Broadcast Focus

Nathan Dane, the mastermind behind https://NathanMediaServices.co.uk, helps us discover the inner workings and historical significance of the BBC's iconic Ceefax service. Nathan shares his journey from piecing together teletext data using a Raspberry Pi to creating a fully functional teletext website that mirrors the classic Ceefax pages. With a mix of old-school technology and modern coding, Nathan explains how he recreates the teletext experience, including up-to-date news, sports scores, TV listings, and more. Learn about the challenges of maintaining teletext formats, the intricacies of data feeds, and the community efforts to preserve teletext history. This episode offers a fascinating glimpse into – for the UK – a bygone era brought back to life.

Behind the Scenes of Teletext: Subtitles, Data Broadcasting, and MoreFormer BBC engineer Peter Wietzel joins Russell Trafford-Jones in this episode of Broadcast Focus as they delve into the intricacies of Teletext covering how subtitles work, why the BBC tansmission actually used two simultaneous subtitle transitions, and the many uses of carrying arbitrary data over Teletex were were the hidden heros! Peter finishes by talking about how the implementation was one of the first cross industry examples of collaboration in creating standards and talks about MHEG which replaced Teletext. Whether you're a technical enthusiast or just curious about broadcasting history, this should be good!00:00 Welcome & Intro02:30 Understanding Subtitles in Teletext04:11 Technical Details of Subtitles Transmission10:42 Subtitle Demo11:10 Inserting Live and Recorded Subtitles15:57 Dealing with Lack of Subtitles & Policing18:35 Using 'Subtitles' to Help Deal with AFD/VI/Aspect Ratio19:34 A Second Simultaneous Subtitle System for Internal Use21:27 Inserting Subtitles in the BBC Regions22:50 Teletext in SDI - SDI Bridge25:25 Second Generation SDI Bridge27:40 Quick look at Presfax29:06 Databroadcasting – Sending Generic Data31:40 Uses of Databroadcaster 34:00 Dairy Farming36:00 Carrying audio over Teletext40:40 Presfax Details44:36 Controling Overlay Insertion at Transmitters46:11 Ceefax In Vision49:25 Teletext Standards50:58 Collaboration and Standardisation in the 90s54:58 Technical Enhancements and Memory Management01:02:56 The Rise of Electronic Programme Guides01:08:19 PDC - Recording Programmes01:20:09 The Transition to Digital Broadcasting01:23:00 The End of Teletext and Its Legacy01:28:00 Reflections and Closing RemarksWith thanks to https://www.nathanmediaservices.co.uk/ceefax/ for the demos and by extension ZXGuesser

Peter Weizel spent many years in the BBC working on Teletext and even wrote part of the standards so who better to continue guiding us on our journey into the first digital broadcasting on TV. Teletext is a pioneering pre-internet information distribution system. In part one, we heard about the inception of Ceefax at the BBC and the some of the inner workings of Teletext, its page and data structures, and its significant role in modern broadcasting technology. Part One: https://youtu.be/tbDB8FCOaV4In part 2, we go into detail about data broadcasting, government interference, dynamic allocation of packets, using teletext for BBC internal staff information, regionalising CEEFAX00:00 Welcome and Introduction01:42 Ceefax Demo02:11 Teletext Services and Features03:03 Finding ways to apportion the VBI05:11 Government Wants To Sell Teletext Space07:15 Dynamic Allocation and Optimisation11:18 Better Data Multiplexing26:55 Test Equipment31:05 Early Ceefax Architecture33:23 Ceefax in the regions39:49 BBC FAX service in Europe (WSTV)45:28 Telfax – Ceefax for BBC Staff49:04 Conclusion and Next Episode TeaserMany thanks to Nathan Dane for bringing Teletext to the internet: https://www.nathanmediaservices.co.ukShout out to @ZXGuesser for the online interactive teletext viewer.Wikipedia's summary of Ceefax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CeefaxWikipedia's summary of Teleteix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletext

Rise Mentor and Fractional CMO Georgiana Verdonk explains all aspects of mentoring, showing it's great for all stages of your career! We look at why it makes sense, why companies should offer it, and how to get your own mentor when no one else is helping you. Rise Women in Broadcast: https://risewib.com Broadcast Academy: https://www.broadcastacademy.net Women in Streaming Media: https://www.womeninstreamingmedia.org

Peter Weizel spent many years in the BBC working on Teletext and even wrote part of the standards so we go on a journey into the first digital broadcasting on TV. Teletext is a pioneering pre-internet information distribution system. Learn about its inception at the BBC and its evolution in broadcasting digitally across the UK and Europe since the 1970s. We look at the inner workings of Teletext, its page and data structures, and its significant role in modern broadcasting technology.00:00 Introduction and Channel Overview00:53 History and Evolution of Teletext02:30 Teletext Functionality and Features07:30 Technical Details of Teletext Transmission21:49 Teletext Data Broadcasting and Equipment34:11 Modern Applications and Preservation EffortsMany thanks to Nathan Dane for bringing Teletext to the internet: https://www.nathanmediaservices.co.uk

Carrie Wootten explains the Global Media & Entertainment Manifesto. She delves in to what it is and how businesses and individuals can help. Revolving around reducing the skills shortage and increasing diversity, this multi-pronged plan is already making an impact. https://www.mediatalentmanifesto.com

Andy Rayner updates us on what's new in this new specification helping move video and media into and around the cloud. This is a break away from the traditional model where all video is sent one frame after another, so there's a lot to do and I find out the latest thinking coming out of the recent meetings and conferences in the US. "What is GCCG?" with Andy Rayner: https://youtu.be/zJkw0fRfD6E VSF Website: https://vsf.tv GCCG API on Github: https://github.com/vsf-tv/gccg-api #Broadcast #Broadcasting #GCCG #cloud

Lee Hunt, Director at InSync Technology, talks about how he got into broadcast and how he was able to keep pushing his skills forward to match the new technologies that just kept on arriving! Now Director at InSync, a company which makes frame rate conversion equipment and software, Lee explains how to invest in your team and staff along the way to create a better company and environment for people to succeed. #Careers #companyculture

For years Zambia, post independence had only three radio stations all run by the state. This changed when Phil Haggar came on the scene in the 80s. Backed by a philanthropic businessman, Phil worked to train people from all around to broadcast a new style of shows and on the highest-power radio station on the dial! We talk not only about this radio station as well as the second Phil set up on the Malawian border, but also how radio is changing in Zambia and other similar countries. #radiostation #zambia #radio

Romain Bouqueau (founder and CEO of MotionSpell) and Allan McLennan (CEO of PADEM Media Group) talk about the business case for GPAC and how it has found a home in Meta and Netflix. We take a look at Motion Spell's new white paper (https://motionspell.ck.page/482eafeeae) which explains GPAC's flexibility and how media enterprises have found massive benefits from integrating it into their workflows. Motion Spell: https://motionspell.com GPAC Project Page: https://gpac.io White Paper: https://motionspell.ck.page/482eafeeae

Publisher of The Flint, Neil Howman talks about how The Flint came about, how companies within the media sector are dealing with becoming more sustainable, creating sustainable SaaS platforms and there's a nod to an upcoming epsiode about sustainability in the Nordics! https://TheFlint.media #Sustainability #Media #broadcasting

Co-Directory of Radio TechCon, Aradhna Tayal Leach explains what makes Radio TechCon special. We look at some previous years' talks and find out what this year has to offer! Tickets: https://radiotechcon.com

Editorial Director of The Flint, and formerly with Albert, Neal Romanek talks about Albert and DIMPACT discussing how they work and ultimately discussing the how as a global industry we can have a joined up approach to actually making a difference in sustainability. The Flint website: https://TheFlint.media Albert: https://WeAreAlbert.org

Lisa Collins, co-founder of the MTSS (Media Tech Sustainability Series) joins me to look at some of the surprising - and not so surprising - numbers from Sony's report on sustainability. Report: https://pro.sony/ue_US/events/sustainability-report-download MTSS: https://www.mtsseries.orgBarbara Lange from MTSS on Broadcast Focus: https://youtu.be/yuU9OQ5zvy0

With decades of experience volunteering his technical know-how in Community Radio in the Netherlands, Valentijn Siebrands explains how publicly-funded and commercial community radio works in NL. We compare it to the UK and look at the radical changes which are happening and weigh up if they're for good or for ill. https://www.rtvconnect.nl/ Radio TechCon: https://www.radiotechcon.com/2024/ #radio #communityradio #netherlands

I dive deep with Romain Bouqueau, founder and CEO of MotionSpell and a pioneer in open-source streaming technology to find out about the power of GPAC, the secret sauce behind Netflix’s lightning-fast video delivery. We discuss what GPAC does, how to try it out and why it's a such a powerful open source tool for the media industry. https://motionspell.com https://gpac.io

It was great to have Andy Rayner, Director, Video Services Forum (VSF), with me to discuss why we need Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground (GCCG), what it is and its uses. As media companies move exlusively to software, we talk about the challenges of live media in the cloud, and how GCCG differs from SRT and RIST. Key Points Discussed:Challenges in Live Media: Exploring the difficulties of integrating live media into cloud-based workflows. Evolution of Media Transport: Insight into how technologies like SRT and RIST contribute to the reliability of media transport over IP but need to be supplemented by new frameworks like GCCG for cloud-based workflows. Future of Broadcasting: Considerations on how GCCG facilitates distributed production and the sustainability advantages it brings by minimizing the need for physical transport of equipment.Role of VSF: Andy discusses the role of the Video Services Forum in standardizing technologies that influence current broadcasting frameworks, such as JPEG 2000 and SMPTE ST 2110. Relevant Links: Video Services Forum (VSF) – https://www.videoservicesforum.org/ Introduction to GCCG - An informative article detailing Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground technology and its applications. VSF on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@UCm0rwVfqq7u6rvoA44CukYg Cloud API on GitHub – https://github.com/vsf-tv/gccg-api/

Wren Wood and is father run MobilePhoneMuseum.com – We have a great chat about the technologies behind mobile telephony as well how the shapes of mobile phones have changed.

There are no small plans when it comes to Univision. Finding musical acts from around Universities in the UK and bringing them together for a Eurovision-style show is a large ask, but exactly what the students at the University of Surrey including StagTV do every year. Producer of the 2024 show on 23rd March takes us through what the show looks like and why we should watch! Watch online at https://univision.show.

For 14 years Manoto TV broadcast from London internationally – including into Iran. Graham Collins was intimately involved with designing and implementing much of the technology there tells us about his time with the channel.

Can we make the world a better place (or at least improve media workflows) by using AI to create heaps of metadata then moving it with a new method of self-described Metadata? Metadata Numero Uno, Bruce Devlin weighs in explaining what his Metarex project is aiming to do for the media industry. Metarex website: https://metarex.media Bruce mentions Qibb: https://qibb.com

Both in the US and Europe, the move to increase sustainability is still progressing. Sustainability advisor Barbara Lange from the Media Tech Sustainability Series (MTSS) joins me to talk about new work happening in 2024.

Fighting against lack of awareness of the industry behind the camera and microphone, Polly joins me to say what she and Eviden are doing to engage with young people. This conversation follows on from my chat with Susan Pratt from the University of Surrey: https://youtu.be/mB_JazGkv28?si=zi60_s_kkNrfCV5T

New Zealand-based Dr Amal Punchihewa relates his work with Asia-Pacific broadcasters to discussions happening in Europe over how to broadcast more sustainably. We discuss what the decision looks like in countries where they still have analogue transmissions as well as DTT, we look at the pros and cons of having no transmission as well as whether 5G unicast could be an option for the future!

The University of Surrey's Susan Pratt, talks to me about the new studio facilities at the heart of a recent school outreach day. For more information about the Film Production and Broadcast Engineering BEng (Hons) course. https://www.surrey.ac.uk/undergraduate/film-production-and-broadcast-engineering To contact Susan, email [email protected]

Grégoire Polad from ACT joins me to explain what we can do to support the media industries as the EU positions itself to ban broadasters and streaming media companies from using geoblocking when streaming copyrighted media. What will this do to business models and will it actually be a net negative for consumers? Review the evidence and contact your MEP if you feel strongly about this ahead of a vote on December 13th. Campaign Website: https://www.creativityworks.eu/geoblocking-campaign EU ICMO Report: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/implementation-of-the-geo-blocking-regul/product-details/20230613CDT11821 More background reports: https://www.oxera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Impact-of-geoblocking.pdf https://www.oxera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cross-border-infographic-final.pdf What is geoblocking? "Geo-blocking, geoblocking or geolocking is technology that restricts access to Internet content based upon the user's geographical location. In a geo-blocking scheme, the user's location is determined using Internet geolocation techniques, such as checking the user's IP address against a blacklist or whitelist" - Wikipedia.

Aaron Nuytemans tells us how we can have an impact on the future of broadcast as part of explains the legacy of the Gallery Agnostic Live Media Production project. Aaron outlines how the project, which included such names as Tinkerlist, ITN and YLE amongst others was able to create news shows totally independent of the gallery allowing you to switch between on-prem galleries and cloud galleries simply as needed. Also VR. Call to Action: Register your interest here – https://improvingbroadcastapis.com/ibc-accelerator Project Home Page: https://show.ibc.org/accelerator-media-innovation-programme/accelerator-project-gallery-agnostic-live-media-production

Muki takes us through her sessions at MPTS (The 2024 Media Production and Technology Show) covering #AI #GenAI, #StateOfTheNation, #NewsProduction, #EmergingTechnologies, #Media #supplychain and – of course – the IBC Accelerators Media Innovation Programme! Muki's sessions: https://www.mediaproductionshow.com/programme?&sortby=publishedDate%20asc&searchTerm=Muki&searchgroup=34B50930-2024-programme IBC Accelerator 2024: https://show.ibc.org/accelerators-2024-challenges

From 0 to a career in 3 years? That's the task of undergrads so who better to advise us on getting going in the industry than 3rd year Solent University student, Sophie Humphrey. Sophie shares her take on how students are able to get started freelancing whilst still at uni and transition into the industry.

Paul Markham talks about how we've gone from Marconi's first radio experiments to TV at scale based on software workflows. Now we've built our industry on the shoulders of giants (like IT), Paul tells us about the london-based meetup Cloud Native Media. Find out more at http://cnm.live Subscribe to the Cloud Native Media YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cloudnativemedia

Gerard Phillips from Arista joins me to talk about how he got into broadcast and how technology has moved on in the intervening time. Touching on defence projects, his time at Snell + Wilcox grappling with FPGAs and ASICs to uncompressed video, Gerard's journey helps us understand the reason software-defined products are so important and gives us an insight to recruitment today.

For the first time, our industry has a comprehensive report on the state of diversity, equity and inclusion. Polly and I discuss both the good and the bad news from the report. If you want to read it yourself, you can get it from Rise: https://risewib.com/survey/