SMPTE Tutorial Paper: Stereo TV — Mono is the Problem

Randy Hoffner

This article describes the NBC Television Network's changeover from mono broadcasting to stereo, and some of the difficulties encountered. When a television network in the U.S. commits to stereo broadcasting, the shift does not take place all at once. Occasional stereo segments may be inserted into a program without prearrangement or special switching or level-setting equipment. Although the stereo signal could be distributed as sum on Channel 1 and as difference on Channel 2 to assure mono continuity, this would present many problems. Therefore it was decided to distribute the signal in discrete format: left on Channel 1, and right on Channel 2. Although simple technically, the conversion was not simple operationally.

Print ISSN
Published
1986-06
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J06523