Blanking Requirements for Television Program Production

The problem of television signal blanking is dealt with as it relates to program production houses. The background of the blanking problem is reviewed, and it is pointed out that after the problem was uncovered a task force was set up to develop a recommended practice. The task force noted that increasing system complexity could result in increased blanking widths. The problems encountered by program producers are much more complicated than those of other segments of the television industry. The industry is fragmented, with a variety of administrations. Original shooting may be on tape or on film transferred to tape. Complex special effects, duping more than one generation, dupe masters, and the variety of source materials, including old videotapes, contribute to the problem. Some program suppliers may have marginal operating conditions. Much original production material recorded on helical-scan machines can be a complete disaster. Often, four or five and even up to seven or eight generations may be required to achieve results equivalent to film editing, to obtain, for example, dissolves, wipes, freeze-frame, etc. All of these steps can widen blanking. The videotape stage is the most serious in this respect. Borders around the pictures are not allowed by the FCC. Tighter controls as proposed by the EIA and the networks can be counterproductive. Many receivers cut off the picture by 10–18%, sometimes even to the Safe-Title area. Excessive restrictions should not be imposed on original production.

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1979-03

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J10426