April 2003, Quantel won the largest order in its history ---- the construction of the new ESPN digital center to provide generationQ Series SD / HD server and editing system.
ESPN's works throughout Connecticut in the United States,glue stick a new port - Bristol implementation, construction area of 11,613 square meters. The project took almost Quantel has the largest order of three. This project is ESPN senior technical, engineering and vice president of business ChuckPagano start, first introduced in September 2002 and started the bidding at the idea of ESPN.
When we stumbled BBCT (BBC Technology) and QUANTEL a joint proposal,glue gun the moment we feel "ah, it in front of us."
Tender resolution.
Pagano said: "We have carefully reviewed the bids in each of 52 one, because we want to engage in a project - select a service provider and a supplier of the most advantage of the most advantage of B, and then integrated into our own solutions. But We stumbled BBCT and Quantel cooperation proposals, then we are: 'found', that is, the bidding scheme. "He added:" When this generation of Quantel server technology released in 2002 on the NAB, BBC The Colledia were subsequently released, we know that time is coming. Colledia is classified as MAM, but we regard it as a video workflow control system. "
System.
No matter what kind of standards in accordance with, ESPN scope and scale of the project are enormous. Quantel's broadcast systems team leader, ESPN honorary head of the project, said GuyEaton: "Quantel will provide the following implementation of technology for the first pilot, and then ESPN's implementation throughout the project, there are now 4 sQ server will be expanded to 68 Taiwan, Taiwan will be an expansion to 8 eQ, 2 QEditPros expanded to 18 units, 1 Qcut to 21 units, 11 sets of QView will be increased to 182 sets! "He also said:" Quantel eQ editing workstation and coverage from QEditPro to QCut and QView entire product line. based on the user's point of view, it does not matter the type of workstations, Quantel solution which is a real information. There will be more than 230 users are online watch Quantel save and generate the media, are using the Quantel interface, all interfaces in a common, consistent and progressive user environment. through our licensing model, ESPN can require a considerable amount of QCut and QView. "
"Material to reach the operator's time is not variable, unlike the material you want to play the length of time, so the key is to quickly retrieve the file, and use the same raw material and work to cooperate with other people."
Full implementation will be equipped with 68 servers, all servers are able to store HD and SD media. In operation, these servers will be located in some 27 separate areas based on different operating broadcast control room. Throughout the system, all equipment is an independent, integrated the functions of the whole.
"In the past few years, the requirements for high-definition will continue to increase for each of the ports so we provide a simple plug-in components, ESPN may need to add high-definition capabilities. When the system has a total of 314 I / O port, which port will be equipped with 166 high-definition component. "Eaton added:" The port will handle HD playback from HD to SD down-conversion original media on the changes from the original standard definition for high definition media, and ultimately will equally recorded as HD or SD programming with. This is a system that is operating as a system, be retrieved as a system has been integrated as a system, it has the flexibility of the system 27 to play a small room. Every player has a control room operator completely independent of the intelligence function. two major third-party company involved in the project is IBIS (responsible for playback in the control room) and Probel (responsible for the console's release). "
Eaton concluded: "We BBCT offers a number of tools to enable them to integrate and Quantel. It will be integrated into the Quantel database search tool in BBCT. Quantel's 6Mbps agents are integrated into one of the video screen. In addition, Quantel Video will be integrated into some special applications of sports programming, which is BBCT in the PC, monitor material and do. "
BBCT source code is written in the United Kingdom, BBCT in SanJosé have 30 very strong software development team in Atlanta has more of software professionals, there is another site in the Bristol team. Ivey went on to say: "Quantel developed the single-time online multi-resolution technique is the project co-existence of 'key part'"
Inexperienced operator.
One of the key equipment will take the non-linear technology. If ESPN wants to 8 full days of its re-integration of Web content, it must now dub the tape several times. "Material to reach the operator's time is not variable, unlike the material you want to play the length of time, so the key is to quickly retrieve the file, and use the same raw material and work to cooperate with other staff. That is why we were not constrained access to the direction of development. Pagano said: "Now, we have by the operator of 30 the operation of the fledgling video-based shooting team, they basically meet the U.S. 24 / 7 sports programming. These operators are skilled experts in control of tone, they take into useful information for each screen. Then editing them to create the visualization program to play the story board. We are a joint project, and Quantel will allow these people will not have to chaotic management of the tape, they will just sit there and concentrate on their own editing work, even in our view, screening procedures to see hockey games ice hockey and ice hockey player shirt number. "
ESPN 720P HD format has been used, because it believes that progress in coverage for sporting events is very important. We are dealing with a lot of movement, including the content and want to offer our fans the best visual quality, so we must choose some analog compression technology is not formed because of the discontinuity of the technology. Pagano said: "This advanced system can transmit the perfect picture, is particularly suitable for slow-motion record." He believes there will be innovation in the television production process, making the technology more simple and content has become more attractive. He concludes: "We will save the contents in the virtual space, and will continue to increase in proportion. This may be the beginning of construction of a hundred years."
Original format.
"We use SD technology has been a long time, but now high-definition technology is replaced by a rapid pace. We now reached a watershed. The public has suddenly noticed the HD technology, ESPN like HBO and Discovery (Exploration) such institutions, announced the development of high-definition and high definition transmission waves. "RichardTaylor said:" So if you visit any U.S. electrical supermarket, you will find there is a large department store sales area for the sale of real high-definition equipment, both rear-projection TVs , including plasma TV. at some stage, consumers will recognize this trend, this trend will now accelerate the development. I think we are entering an era of high definition. "
"Q Series HD users do not need to re-take the purchase of equipment, simply on the basis of the existing equipment on the line ... the increased use of exactly the same software and functionality."
However, ESPN clearly that SD and HD will coexist for many years in the future, it signed a contract with ESPN Quantel requests Resolution Co-existence as part of the contract. Taylor said: "We have long wanted to co-existence technology for multi-resolution Q Series system is ESPN, and let us concentrate on the timely implementation of this technology, no other manufacturers can handle multiple lines at the same time resolution rate of material, and the resolution of real-time conversion. "
"Multi-resolution techniques exist means that the journalists or editors do not need to worry about during the editing resolution is how much. The device will automatically provide you a comprehensive classification of the resolution, and does not require any pre-build or post-processing, You can always store the raw material form. "
"For ESPN, the main work of the press and the packaging content applications, but the wider use of multi-resolution co-existence is the meaning of it? The new server has the advantage that it can be added to the existing SD Q Series system, so that the existing SD systems partially or completely extended to multi-resolution field. "Taylor said," Q Series HD users do not need to re-take the purchase of equipment, but only the basis of the existing equipment added on the line. Interestingly, users also use the same software and features will be able to do this. "
Drive the market.
No matter how much amount of money is from, or from the development of market size in terms of the role, ESPN since the project is to create Quantel get one of the most important contracts. Taylor said: "ESPN HD is caused by the perfect catalyst for revolutionary developments in the world will be watching closely to Bristol, and server-based approach that will stimulate market development. We saw some very important research results appear But as ESPN's case, the incubation period of these new things will be very long. "
In the short term, Quantel provides a common interface and multi-resolution co-existence technologies, created a system platform. Taylor said: "We are very lucky, four or five years ago, we began to began to study the potential market demand, and started research and development Quantel common interface, both for simple shooting options, but also for professional editing. You The interface can help see them training and operator skills improve.
"No one said that journalists must be edited, and no one said that journalists can master editor is excellent editors", Taylor continued: "Imagine such a situation, you have to start editing the work of a young journalist, you He likes to clip his discovery reports, and gradually he became a proficient editor professional journalists. he did was continue to work in the process of learning to use more editing tools. "
Summary.
"For our technology, the sports highlights of the concept was proved to be an excellent application", Taylor said reflection: "ESPN has finally proven what we do with scalability. If you go to BBC in Norwich (a British local television station), see where the new system, you can see the screen and you will see later this year in Bristol the same as the other screen. "
Norwich will see in the BBC's embedded into the system, multithreading ESPN redundant system, in the BBC's exactly the same as Norwich does not need a server system, so an editor can be instantaneously broadcast station. Divided by a remote server, ESPN's multi-level redundant system can be simplified. Triple-redundant database will become close to anyone else expected a very secure system. We have 30 years in radio and television broadcasting, we understand that time when the second hand ticking sound, you must play, Taylor said: "IT field in understanding this point is very difficult."
"Now, the rapid development of high-definition technology in the United States," Taylor continued, "When ESPN started playing high-definition sports, we think that ESPN HD will be the explosive development of the U.S. lit the fuse. Through the Q Series of multi-resolution co-existence technology, radio and television in this revolution, we played a very important role. "