While LED monitors are increasingly showing up in news studios large and small, in many cases replacing the green screen studios of old, make no mistake that virtual sets are advancing and, in tandem with augmented reality graphics, are changing the way stories are told on air.
Whether we think of it as virtual production, or just a particularly sophisticated variation on the back projection techniques that have been used for years, direct-view LED video displays have gained a hugely positive reputation in film and television effects work.
After two years of virtual gathering, broadcasters convening in person for this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas will see a lot of new faces due to management and staff changes at the various vendors. One notable “new” figure will be Dr. Andrew Cross, formerly with NewTek, Vizrt and now the new CEO of Grass Valley (GV).
Philo T. Farnsworth’s reported first words upon seeing the first TV image, which happened to be transmitted wirelessly, were “There you are, electronic television!” Some 95 years later, TV broadcasters and viewers rely more on wireless electronics than ever.
As the 2022 NAB Show approaches, leading TV bonded cellular manufacturers reveal what can be seen in their exhibits and the direction bonded cellular TV news and sports transport is headed.
With increasing regularity, digital cinema cameras like Sony’s VENICE and RED’s KOMODO cameras are making their way onto the fields of major live sporting events and into multi-camera video coverage to create a “cinematic” look that enhances the viewing experience.
ENG and EFP cameras continue improving and adding IP features as the industry continues its transition to more remote operation.
In digital television broadcasting, what matters is that the pictures should be displayed at the correct frame rate and lip-sync should be achieved in an isochronous system.