SMPTE Conference Dialed in to Sports Market

Next week, the SMPTE Conference takes over the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa in Los Angeles from Monday to Thursday, and, given the ever widening array of technical options for delivering and managing content, the wealth of in-depth technical presentations scheduled are more important than ever.

“There are a wide variety of topics that are relevant across the business,” says conference co-chair Peter Lude. “And we are continuing on the theme of file-based workflows, mobile devices, and new 3D and image-acquisition devices.”

For the complete schedule, click here.

Barbara Lange, SMPTE executive director, says there is no shortage of diversity this year for those in the sports-production industry. Along with more than 60 exhibits, session highlights include a look at improving cellular and WiFi transmission in sports venues on Oct. 26 and 3D sports on Oct. 27. “And it’s not just the technical side but the business side of things like dual-screen services,” says Lange.

The greatest benefit of attending SMPTE (SVG will be reporting extensively from the show) is getting a chance to understand what technologies are coming over the horizon. Issues like 4K and event 8K acquisition will be debated at length during the event.

“There are passionate arguments on both sides as people remember how hard the audio industry worked on SACD and improved audio and yet the most common distribution is compressed MP3 as consumers chose quantity over quality,” says Lude.

And getting a jump on how disruptive technologies may impact production and distribution of content is a constant goal of SMPTE attendees.

“Disruptive technologies force traditional-media companies to improve their products, and there is a lot of investment and innovative thinking to make quality content,” says Lange. “In fact, next May, we are holding a forum on emerging media technologies in Geneva, Switzerland.”

Next week’s event begins with a pre-conference symposium on Monday that looks at large-sensor imaging, the difference in sensors, and practical applications. Then, on Tuesday, the conference sessions begin in earnest before concluding on Thursday night with an honors and awards ceremony.

“We cover both ends of the spectrum of broadcast and studio film technologies,” adds Lange.