Press Releases: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
SMPTE Forms New Task Force on Digital Cinema
For Immediate Release
November 5, 1998
Contact: Linda Alexander
(914) 761-1100 ext. 115
White Plains, NY - SMPTE has formed a new Task Force on Digital Cinema to meet the requirements of motion picture film distributors, the creative community, designers, equipment manufacturers and theater owners.
The Task Force was convened by Joan Allen, SMPTE Engineering Director for Motion Pictures, and a senior executive at Dolby Laboratories. It met in Las Vegas at NAB in April and again in Atlantic City in October at ShowEast.
Over 110 participants are working on the Task Force, which is chaired by Curt Bahlmer of Soundelux.
The Task Force Charter is to:
- Provide and industry technical forum for digital cinema (d-cinema)
- Identify key systems and technology issues
- Develop a recommended approach to d-cinema
- Identify, establish and coordinate necessary working groups to achieve overall d-cinema objectives
- The resulting standards and recommendations (through SMPTE) are intended to ensure interoperability, compatibility, performance and support for future innovation.
- Systems — to consist of the chairs of the other working parties (restricted membership)
- Image compression
- Conditional access — encryption systems
- Transport (may include colorimetry and quality issues)
- Audio
- Auditorium interface including automation and control systems
- Projection (covered by existing Working Group P3.4, chaired by Al Barton, which is now working on screen image definitions and measurements — a document similar to film document SMPTE 196 is now being prepared.)
- Management systems, including fold-back to distributors
SMPTE to Feature All-Day Seminar at NAB99
Popular SMPTE Programming Continues at Las Vegas Conference
For Immediate Release
November 20, 1998
Contact: Linda Alexander
(914) 761-1100
White Plains, NY — Following last year's success, SMPTE will present an all-day seminar at NAB99 on April 17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Co-chaired by Richard Hess, Vice President National Teleconsultants, and Graham Jones, Manager DTV Systems Engineering at Harris Corporation, the topic will deal with issues of control and automation of new technologies in broadcasting.
The age of digital television is here, and with it new technologies, systems and equipment. Digital inbound and outbound program streams, encoders and multiplexers, multi-channel audio, metadata, datacasting, and multicasting; in addition to video servers, VTRs, switchers, traffic and newsroom systems, are all elements of this new age. The ability to manage and control these elements is critical to the operation of network distribution and station broadcasting. The seminar will take an in-depth look at how these new developments will be managed.
NAB99 runs from April 17-22. For registering information, call 800-342-2460 or you may register online at www.nab.org/conventions.
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Reality Check
For Immediate Release
November 20, 1998
Contact: Linda Alexander
(914) 761-1100
140th SMPTE Conference Examines DTV Progress to Date
White Plains, NY — On the brink of a new era in broadcasting, SMPTE hosted its 140th Technical Conference and Exhibition on October 28-31, 1998, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California. Over 1500 people attended the conference, which carried the theme "DTV - Reality Check."
"The conference was a great success," said program co-chair Alan Hart, Modern VideoFilm. "The conference papers were right on target according to the attendees and they enjoyed the convenience of the Pasadena Civic location."
The actual reality check came when attendees viewed one of the first digital broadcasts by a local TV station. KTLA, based in Los Angeles, broadcast the recent space shuttle launch as SMPTE attendees watched the historical broadcast on a large-screen HDTV.
"The 140th conference 'DTV — Reality Check' confirmed that DTV is real when about 400 people watched the John Glenn launch live from KTLA off air on channel 31," Hart said.
In addition to the technical papers, the Society conferred honors and awards to 20 individuals at a ceremony held Friday evening, October 30. Ranging from Fellowship to Honorary Membership, the awards recognize technical excellence in advancing the motion picture and television arts and sciences.
Two speakers were featured among the social events of the conference. At the Industry Luncheon on Thursday, October 29, Piedad F. Roberts, superintendent/president, Santa Monica College, spoke about the role education plays in meeting the training needs of the industry. Andy Setos, senior vice president, broadcasting operations and engineering, Fox Television, addressed SMPTE Fellows at a luncheon on Friday, October 30.
About 80 companies exhibited their most advanced technological products at the exhibition. Big-name companies as well as smaller distributors and manufacturers were present, making the show perfect for buyers and spectators alike.
Following the success of this conference, SMPTE will hold its 33rd Advanced Motion Imaging Conference on February 25-27, 1999, at the Omni Rosen Hotel in Orlando, Florida. For more information, contact SMPTE at (914) 761-1100 or visit the SMPTE web site at www.smpte.org.
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