Monday, April 18, 2016

How The Satellite Truck Has Revolutionized The Broadcast Industry

The headlines which are shared with us during our favourite newscasts have mostly covered the same stories for the past fifty years: we receive breaking local information, news about new medical advancements, and stories about national and international political races.  But while the news may be similar, how that news is being shared today is drastically different and has been made better because of satellite trucks.


Back In The Days Of Black And White TVs
In the 1960s news broadcasts were still somewhat of a new concept.  The broadcasters would share information that they had gathered throughout the day or the week, but they were unable to provide real-time on-the-scene reporting.


Why It All Changed
News coverage is constantly evolving, and some events in the 1960s and 19702 forced newscasters to figure out a way to be able to deliver live coverage through a broadcast truck.  Some of the most important historical events include:

·         The Kennedy Assassination of 1963
·         The Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979
·         The Moon Landing in 1969

Television executives knew that their audience wanted live video rather than still photos, but it was not until the 1970s when the very first satellite productions began to role on air.  Commonly referred to as live microwave trucks, these production vehicles could be driven right up to where a particular event was happening.  Because videotape also replaced film, it was easier for broadcasters to “go-live” within seconds


Satellite Goes Mainstream
A lot of news outfits would attend light news events to justify the expense of purchasing their satellite equipment in the 1970s, but the demand for real-time news gathering grew which forced networks and several stations to add satellite news gathering fleets so that they could beam back news reports from across the world.

Today satellite news reporting is a must-have.  How viewers may receive news is rapidly changing (i.e. rather than turn on the television they may watch it in real-time from their smartphone or computer), but having a high quality satellite uplink is imperative if broadcasters want to deliver top quality and reliable footage.


How To Choose A Satellite Uplink Provider
Partnering with the right uplink provider is critical in ensuring a seamless transmission of your footage every time the cameras are rolling.  Experience is a top factor in determining whether or not the provider will be a good fit for your company.  Depending on the quality and importance of the footage, you want to make sure that the provider has the experience necessary to ensure that the transmission goes as flawlessly as possible.

Another feature to look for is if you have a dedicated line for carrying the video signal between the broadcaster and the facility which is providing you with the uplink.  This is typically done through a fiver connection, and though more expensive than other options, it is the best choice for mid- to large-scale broadcasters or those broadcasting in HD.


Lastly, ask about security.  Some providers may only encrypt the audio, while others will encrypt both the video and the audio. For motr information on Satellite Truck, visit: http://www.liveu.tv/vehicle-solutions

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