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WSB uses Skype

J

Junk Junk

Did anyone else see Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat last night? Eric Phillips did a report via Skype from the South Cobb High School charter bus as they were traveling to DC. The video wasn't too bad, but the audio was horrendous. It was made worse by all the screaming kids on the bus. Eric Phillips just kept talking, and I couldn't understand a word he said!

It was interesting to see WSB (of all stations) make use of this latest technology, and it will be interesting to see how they make use of it in the future...
 
Junk Junk said:
Did anyone else see Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat last night? Eric Phillips did a report via Skype from the South Cobb High School charter bus as they were traveling to DC. The video wasn't too bad, but the audio was horrendous. It was made worse by all the screaming kids on the bus. Eric Phillips just kept talking, and I couldn't understand a word he said!

It was interesting to see WSB (of all stations) make use of this latest technology, and it will be interesting to see how they make use of it in the future...
Click to expand...

WSB-TV likes to be first with new technology...they panicked when WXIA went HD news first.

I didn't see the report...but one of the issues is the video is 4x3. With HD news, the video needs to be 16x9. I don't know if Skype supports widescreen yet. You can forget 720p or 1080i quality.

Skype, along with a cell-phone network based internet connection, allows for live broadcasts from moving vehicles. In the past, TV stations could not do so unless the news helicopter was right overhead to relay a signal (WSB and WAGA have done this in the past). Also, stations can use this out of market to save from buying satellite time and taking the ultra-expensive satellite truck with them.

The downside (especially during distasters)...if the cell phone network goes down, so does the broadcasting ability.

TV stations should be able to get a live picture on the air quicker with this than a traditional live truck. They could use this to get a breaking news event on the air much quicker, until the live truck arrives and sets up.

Despite the quality downfalls (which will get better over time)...this really will be an advantage to local news outlets.
 
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