REUTERS BROADCAST VIDEO 16:9 BRIEFING Q / Q1 2010

Transcription

1 REUTERS BROADCAST VIDEO 16:9 BRIEFING Q / Q Document Version 1 1 Date of issue: 23 rd November 2009

2 Change History Date November 23 rd 2009 Change Further detail added to sections and concerning XML scripts. This change specifies the correction of the audiobitrate value. Introduction As part of Reuters ongoing commitment to improve its services, we are pleased to announce that from Tuesday February 2nd 2010 all video will be delivered in the 16:9 Aspect Ratio. In response to customer requests and to pave the way for further improvements in the future; this change recognises the increasing adoption of the widescreen format throughout the world. Nevertheless, every effort has been made to consider the needs of 4:3 broadcasters and to minimise the disruption that this change may cause. This document is designed to help all broadcast customers prepare for the change and is supplemented with samples and FAQs on reuters.com/tvupgrade. The switch to 16:9 will affect both the Reuters Live signal and the file-based WNE delivery system.

3 This document is comprised of the following sections: 1. The timetable 2. Before the switch - WNE Preparations - Reuters Live preparations - Tests 3. The switch 1. The timetable This diagram illustrates the key dates in advance of the switch to 16:9. For more information regarding the tests, please see section 2. Please note that it is essential that your PC be upgraded to software version 4.1 before December 1 st Before the switch This section explains Reuters production approach for 16:9, the preparations you will need to make in advance of the switch and gives information regarding the tests. 2.1 Reuters television production Although Reuters television production will switch to 16:9 on February 2nd 2010, the main action will continue to be captured within the 4:3 safe area of the frame, as illustrated below. This is to help 4:3 broadcasters who may edge crop the 16:9 video.

4 When Reuters receives video from third parties in the 4:3 Aspect Ratio, we will ARC to 16:9 by fit-to-height as illustrated below. 2.2 WNE preparations SOFTWARE: every WNE PC must be upgraded to software version 4.1 by December 1 st If your PC has not been scheduled for upgrade, please contact your Reuters Account Manager immediately For 4:3 broadcasters This sub-section is for broadcasters who will continue to use the 4:3 Aspect Ratio after the switch on February 2 nd Software Ensure that your WNE PC is upgraded to software version 4.1 by December 1 st Playout If you use the Playout feature to extract video from WNE, you should ensure that the ARC to 4:3 setting is switched to enabled (this is the default setting). This will ensure that your Stradis card will seamlessly ARC 16:9 videos back to 4:3 from the date of the switch. To check or adjust the ARC setting, login as administrator, click the Administration link and go to the Playout sub-tab. Note: Modifying the Playout ARC setting requires the Player to be re-started. To do this, follow the sequence: Start>Programs>World News Express> Stop Player and then Start>Programs>World News Express> Start Player

5 With the ARC to 4:3 setting enabled, the Stradis card within the WNE PC will ARC the original 16:9 file into a 4:3 frame using the fit-to-width (i.e. edge cropping or centre cut) method as illustrated below. XML Scripts The Aspect Ratio of all 16:9 video scripts will be indicated in the field videoaspectratio. Furthermore, a correction will be made to the structure of the audiobitrate field which previously was limited to just three digits. It will now be expressed as 6 digits. Here is a sample extract from a 16:9 script: - <remotecontent residref="tag:reuters.com,2009:binary_lwnej95136int-stream:4500:mpg" format="fmt:mpeg" contenttype="video/mpeg" duration="189" audiocodec="codec:mpeglayer2" audiobitrate="224000" audiovbr="false" audiosamplesize="16" audiosamplerate="48000" videocodec="codec:mpeg2mp@ml" videoavgbitrate=" " videovbr="false" videoscan="interlaced" videoaspectratio="16:9" videosampling="4:2:0" rendition="rend:stream:4500:mpg" rtr:definition="videodef:sd"> Because all content will be delivered in 16:9 from 2 nd February, all scripts will be presented in this manner. However, we recommend that customers processing the XML files always use this field to determine the aspect ratio particularly if they are archiving content which may have been produced in 4: For 16:9 broadcasters This sub-section is for broadcasters who will use the 16:9 Aspect Ratio immediately after the switch on February 2 nd Software Ensure that your WNE PC is upgraded to software version 4.1 by December 1 st Playout If you use the Playout feature to extract video from WNE, some careful consideration of your ARC setting is required. By default, the software is set to ARC all video to 4:3 (see section to see how the video would be ARCed). This setting can be changed at any time to playout the native Aspect Ratio of each video which would enable you to seamlessly adjust to 16:9 playout when the switch takes place on February 2 nd HOWEVER we would caution customers against doing this because in the weeks following the switch there will be BOTH 4:3 and 16:9 files within your PC. This means that you risk having videos played out in both the 4:3 and the 16:9 Aspect Ratio until such time as the old 4:3 videos have been purged from your system.

6 As an alternative, we encourage you to wait a few weeks* before making the ARC setting change. To check or adjust the ARC setting, login as administrator, click the Administration link and go to the Playout sub-tab. * Note: The exact length of time to wait will depend on how much material is stored on the hard drive of your local WNE PC Note: Modifying the Playout ARC setting requires the Player to be re-started. To do this, follow the sequence: Start>Programs>World News Express> Stop Player and then Start>Programs>World News Express> Start Player XML Scripts The Aspect Ratio of all 16:9 video scripts will be indicated in the field videoaspectratio. Furthermore, a correction will be made to the structure of the audiobitrate field which previously was limited to just three digits. It will now be expressed as 6 digits. Here is a sample extract from a 16:9 script:

7 - <remotecontent residref="tag:reuters.com,2009:binary_lwnej95136int-stream:4500:mpg" format="fmt:mpeg" contenttype="video/mpeg" duration="189" audiocodec="codec:mpeglayer2" audiobitrate="224000" audiovbr="false" audiosamplesize="16" audiosamplerate="48000" videoavgbitrate=" " videovbr="false" videoscan="interlaced" videoaspectratio="16:9" videosampling="4:2:0" rendition="rend:stream:4500:mpg" rtr:definition="videodef:sd"> Because all content will be delivered in 16:9 from 2 nd February, all scripts will be presented in this manner. However, we recommend that customers processing the XML files always use this field to determine the aspect ratio particularly if they are archiving content which may have been produced in 4: Reuters Live preparations This section explains the preparations you will need to make with respect to your Reuters Live receiver For 4:3 broadcasters Please ensure that your receiver is set to the 4:3 Aspect Ratio. This will ensure that both the test 16:9 videos and the live coverage from February 2 nd 2010 are ARCed into 4:3 in a seamless fashion. Naturally, this setting will recognise incoming 4:3 video and will not apply Aspect Ratio Conversion to it. Here are specific instructions for the different receiver models supplied by Reuters. TT1220 The TT1220 has both an Aspect Ratio setting (Frame Format) and a sub-setting for the ARC method (Frame Conversion). To make the most of how Reuters will shoot in 16:9 (see section 2.1); we recommend the Fit-to-height method. (i.e. edge cropping or centre cut). To set the Aspect Ratio (Frame Format) to 4:3: Main Menu > Setup > Advanced > Output Setup > Vid Setup [ 525 / 625 ] > Frame Format > 4/3 To set the ARC (Frame Conversion) to Fit-to-height: Main Menu > Setup > Advanced > Output Setup > Vid Setup [ 525 / 625 ] > Frame Conversion > 4/3 PS TT1260 The TT1260 can be configured to the 4:3 Aspect Ratio by following the steps below. Menu > Edit and Save for 4:3 output.

8 Alteia The Alteia can be configured to the 4:3 Aspect Ratio by following the steps below. Menu 6 item 8 of 16 > Edit and Save for 4:3 output. CSR820 The ability to ARC from 16:9 to 4:3 does not exist within this unit. If you have a CSR820, please contact your Reuters Account Manager immediately so that a replacement model can be sent For 16:9 broadcasters Please ensure that your receiver is set to the 16:9 Aspect Ratio. This will ensure that both the test 16:9 videos and the live coverage from February 2 nd 2010 are processed in a seamless fashion. Naturally, this setting will recognise incoming 4:3 video and will not apply changes to it prior to our transition to 16:9. Here are specific instructions for the different receiver models supplied by Reuters. TT1220 The Aspect Ratio setting (Frame Format) can be set for 16:9 by following the steps below. Main Menu > Setup > Advanced > Output Setup > Vid Setup [ 525 / 625 ] > Frame Format > Off TT1260 The TT1260 can be configured to the 16:9 Aspect Ratio by following the steps below. Menu > Edit and Save for 16:9 output. Alteia The Alteia can be configured to the 16:9 Aspect Ratio by following the steps below. Menu 6 item 8 of 16 > Edit and Save for 16:9 output. CSR820 No adjustment is required for the CSR820.

9 2.4 Tests A schedule of tests will be carried out on both Reuters Live and WNE to help you prepare for the switch. Please note that the tests will be re-scheduled if they co-incide with a major breaking news story. Reuters Live We will broadcast regular 16:9 demo videos at 0800, 1200, and 2000 GMT on Reuters Live daily from Tuesday 8 th December to Friday 18 th December; and from Monday January 11 th until the final changeover on Feb 2 nd Each 16:9 test will be preceded by an explanatory slate 15 minutes beforehand. WNE Two live tests 16:9 will be performed on WNE on Sunday December 13 th and Sunday January 17 th between 0630 and 0830 GMT. During this time, WNE will cease to deliver news videos for a maximum of 2 hours. Instead, up to 7 sample 16:9 videos will be delivered into the 16x9 Test service which will be accessible via the WNE website: For guidance on how to configure the Playout setting within the WNE PC, please see section The Switch The switch to 16:9 will take place on Tuesday February 2 nd Between 0600 and 0800 GMT, Reuters will cease to deliver news video will the production changes are made. From 0800 GMT the first 16:9 files will be delivered via WNE and the Reuters Live stream will also switch to the 16:9 Aspect Ratio. Please note that the switch will be re-scheduled in the event of a major breaking news story taking place on or before February 2 nd. 3.1 Stage one: all video delivery suspended At 0600 GMT, Reuters will cease to deliver videos whilst the necessary production changes are made.

10 3.2 Stage two: video delivery in 16:9 begins By 0800 GMT, all production changes will have been completed and video delivery in 16:9 will begin. If you have any questions related to the 16:9 switch, please contact your Reuters Account Manager please consult the FAQs on reuters.com/tvupgrade for further information Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. 'Thomson Reuters' and the Thomson Reuters logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of Thomson Reuters and its affiliated companies. For more information Send us a sales enquiry at reuters.com/salesenquiry Read more about our products at reuters.com/productinfo Find out how to contact your local office reuters.com/contacts