Global Television Standard Report Due Next Month

American and European TV standards-setting groups expect to finalize a joint agreement that will unify production and broadcast technology for the digital era. A task force created by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the European Broadcasting Union will unveil its standardization proposal for simplified, cost-effective digital production and transmission processes at the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) in Amsterdam in September.

Among the benefits of the international plan, which has been underway for two years, is a better timing process for pictures and sound - an occasional problem in digital TV programming. The proposed standard will also cater to the emerging business of multi-format facilities and digital post-production operations. The plan will be the first update in 30 years to TV stations' processes for synchronizing and time-labeling shows, systems that were set up in the era of analog video and videotape. It reflects the industry's growing reliance on IT-based systems. The proposal seeks to encourage a single synchronization standard that can address all formats and that minimizes the need for dedicated interfaces.

Although no date has been set for adopting the final SMPTE/EBU standard, it is expect to be implemented within the next couple years.