[mythtv-users] coax vs. composite

[Brian Wood]

On May 16, 2006, at 2:20 PM, Jay R. Ashworth wrote:

> On Tue, May 16, 2006 at 10:36:29AM -0600, Brian Wood wrote:
>>    CBS News had some footage of the 1968 Democratic Convention (In  
>> Chigago for
>>    those who don't remember). It was great stuff (as far as  
>> broadcasters are
>>    concerned), police cracking heads and even more obvious cases of
>>    law-breaking by those sworn to uphold it.
>>
>>    CBS did not air that footage because it contained a "technical  
>> flaw". I saw
>>    the footage years later and had to look hard to see what the  
>> "flaw" was:
>>    maybe a 3% or 4% AC hum in the video, probably not noticeable  
>> to most
>>    viewers. Technical standards meant something in those days.
>
> Is there anyone here who thinks the "technical flaw" is why that  
> didn't
> air?

Yes, I think that *was* the reason. I was told that personally by the  
man who made the decision, and if you can't believe Walter Cronkite  
who can you believe.

They certainly didn't hesitate to air similar footage that was  
technically better.

>
>>    Of course the possibility of a fine for "out of standard" video  
>> helped this
>>    view along.
>>
>>    No broadcaster would hesitate to air that footage today, and  
>> you know what
>>    changed it: CNN
>
> It wasn't CNN: it was Watergate.

That had a lot to do with it for sure, but CNN came along a few years  
later and put the final seal on the coffin of tech standards.

>
>>    Ted Turner proved to the world that the public would accept
>>    less-than-perfect video. Nowadays "amateur video" is accepted,  
>> even
>>    solicited and paid for, by every major (and minor) network.  
>> Uncorrected
>>    slant-track VCRs are fed to air without hesitation (well  
>> nowadays not so
>>    much, but when time base correctors were $20,000 items that meant
>>    something).
>
> And if you hand them broadcast-quality DV video, they'll crap it up so
> it's clear it came from a consumer camera -- I've seen it done.


I agree, and seeing where you are from you probably know that WSVN is  
one of the worst offenders.