CALGARY – This year’s WABE predicted change. Entitled “The Convergence of Change 2005,” the three-day convention took on many television, radio and IT topics in the hopes of “bringing things together”. From “The Impact of Networking on Broadcast Technology and how the dinosaurs are dying” to “The Future to Technology”, the topics are large and exciting.
Here is a snapshot of this year’s Western Association of Broadcast Engineers conference, held at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary.
There’s no stopping it. The HD convoy is rolling through.
The message: Be ready.
Phil Keeling of consultants Cocos and Keeling Inc. likens the benefit of HD to the evolution of the TV industry, crediting the technology as “the newfound reason for watching.”
But while it may be coming, according to Keeling, the original Canadian strategy of lagging two years behind the U.S. in implementation to reduce capital costs and protect investment, has changed. He says “Canada is two years behind and fading fast.”
Keeling (once president of Dome Productions) claims there is a lack of HD production happening. He says that while we have “some offerings of HD over the air and in delivery to the home through Direct to Cable (DTH),” the US “has significantly higher” production.” So much so, that some American broadcasters are apparently hesitant to buy shows if they are not in HD.
Even if we wanted to stop the evolution (why would we, the picture is so much better), it won’t happen. “Most prime content in the U.S. is HD,” he claims, and a large percentage of consumers “will buy a flat screen on the next purchase.”
And HD product selection is growing. Direct view items (Plasma, LCD and CRT) and projection screens (LCD and CRT) keep progressing.
Displays are getting larger. “Size definitely matters to us because it tells us that technology is getting mature.” says Keeling, adding that you can now even buy a 102” Samsung display.
Pricing, thankfully, is going down. Keeling contends that the 40-44” displays have dropped 18% since the last quarter of last year.
On Keeling’s watch list….
• Near Wall Projection: Projects 40” visual on to wall from 2” away (front projection), doesn’t come with a screen.
• Organic Light Emitting Technology: Devices that we can carry with us anywhere.
• CRT screens: Hands down, CRT images are the best, despite their depth. For those who can’t afford them, or anything other than analog, there is a solution. Keeling suggests low cost CRT’s are coming out. One for RCA is hitting the market now for under $300.
• Cable cards: Addition of PC and CIA cards help remove the requirement for set top boxes and the cost. It can also produce two-way communication.
• As for content delivery, expect more set top boxes with PVR’s, even multi-room DVR’s and enhanced program guides that can source the Internet.
• “Get 5.1 sound, it is amazing, and therefore the pictures look better,” jests Keeling. He cites the bonus: devices are deemed attractive in comparison to their oversized predecessors.
• Combined remotes, like those from Harmony. Program the remote on line, noting which units you have and condense your power control buttons to one remote. Simple functions include: watch TV, watch a movie, etc… There are even voice activated remotes coming out.
There are some challenges for HD: Like, there are more and more small displays being used to show programs in HD format and we can expect to see even more with mobile TV (cell phones and other not-quite-so-small screens – see below).
Another challenge is that HD commercial programming is lagging behind. Commercials are not being developed in HD and hence, when shown, they are shrunk down to a ‘postage stamp” effect that does not fill the screen. HD TV is shown in letterbox.
Keeling had all kinds of advice: Don’t listen to your grandmother, with HD, it is OK to sit close to the TV. And be prepared HD “will change how you choose your channels”.
How to keep the right ‘tech guy” happy
Most often a gadget-happy guy who likes to figure things out, the IT guy is never the centre when things are good, but is the middle of everything when things are going badly.
David Reid, CEO of EPIC Information Solutions, walked WABE delegates through his strategy for building and keeping a formidable IT team.
Turnover is expensive, notes Reid. He estimates it costs “25% of salary and benefits” and the unknown lost opportunities and missed deadline costs when someone hits the road.
Reid contends that the “right people’ are the best asset to any company, and in order to keep these people, one must know what they want through getting to know them and surveying your staff.
Particularly in IT, “people want interesting and challenging work.” Money, according to Reid, is further down the techy wish list. He cites recognition, responsibility, contribution, independence and toys ahead of money.
The IT guy “doesn’t move for money,” contends Reid. And when only one person can handle one or two skills out of 12 or so required functions of a company’s IT needs, you need to optimize skills.
Reid believes a good IT plan is one that moves the right people through the company. It’s one that allows the tech guy to work in his “sweet spot” for the majority of his time. Limiting the amount of time one works at low-level tasks (to prevent boredom) and high-level tasks (to prevent mistakes), must be the goal.
He promotes outsourcing for mentors to guide people through overwhelming challenges, and when you need to “keep away from training staff to do a one time skill.”
Reid notes that some “eighty per cent of IT problems are created by IT staff not following best practices”. Reason enough to have a session on how to keep the right “tech guy” around.
Where are we going with Mobile TV?
Think single screens in vehicles, PDA’s and cell phones. If you’re a service provider out there, take this hint. There is opportunity out there.
Dave Benco of Axcera says we have digital transmission methods that support mobility already: analog, single carrier digital and OFDM. Mobile TV only requires low power consumption and has better video compression, which makes the possibilities rather endless.
There are delivery options. You can either download and play content; or play it real time. Depending on the technology, the performance varies. According to Benco, TV over cell networks can handle limited bandwidth of download and play. Real-time broadcasted over a separate network, requires a separate spectrum and RF Channel infrastructure, but it’s in real time.
Benco contends that the signal can run from a traditional tower to boxes that will piggyback space with other service transmitters to provide coverage. He expects the technology to be bought from a third party and content to be supplied by local broadcasters.
“It’s a one-way push of data that would be available by subscription only,” predicts Benco.
DVB-H trials are already taking place, including Crown Castle and Qualcomm in the U.S., Finpilot in Finland and ReTelevision in Spain, among others.
WABE Awards Luncheon
The real winner at this year’s WABE Awards luncheon is John Bruins from Rawlco (right), winning in three of the four award categories. Bruins took home the highest award, the R.W. Lamb Award for industry and personal achievement within the engineering field. He was also recognized for Spirit and Retirements awards.
With over 45 years in radio (including engineering, writing and even sales), and a long-list of committee positions in his history with WABE, Bruins was a natural pick.
(The WABE gives out the Spirit Award in recognition of contribution to the convention, the executive or the Organization.)
Also recognized for Spirit is Richard Coleman of CFCN Calgary. He was introduced as a valuable WABE grandfather, someone committee members often turn to for advice. He was thanked for his “guidance and leadership over the years.”
From SAIT, Wayne Watson (left) receives the Ambassador Award as someone who is not a qualified voting member but has made a valuable contribution to the organization. Watson having worked in the industry for several years, now team leads the Broadcast Technology department at SAIT (where he started).
“Quite excited and quite thrilled,” says Watson of the honour. “I am very appreciative. 
Other retirement awards were given to Mel Hoyme (right) and Bob Werre.
The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science received the WABE scholarship for $2,500. The donation is to be shared over six years by those students interested in the broadcast industry.
In lieu of guest speaker fees for the conference, donations were made to the Calgary Inter-faith Food Bank.
Tara Blasco Raj is www.cartt.ca’s Western Editor.
Photos courtesy Tara Blasco Raj and Kathy Watson.
