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Proton Camera Innovations: Smallest Broadcast Camera
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Witbe: Automated Testing and Monitoring Technology
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Dejero: Latest version of Smart Blending technology
360 Seconds. Broadcast News & Commentary is a weekly program on Youtube about the latest equipment for broadcasting and film. Explained by experts – practitioners directly working in the field of cinema and television.
Hosts: Philip Grossman, host and co-producer at Visionaries, and Ezequiel “Pax” Moore. Production – TKT1957 LLC. Aired July 29, 2024.
German company Proton Camera Innovations, which specializes in miniature cameras, will present its PROTON CAM at IBC2024
Pax: The German company Proton Camera Innovations will present PROTON CAM, a mini camera, at IBC2024. Philip, what are your thoughts and who can benefit from such a small camera?
Philip: Yeah, so I saw this first at NAB this year, and it’s really interesting. In the cinema world, they were using GoPros and then switched to RED, which created the Komodo as an action cam for film. However, there wasn’t anything suitable for broadcast. These guys seem to have developed something for broadcast. Granted, it’s a 1080p camera, but I’m sure the next generation will be 4K. It has an interchangeable lens and uses the S-mount lens.
I always look at any of these technologies to see how they help tell the story. For this type of camera, its size allows it to be placed in locations where a typical camera can’t fit. Larger cameras can’t go in because of their size or if they’re being mounted in a race car, they get in the way of the driver. These cameras are so small and fit with and utilize broadcast standards, providing a much more intimate feel in whatever story you’re trying to tell.
I see this being used a lot in sports, potentially inside a quarterback’s helmet, mounted inside with the lens sticking out. We’ll have to see how rugged they are. Definitely within NASCAR or Formula 1 racing, and in sporting events like basketball or soccer, you can now place one maybe right inside the goal, in the corner of the goal, or at the basket. This really helps bring the audience closer to the game or whatever story is being told.
I’m always amazed at how we can make things smaller and smaller without forgoing broadcast quality. It’ll be great to see the demos they use at IBC to tell the story about this camera. I’m interested to stop by their booth and see what it’s all about.
Witbe is set to present its powerful automated testing and proactive monitoring technology at IBC2024
Pax: Wow. So now, on to some Witbe news. Witbe will be presenting its automated testing and proactive monitoring technology, the Mobile Automation system, at IBC2024. Philip, what are your thoughts on this?
Philip: In my industry, my friends and I always joke that the first thing that gets pulled out of a requirements document or a project is usually testing because of the cost, or it gets scaled back. But it’s really one of the most important things you can do. As we move more and more to OTT (over-the-top) or linear broadcasting to the edge to different devices, keeping track of the quality of that stream—whether it meets closed captioning requirements or has the necessary advertising—becomes more and more difficult, especially when you’re attempting to add insertion at the edge.
This technology seems to be implemented within data centers around the world with partners around the world. It provides a much more holistic view of what’s going on. They’re not the only ones doing this; there are two or three other companies, but it’s great to see another company entering the market to provide this level of quality assurance all the way to the edge customer. It’s very easy to say that what comes down off the satellite is great, but now I’m sending it out to thousands or tens of thousands of users on different types of devices. This technology helps the broadcaster understand what issues they may be having with specific tests and where they’re happening. All in all, I think it’s a great technology, and I’m interested to see more vendors get into this market space.
Dejero at IBC 2024: Latest version of Smart Blending technology
Pax: Awesome. And one more thing from IBC 2024, Dejero will be showcasing the latest version of its patented Smart Blending technology. Philip, I know you must have some thoughts on this, and I would love to hear them.
Philip: These bonded cellular packs have really become the mainstay, especially with 5G technology, because they enable you to use higher bit rates, higher resolutions, and frame rates in your cameras for storytelling. Dejero has been one of those companies. They may not have the biggest name compared to some competitors, but Dejero has some really unique technologies, and this is one of them. It appears they are now able to blend their networks more seamlessly, especially across 5G, and I believe combining 5G and LTE and other networks to create a stable broadcast platform for transmission.
The more competition we see in this market, the better it becomes for people who are trying to tell stories in the field where rolling a satellite truck is just too expensive. For something like the Olympics, where there are thousands of places to go, it’s a fantastic solution. I’m glad to see them pushing the boundaries of this technology, and I hope to see others follow suit.
Pax: Awesome. Until next time, see you guys again for another installment of TKT1957 360 Seconds. A huge thanks to the team. Don’t forget to leave a like and subscribe to the program.
360 Seconds. Broadcast News & Commentary
The weekly show, focusing on the latest products and solutions in the global TV and film industry, features insights and analysis from top experts. Released every Monday within the TKT1957 network, the program can be found on the YouTube channel, social media groups, and the tkt1957.com website.
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