Watching HD TV: television shows that are shot, or at least delivered, in high definition are steadily becoming the rule, not the exception

Post, Sept, 2004 by Claudia Kienzle

the HDTV trend has definitely caught fire with the major broadcasters. Now, major networks, such as CBS and HBO, are routinely requesting that producers supply them with a high-quality HD master for HDTV broadcast. In fact, the CBS program delivery specification for the 2004-2005 season includes the option for producers to deliver their shows in 5.1-channel surround sound. (CBS has a separate HDTV channel in which they feed an HD signal to their affiliates who then deliver it on a separate DTV/HD channel if they choose to broadcast in HD. It's a "channel" in which the HD signal travels as opposed to a service.)

While the networks are all rowing in the same direction with respect to HDTV, television productions have fallen into two camps. Situation comedies, which tend to be multi-camera shoots on a soundstage, have largely embraced HD acquisition due to HD's significant cost savings over 35mm film. But, many television episodics are staunchly clinging to 35mm film because producers feel that only film can give them the desired dynamic range in the toughest lighting situations, as well as creative options, like in-camera effects, that enhance their storytelling.

At any rate, 1080/24 (23.98) progressive, also known as 24p HD, has become the format of choice for production even though 1080/60 (59.94) interlaced is the predominant HDTV format for America's ATSC standard. And, the biggest selling point of 24p HD is that it makes an excellent springboard for generating superior versions--in PAL, letter-boxed, SDTV, even film--for delivery to the growing universe of media outlets.

CBS'S HUGE COMMITMENT

"Of the 96 TV shows in production across all networks, 37 are shooting 1080/24p HD. That really underscores the inroads 1080/24p HD is making," says Robert Seidel, VP engineering, advanced technology for the CBS Television Network (www.cbs.com) in New York. "At CBS, many shows have been successful shooting 24p HD, such as the drama Joan of Arcadia. We have broadcast many specials in 24p HD, including this year's Victoria's Secret [Fashion Extravaganza], and our sister network MTV has produced the MTV Music Awards. Besides superior picture quality, cost is a primary motivation behind the adoption of 1080/24p HD acquisition. It costs about $70 per minute per camera to shoot 35mm film when you factor in the cost of film stock, lab processing, film-to-tape transfer and color correction. Since situation comedies shoot with four to five cameras to capture a live, spontaneous feel, the cost for shooting film is substantial. Whereas, if the show shoots in HD, the cost is only about $2 per minute per camera, resulting in significant savings on below-the-line costs."

Another important motivation to working in HD resolution is that it provides an excellent springboard for international distribution. "Both 1080/60i and 1080/24p have been recognized by the ITU [International Telecommunications Union], the technology arm of the United Nations, as the international HD exchange format," says Seidel. "And 1080/24p is especially ideal for converting to 25fps for European distribution. We've been very successful distributing our shows to Japan, South Korea and Australia, which have adopted HDTV. And there are signs that Europe is realizing they are behind the curve by not broadcasting in HDTV."

In most cases, primetime audio is Dolby Pro Logic four-channel matrixed sound, especially dramas which tend of have a dialogue track in the center. However, Seidel says, "We have produced shows in 5.1-channel surround sound wherever we felt it would have the most impact. For example, we produced the Grammy Awards [in 2003 and 2004] in HD with 5.1-channel surround sound. Because all the artists wanted their own microphone and mix, we ended up dealing with over 800 audio sources, but we felt that the show portrayed the best attributes of 5.1 sound to consumers." The 2003 Grammy telecast received an Emmy for "Best Sound Mix."

HDTV and 5.1-channel surround sound were also used for live telecasts of the 2002 and 2003 NCAA football and NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments; NFL post season games and Super Bowl XXXVIII; and the US Open Tennis and Golf events--to allow viewers to truly experience the games. For the past five years, CBS has been airing all of its primetime dramas and comedies in HDTV. During the 2004-2005 television season, CBS will be airing 19 of its shows in HDTV, including JAG, CSI and CSI Miami.

HBO SHOOTS FILM, MASTERS HD

"HD affords us creative choices that SD doesn't. In HD, color correction is more flexible and visual effects are more robust," says Gena Desclos, director post production for HBO in Los Angeles. "HD not only makes the HDTV broadcast look great, it also makes the SD version look better as well. After HBO shows like Six Feet Under. The Sopranos, Carnivale and Deadwood air on our HDTV channel, the HD D-5 master is used to generate the SD master for the repeat showings on our SD channels."

HBO shows are shot in Super 35mm film, with shots composed for HD's widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. For the SD versions, pan and scan work or letter-boxing is done as necessary. In post, everything--the editorial, effects, color correction, titles and more--stays in 24p HD until the HDTV master is done in 1080/60i on D-5. The shows are offlined on SD Avids, but finishing is done in either an HD linear bay or on an HD NLE depending on the specific needs of the show. The final HD D-5 master is then used to generate all the SD masters needed for multicast, such as the Spanish version.