The Producer Report: ENG


wireless links during the live programme,” says camera supervisor Andy Parr. ”We shoot and record HD to disc even though we’re not yet transmitting HD. The nonlinear workflow is a big step forward from DigiBeta in terms of ease of access to material and even playing material directly out of the camera to air.” According to ITV director of technology for


news Paul Stevenson, the new Sony camcorders have


helped revolutionise ITV’s regional


newsgathering operations. “The diverse and reactive nature of field reporting means that versatile and lightweight kit is essential for our reporters,” he explains. Recording to Compact


and 500 to replace is ageing collection of DSR- 450s, DSR-500s and SX ENG cameras, with around 250 units to be purchased by the BBC for ENG acquisition over the next 12 months.


BEST VALUE FOR MONEY “The


default camera across network news Flash memory,


Meridian reporter Mike Pearse finds he can now download a 20-minute piece shot in HD to his laptop for an Avid edit in just seven minutes. “What it means is that journalists never have


to go to the newsroom,” says Pearse. “We can work with laptops and send in reports over 3G networks or wireless internet. Sometimes I don’t go into the office for a month.” The BBC has chosen XDCAM models the 350


production will be the 350,” explains Peter Coles, BBC Technology controller for journalism. “The process we went through was to ask the market to put forward cameras against our set of criteria. When we got to the end of that evaluation we had cameras from Sony and Panasonic which met or exceeded our criteria but the final selection was done by e-Auction. Based on that outcome and on value for money we selected Sony.” The BBC has been using hard drives attached


to DVCAMS for some time so its news crews have some experience of file-based operation. “The decision to go with the 350 enables us


to use solid state media in Professional SxS card format and in a commoditised form of storage,” explains Coles. “That’s in line with our aim of deriving value from consumer technology.


Winter 2011 theproducer 31


The diverse and reactive nature of field reporting means that versatile and lightweight kit is essential for our reporters


Paul Stevenson, director of technology ITV


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