Why IBC?

Freeview HD channels coming by the end of 2009

The Register - Ofcom has confirmed that the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 will each launch a DVB-T2 HD channel by the end of 2009 to kick-start free-to-air digital HDTV in the UK. The only downside is, we'll all need new Freeview boxes if we want to receive the channels.

The BBC hasn't decided what will be available on its service. ITV1 will be simulcast in HD in the evening, and other broadcasters will be allowed to sub-let ITV's channel at other times. ITV will also use the channel to show major sporting events in HD. Channel 4 will also simulcast its normal schedule.

A fourth channel will follow in 2010.

BBC's future safe in the hands of suspected 'mole'

The Guardian (Technology) - BBC Head of Future Media & Technology (FM&T), Eric Huggers was made to feel as welcome as a licence fee reminder when he arrived in West London from Holland, via the US West Coast, earlier this year.

He was recruited to knock iPlayer into shape. Nervous traditionalists wondered if the corporation had in fact been infiltrated by a Microsoft mole, ready to spread Windows propaganda.

With Ashley Highfield leaving to run Kangaroo, Huggers stepped into the bigger FM&T role in August. He has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve, but at times his jargon seems to leave interviewer Owen Gibson a bit baffled.

Quantel's Stereoscopic 3-D World Tour in review

In the Summer of of 2007, Norman Rouse (pictured, left) & Mark Horton (right) of Quantel, with a team of demonstrators and technicians, began a 12 month project to tour the world's production centres.

Their mission was to raise awareness of stereoscopic 3-D and promote Quantel's post production solutions.

With the tour at an end, I visited Quantel HQ in Newbury to find out what they learned and hear some of the stories they brought back with them.

To hear our conversation, visit The Broader Issue, where you will also find 5 further discussion programmes on the subject of stereoscopic 3-D, plus two accompanying series, on 'File-based Workflows' & 'Colour'.

Also on the site, there's the BROADniche archive, which contains programmes on a wide range of subjects, from outsourcing visual effects work and the growth in digital media distribution to media law and business process management

At IBC this year, Quantel won several awards, including the IBC Judges & Innovation Awards, for their work in stereoscopic 3-D, and in particular their involvement in the post production of 'Hannah Montana'.