BBC BREAKS NEW GROUND IN DVD PRODUCTION

BBC Technology have overcome the challenge of demonstrating Interactive television, without the need for a live satellite broadcast, for the BBC’s ‘Walking With Beasts’ documentary series, first showing on November 15, 2001.
For the first time, DVD-Video has been used to replicate the televisual experience of navigating additional video and audio streams, which will be broadcast along side the conventional programme. This achievement means that the DVD mirrors the ground breaking technology supporting the series which has already won a BAFTA for best enhancement of a linear production.
BBC Technology’s DVD & Multimedia team found the solution to reproduce the interactivity in a convenient form while retaining optimal presentational quality. DVD-Video has always been a possible medium for presenting Interactive services, but the BBC Technology team knew that whilst it is possible to emulate short Interactive sequences with clever programming during the authoring process, the programming task would become onerous, in terms of cost and scale, for longer pieces such as the desired ‘Walking With Beasts’ demonstration.
BBC Technology commissioned a customised software script to automate the repetitive programming tasks. The development of this software required a fundamental understanding of the DVD specification and the most advanced authoring tool available from Sonic; the Sonic Scenarist Professional system. This novel solution provided a breakthrough in DVD production terms, enabling the first application of such complex menu options and a reduction in production time from five weeks to three days.
Using this unique software and their expertise in producing broadcast quality DVD-Video the BBC Technology team incorporated BBC New Media’s stunning visuals and developed a close emulation of the live presentation with results that speak for themselves. (CD)