it is made.

Trying to sell a movie after you've shot it is a very hard road to go down. I'm not saying it is impossible, it does happen e.g. Paranormal Activity.

ps: If you're keen on the GH2 then for a serious production the AF100 will be much easier to live with. Personally at that price point I'd go for the Sony NEX FS100 as you get a much wider choice of lenses.

Bob.
rraud wrote on 9/14/2011, 6:15 PM
"[i]What should be the minimum requirements of a footage for TV?1920 x 1080 ? 2K? 4K? 50 mbps? AVCHD? HDV?[i]"
From what I've seen (and heard) lately, there ain't any. Aside from basic video color peaks and audio levels. These vary from network to network, country to country. Most networks have submission tech sheets which you must adhere to. Aside from that, whatever the network programers finds amusing or
'interesting'.
PS: A good story goes a long way, just like a catchy tune, regardless of it's production value.,, to a point anyway.
musicvid10 wrote on 9/14/2011, 7:31 PM
Rather than format and dimensions, they will love you more if you give them the proper levels, so they don't have to send it back to you. In addition to providing broadcast-safe video levels, ATSC/A85 audio leveling becomes US law this December.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/14/2011, 8:15 PM
Ask who you want your stuff to show on TV. 9 times out of 10 the media format they want will dictate all that stuff. IE if they want DigiBeta they want DigiBeta. If they want DVCam then they want DVCam. If they want Mpeg-2 @ HDV spec, that's what they want.
Anthony J C wrote on 9/15/2011, 3:59 AM
Hi Bob,

This list from the BBC makes interesting reading, also recall a few months ago some drama programs were made using entirely Canon VDSLR's which was accepted for broadcast. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/site/BBC_Approved_HD_Cameras.pdf

Anthony
farss wrote on 9/15/2011, 6:03 AM
" also recall a few months ago some drama programs were made using entirely Canon VDSLR's which was accepted for broadcast."

Indeed.
Thing is people put the wrong spin on that BBC list of cameras.
It applies to projects that they are funding under contract. I believe the BBC pays directly for the costs, no financial risk to the production. Under those contracts they are paying the production to make content for them and they need the equivalent of a completion guarantee. That means if the production company goes south the project can easily be completed by someone else or the BBC itself.

On the other hand if the production is paying for the costs itself and then trying to sell it to the BBC any issues the production runs into will never be the BBC's problem. If they like the content, it looks OK and passes the technical standards for broadcast the production can sell it to them. If you can shoot it on a $5 web cam and make it look good enough, you can sell it to them.


Bob.
Steve Mann wrote on 9/15/2011, 8:41 AM
Do you have a particular station or network in mind? Ask them.
robwood wrote on 9/15/2011, 9:41 AM
DSE posted this link last year, which looks same or similar to one's I've had.
It's Canadian broadcaster, not UK/USA, but should give a ballpark range.

http://www.ctvdigital.com/discovery/producersguide/CGM_Tech_Specs_05.4.3.doc

edit; oops, just noticed John Dennis had already posted a link to this guide.
rs170a wrote on 9/15/2011, 10:14 AM
If you're producing for PBS in the US, check out the PBS Red Book, specifically the TOS Submission (185.2 KB) (opens the PDF).

Mike
rs170a wrote on 9/15/2011, 10:19 AM
CBC Canada technical specs (PDF format)
SD specs
HD specs

Mike