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Initiatives
ChEFF has endorsed the work of The Post Production
Training Initiative (PPTI) aand is represented on its committee. This committee
which is also endorsed by the IVCA is liasing with Skillset, the sector skills
council to combat the skills threat facing the industry. ChEFF has funded
the PPTI to make a submission to The National Skills Strategy white paper
consultation.
ChEFF members have also been assisting in the updating of NVQ specifications for engineering and operational roles in post-production.
ChEFF are further developing their work on the harmonisation of broadcast delivery standards (see below) by sponsoring a paper to be presented at IBC2003 on the subject of a standardised QC process that is relevant to the new world of digital broadcasting.
Currently, there are many forms of engineering impairments that may be created in the production and post-production stages of any television programme. The lack of a standard contribution audit trail hinders any objective analysis, and the constant introduction of new formats is not improving matters. Many companies will be involved in the overall process, and some of them may not possess the necessary test equipment or personnel. Also, in the UK, there are neither standards appropriate for any third-party QC involvement, nor for any up-to-date code-of-practice tests. The result of all this is not only a gamble on the technical acceptance of any programme by the Broadcasters, but the bit rate demand for subsequent transmission may well prove excessive. This Paper proposes a new Independent Quality Control procedure based on three factors. Firstly, there is the identification of a competent operator. Secondly, a standardised audit trail (metadata set) for all the programme material is proposed (including an impairment dictionary), and thirdly a "Code-of Practice" procedure for the IT age.
The paper's authors are Jeff Booth, Soho Images Ltd. John Emmett, BPR Ltd. Chris Hillier, Hillside Studios Ltd.
The proliferation of broadcast channels has lead
to an almost equal proliferation of different delivery requirements. After
consultantion with the major broadcasters ChEFF has published a Unified Delivery
Specification which was launched at The Production Show in May 2002.
Initiative Co-ordinator - Jeff Booth
- Soho Images
The launch of the ChEFF delivery
spec at
The Production Show in Olympia, May 2002.
From L to R:
Andy Lucas, Carlton - Richard Eagle, Channel 4 -
Chris Hearn, Granada - Jeff Booth, ChEFF/ Soho Images
ChEFF's prior incarnation, "The Image Industry Alliance Engineering Committee" (i2a) organised a seminar on "Gamut Errors and Broadcasting Quality Control" on Wednesday 27 October 1999. The seminar was convened after a number of facilities houses experienced an increase in the number of gamut errors detected in completed programmes delivered to broadcasters. The Gamut Seminar brought together over 40 representatives of UK broadcasters, facilities houses and manufacturers of gamut test equipment and legalisers to discuss the issue and explore the best way forward to avoid these problems in the future.
As a result, a more workable specification was produced which was subsequently recognised by the EBU.
There has been further work on the gamut problem since the seminar and we have been involved in liaison with John Emmett of BPR Ltd and the UK Broadcasters resulting in the manufacture of a cheap gamut error monitor.