With the adoption of the standard for digital TV streaming in Colombia, which was defined last week, the channels and content producers now face a number of challenges that will require large investments and a lot of creativity.
The digitization of television in Colombia is not something new. As in the rest of the world, it is a process that started several years ago when the producers of programs and TV channels began digitizing their workflows looking for economies and agility in their processes. But now it is has a rule on the way TV channels they can – and should – emit their signals so that users let's enjoy the advantages of digital TV.
Among the challenges now facing producers and channels are implementing interactive systems, taking advantage of the possibilities of multicasting and monetize new forms of segment audiences. But none of this will do if the open television fails to recover the audience that day by day it loses to subscription TV systems.
On the one hand there is the challenge of producing in high definition. Some programs have already been made in this format, but nothing massive way. Starting to produce in high definition is not so much simple as having the equipment and already.
It requires a new lighting culture, new techniques of makeup and scenery (the acne problem of an actress adolescent, for example, which is easily concealable in the current tv, may appear horrible in high definition), and a lot of training is needed for air fresheners, cameramen, technicians and sound engineers.
A particularity of the DVB-T system adopted by Colombia is the ease of setting up mobile TV operations on the same infrastructure as normal operation. However, this it requires a new look at production processes.
From the technical and artistic point of view it is not the same produce a program for a 42-inch screen that stops one of 3. Make a program that serves both screens (or three, if we include the computer) is one of the biggest challenges that will face those who intend to take advantage of this opportunity.
A monumental work that is coming is the reconstruction of transmission networks and control operations teacher. Regional and local channels will have to invest in new digital transmission equipment. In the meantime, for the national channels and the RTVC investment to build a Complete digital transmission network is huge.
Finally, there are also a number of challenges many times over. unexpected, such as the cost overruns generated by the simulcasting.
Simulcasting is the simultaneous broadcasting of signals digital and analog during the migration period of the audience towards a completely digital system. United States for example, it will end with analogous transmissions in February 2009, while in Mexico the simulcasting period will last beyond the year 2020.
I recently attended a conference on the process of migration in Japan, where Tsuyoshi Yamanka, channel director Chukyo TV in Nagoya, said the simulcasting process generated huge problems, not least because it required doubling the signal monitoring systems.
Channels must have a double control installation teacher with a greater number of technicians per shift and with logistical issues like having to monitor two audio systems in the same control room.
In addition, simulcasting processes demand space -which perhaps for us it is not a fundamental aspect but for the Japanese is critical-, as analog equipment must coexist and digital not only at repeater stations but also in all emission facilities. This is a perspective that is not usually taken into account when designing schedules migration.
SANTIAGO ALGORTA *
SPECIAL FOR THE WEATHER
* Editorial director of TV y Video magazine and academic director of the seminar "Digital Television (Almost) Without Stress", to be held in Bogotá on September 25 and 26 www.tvyvideo.com/seminarios/DTV
