D-9 in Action[VIEW]

The BBC's "Antiques Roadshow" calls D-9 a valuable find.

Twelve months after the BBC became the first British Broadcaster to adopt JVC's D-9, for use on the Antiques Roadshow, how has the format fared? According to one of the program's directors Steven Wood, he has not experienced a single fault. That, he believes, is as good a testament to the format as one could possibly have.

The Production Process
The main program material is shot on location using a four-camera scanner incorporating two D-9 VTR's, main and ISO. A PSC Digital Betacam unit records the show's opening, plus additional material for subsequent post production at base. The whole process to final edit master is completed utilizing the D-9 format. Finally, a copy is cloned onto digital beta for transmission purposes.

Significant cost savings have been achieved by changing to D-9 wherever possible. Steve Wood explains: "The cost of providing a Digibeta machine for two weeks in editing was prohibitive. However, because we've decided to adopt the JVC format, we want to stick with it. D-9 is far less expensive, and every bit as good as (and in some instances better than) Digital Betacam, and we've decided to stay in the D-9 domain. As soon as JVC can make a widescreen camcorder available, we'll be entirely D-9 with no reservations at all."

The Future
Steve Wood sees a bright future for D-9 in broadcasting. Among networks and program commissioners, there has been a historic reluctance to commit to widescreen. But "On Digital" and "Sky" have demonstrated that widescreen is a reality. Program makers are now challenged to shoot the majority of new programs in widescreen, thus making an evaluation of recently introduced digital formats an urgent priority. Equally, the onset of high-definition transmissions in the USA and Europe has reminded program directors that futureproofing of current material is vital, if co-productions and world-wide sales are contemplated. This future program potential for HDTV transmissions requires careful evaluation of adequate quality for subsequent up-conversions. "I believe that D-9 has already got the ability to do that," says Steve Wood. "A half inch tape in a tried and tested mechanism provides the best insurance for the highest bit steams required by HDTV. "We are exceptionally pleased with D-9 performance," he concludes. "But having seen the prototype of JVC's widescreen camcorder, I'm really looking forward to its introduction. Our original decision to adopt the format has been justified by its superlative day to day performance, and the recent SMPTE decision to award D-9 accreditation has simply re-confirmed our confidence in our own decision."