FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions:

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WHY ARE VIEWERS PARTICULARLY FOND OF LIVE TV PROGRAMMES?

Live programmes are most popular among viewers for the following reasons:
* they give the sensation of authenticity,
* viewers have an impression of a participation in the broadcasted event,
* viewers become live witnesses of the broadcasted event,
* a full prediction of the action is impossible,
* a variety of interactive ways in which viewers can influence the event (text message, e-mail, telephone call, video chat),
* viewers observe current events and are at the source of information,
* viewers can sense the atmosphere of the event ,
* events are presented faithfully, and the possibility of manipulation (e.g. during montage) is limited.

WHAT IS THE VERSATILITY OF THE APPLICATION OF LIVE TV SYSTEMS?

LIVE TV systems enable to present economical and spectacular live broadcasts of:
* cultural events, performances, concerts,
* town council, county council, gmina and voivodship sessions,
* symposia, unions, conferences, congresses,
* national fetes, university and religious celebrations,
* company events and annual general meetings,
* sports competitions,
* fairs and promotional events,
* meetings, training sessions and video conferences,
* meetings of hobbyists.

IS THE STREAMING FROM WEBCAMERA ALREADY A TV BROADCAST?

Unfortunately not. It is a simple monitoring, a preview of the setting of an event from a single camera.
Real live TV broadcasts are made from many cameras, to provide the viewers with a perfect impression of the atmosphere as well as important details and a full view of the situation, presentation of the persons, their reactions and emotions.
A TV broadcast normally uses many cameras at the same time, to present the atmosphere of the event, show the most important sets, situation, details, persons and their emotions.
The increase in the TV transmission as a communication means is not followed by the increase in the knowledge of the film and TV language. Films and programmes are made with limited financial means, quite often with the use of one camera only, which causes many limitations. It is a common misconception among the Internet users that to broadcast one’s own programmes and TV reports one internet camera is enough.
Economical and easy to install and use, web cameras became very popular. However, it is a mistake to think that one web camera can make an Internet Web TV. Such a camera is usually simple in construction, which is a cause of many limitations.
The basic drawbacks of web cameras are the following:

* limited arrangement parameters - automation is the basis of its working,
* the lack of PAL video slot of a good quality prevents the use of a TV mixer,
* typical cheap web cameras lack the Panorama, Tilt and Zoom parameters,
* the lack of manually controlled colour balance,
* low quality of the picture,
* lack of control of the lens stop, focus and other functions.

In comparison, we offer SONY EVI cameras, which have the following features:

* they provide a function of a remote control of all Panorama, Tilt and Zoom parameters,
* they enable the so called ‘presets’ – recording of the position, zoom and all the parameter settings (diaphragm, shutter, colour balance, focus, intensification, etc.),
* they can instantly change the position and parameters with a virtual 100% repeatability,
* they have got TV signal slots in a full PAL standard,
* they offer a high quality picture.

Therefore, in a TV broadcast web cameras are not used. The basis of a real broadcast is to use pictures from many cameras simultaneously.

LIVE TV Systems (in the basic version) use as many as four cameras at the same time. The innovative programme LIVE TV STUDIO makes its operation simple, so that the four SONY cameras can be controlled and mixed by one camera operator. Additionally, a less complicated live broadcast can be done by anyone who undergoes a short training. Such trainings are offered free of charge to anyone who purchases the LIVE TV Systems.

WHY ARE LIVE TV SYSTEMS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR A LIVE BROADCAST?

The traditional systems of multi-camera production have many drawbacks:

* a high cost of equipment,
* higher costs due to a large personnel,
* equipment of a high degree of complication,
* high costs of technology for the sound and picture transfer from the place of broadcast.

LIVE TV Systems offered by our company are devoid of the aforementioned drawbacks and some other disadvantages of the traditional technological solutions.
They do possess particular advantages, however, which make them indispensable in a live broadcast, especially if they are installed permanently:

* the possibility of a discreet location of the cameras and an effective way of arranging the cables,
* incorporating the devices into the arrangement of the room as its permanent element,
* very low operations costs (one person maintenance, streaming online),
* a possibility of adjusting the broadcasting position to the location.

Thanks to exceptionally favourable price of the live broadcast LIVE TV Systems and their low costs of operation, the number of users of the system rises. The owners of conference rooms, halls, theatres, concert halls and sport halls, as well as rectors of churches decide to permanently install the LIVE TV Systems in their buildings.

WHY A LIVE BROADCAST ON THE INTERNET?

The Internet TV channel:
* is cheaper than the traditional TV broadcast,
* follows the development of the technological development and the integration of the Internet and TV, it also takes into account the growing possibility of using broadband connection,
* takes into account the convenience of the viewer and not the broadcaster, offers the viewer a greater range of programmes at the time and place chosen by the viewer,
* is a reply to social changes, as a greater number of people nowadays look for information on the Internet,
* enables an easier communication in many languages,
* is the only such effective means to reach the viewers abroad.

The European Parliament appreciates that and broadcasts its programme on the Internet.

WHERE CAN LIVE TV SYSTEMS BE USED?

Low costs of our systems and an Internet streaming, in comparison with very expensive traditional methods of broadcasting, enable to use the system in a variety of situations and creating broadcasts from all events which should be seen not only by their participants. At the same time, the quality of broadcasts offered by fast Internet connections is resembling the quality of typical cable TV, and offers even higher quality than analogue air TV. It is already possible to broadcast online in HD quality and surround sound quality. Thanks to low price of the live broadcast LIVE TV Systems and limited costs of operation (only one camera operator needed) as well as a competitive offer on online streaming prepared for our clients, you can show the viewers spectacular, yet economical, live broadcast from, for example:

* cultural events and concerts,
* town council, county council, gmina and voivodship sessions
* company events and annual general meetings,
* academic conferences and symposia,
* business fairs and commercial shows for promotional and marketing purposes,
* e-learning and lectures at schools and universities,
* religious celebrations and events: Holy Masses, weddings, etc.

HOW CAN LIVE TV SYSTEMS HELP THE ELECTORS?

All electors want to know if the councillors they elected represent their interests properly. Until now, the only way to do that was to participate in town council and voivodship sessions personally. According to the principle of open proceedings, every interested citizen is entitled to participate in those sessions. However, the meeting rooms are usually small and can provide a limited number of seats for guests. What is more, the time when the sessions are held makes participation difficult to those who work full time or have to arrive to the meeting place from remote locations.
Therefore, the number of cities which decide to broadcast their town council, county council, gmina and voivodship sessions increases regularly.

A live broadcast via the Internet enables also a feedback from viewers:
* asking questions,
* chat,
* comments online,
* real time polls, etc.

Usually, a live broadcast is also recorded, so directly after the end of the meeting it is possible to play the broadcast any time, for those who were not able to see it live. It can be seen on a website with a player or in a form of files to download. This way, for example, you can see at any time the full coverage of many sessions of the New York State Senate on the Livestream.com
Thanks to live broadcasts, the interest of the public in the work of the local self-governments increases. It has been also noted that the presence of the cameras in the room and the awareness of being recorded has a positive impact on the quality of the content of the meeting.
It is the next step in the building of the information society. Thanks to a live broadcast and the access to recorded coverage you can increase the social engagement in the process of governing the country.

WHY ARE LIVE TV SYSTEMS USED FOR BROADCASTING THE HOLY MASS?

In many churches abroad similar multi-camera systems are already in use, and such a broadcast is popular among the viewers. LIVE TV Systems enable to create interesting, visually attractive broadcasts from liturgical celebrations, mostly Holy Mass, but also concerts, events, holidays and weddings.

In sacral buildings LIVE TV Systems are getting more and more popular, because according to the ecclesiastical authorities, it is an appropriate way to reach the parishioners, both those dispersed all over the world as well as those who are unable to attend liturgical celebrations due to e.g. an illness. Archbishop John Patrick Foley, the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications said in 2005: “I would ask that bishops around the world take advantage of the opportunity to telecast the liturgy and to take great care about the manner in which such telecast liturgies are celebrated. (…) The opportunities that exist for liturgical telecasts on a weekly or at least occasional basis in nations and cities around the world are extremely important in helping to satisfy the spiritual hunger of millions who wish to identify themselves with Jesus, the way, the truth and the life.”

The popularity of Catholic websites is rising (read the article “Catholic Net has never been so popular”). Live broadcasts made by a rising number of churches increase their popularity even more.

WHAT IS THE SUPERIORITY OF REMOTELY CONTROLLED CAMERAS?

Traditional camera operated manually by cameramen have a lot of drawbacks in comparison with remotely operated cameras:
* higher costs of operation, whereas the system of 4 remotely operated cameras can be operated by one camera operator,
* lack of a 100% repeatability of position settings,
* slower manual frame change,
* more problematic changes of camera parameters (diaphragm, speed, shutter, etc.),
* SONY EVI cameras have a wide range of the view angle (from +100 to -100 degrees horizontally and from -25 to +25 degrees vertically) and zoom (depending on the model: from 10x to 18x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom),
* A wide range of speed change enables a precise, stable operation of those cameras live, and the panoramic vision shot with those cameras can have an ideally stable speed,
* Operating LIVE TV STUDIO with a use of a 4D joystick enables a proportional change of Panorama, Tilt and Zoom parameters, and only after a short training the camera operator is ready to remotely operate the cameras in a very precise way.

On the one hand, a camera operated by a cameraman can change its position on set easily. However, it can be compensated for by the number of cameras in the systems – a set of 4 cameras is generally enough, but its extension to 8 cameras will satisfy even the most demanding camera operator.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIVE TV SYSTEMS?

1. The most basic and the cheapest version is LIVE TV MINI.
The offered system includes a mini-system of a multi-camera (2-3 cams), professional live broadcast, recording with a DVD quality and online streaming.

2. The next version is LIVE TV BASIC.
The offered system includes a full system of a multi-camera (4 EVI series or BRC-300 cams), switcher, professional live broadcast, recording with a DVD quality and online streaming.

3. LIVE TV MEDIUM is a solution for more demanding users. The use of SONY EVI HD or BRC-Z330 cameras and TV mixers (ideally with digital slots, e.g. Panasonic AV-HS300) enable mixing, recording and broadcasting with an HD quality.

4. LIVE TV PRO is the most innovative solution for a live broadcast. It is also the best version of the system in terms of the quality of the recorded picture.

WHY ARE THE ROBOTIZED CAMERAS THE BASIS OF THE SYSTEM?

In many broadcasted situations cameras do not have to change the position of filming, can be ideally and permanently positioned during an event, where camera operators only change the view direction and angle, that is ‘zoom.’
Innovative, professional, fully robotic SONY EVI and BRC cameras were constructed with a live broadcast, video conferences and video recording in mind. The constructors of the cameras achieved a very high quality of the picture and enabled the following:

* a very wide range of changing the view angle (200-300 degrees horizontally and 50-140 degrees vertically) and optical zoom (depending on the model: from 10x to 18x),
* focal length widening through a digital zoom,
* quiet, fast and stable work of the mechanism and electrical network,
* introducing many operation modes, automatic as well as manual ones,
* a wide range of change of all parameters (diaphragm, speed, shutter, etc.),
* a wide range of speed change, which enables a precise and stable operation of those cameras live,
* the panoramas shot with those cameras can have an IDEALLY stable speed,
* operating LIVE TV STUDIO (with a use of 4D joystick) enables a proportional change of speed of the Panorama, Tilt and Zoom parameters: accelerate and slow down.
* setting of the so called ‘presets’ – recording of the position, zoom and all the parameter settings (diaphragm, shutter, colour balance, focus, intensification, etc.),
* they can instantly change the position and parameters with a virtual 100% repeatability,
* they have got TV signal slots in a full PAL standard, analogue and digital.

IN WHAT WAY IS LIVE TV STUDIO SOFTWARE INNOVATIVE?

A live broadcast is often characterised – from the point of view of TV production – by a repeatability of many parameters, e.g. a permanent position of cameras in a given room, a limitation in the view direction and angle to several repeatable conditions of the set. These features are used in the most current software LIVE TV STUDIO offered by us for the operation of SONY EVI cameras. The creation of this software was a response to the needs of people and organisations which want to create spectacular, multi-camera live broadcasts in a way which would be most attractive to the viewer, but at the same time easy to operate and cheap.
Thanks to a well-thought-out user interface, what used to be done by a large crew can now be done by one person. The software was created on the basis of many years of experience gained during the realisation of many live programmes in different locations.

The main features of LIVE TV STUDIO software:
* easy operation,
* a producer can see the picture from all cameras (1-4) on one screen,
* all parameters of the cameras can be remotely changed on the same screen,
* creating permanent settings of the cameras, so called presets, as well as its recording on the disk and reading,
* during the next similar broadcast previous settings can be easily recreated,
* the operator can smoothly change the direction and zoom of each camera,
* changes are made by a mouse or a 4D joystick (panorama, traverse, changeable speed – proportionally to the deflexion of the joystick),
* very ergonomic manipulation of the cameras – one joystick for 4 cameras,
* in more complicated broadcasts 4 joysticks can be used – one for each camera,
* wired and wireless methods of transferring control orders to the cameras,
* software interface can be adjusted to any screen resolution,
* minimal system requirements
* an intuitive interface helps to learn to operate it quickly,
* ergonomic joysticks are heavy duty and even after many hours of operation will prevent the feeling of tiredness and pain in the hands of an operator. 

WHAT IS SIGNAL ENCODING?

This name is used for changing the audio-video signal into a digital stream (streaming). It is done with a special software. Currently the most popular formats to choose from are standard Windows Media (wmv) and Adobe Flash (flv) or Real Media (rm).

WHAT IS STREAMING AND WHAT SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT IT?

Streaming is a distribution of digital streams, that is broadcasting online. It can be done for free, with a use of one or several servers which specialise in it (which usually add their contextual advertisement, for example at the bottom of the picture) or use our offer. We chose the most advantageous ones, tried out in terms of quality, efficiency and a possibility of paid streaming.