Broadcast Focus

by Russell Trafford-Jones

Season 1

Ep 32: Reviving Ceefax: How To Build Your Own Teletext System. On air 24x7 on the web and YouTube!

Nathan Dane, the mastermind behind https://NathanMediaServices.co.uk, helps us discover the inner workings and historical significance of the BBC's iconic Ceefax service. Nathan shares his journey from piecing together teletext data using a Raspberry Pi to creating a fully functional teletext website that mirrors the classic Ceefax pages. With a mix of old-school technology and modern coding, Nathan explains how he recreates the teletext experience, including up-to-date news, sports scores, TV listings, and more. Learn about the challenges of maintaining teletext formats, the intricacies of data feeds, and the community efforts to preserve teletext history. This episode offers a fascinating glimpse into – for the UK – a bygone era brought back to life.

S1 · E32

Jan 14, 2025

35:29

Ep 31: 'Secret' Uses for Teletext plus how Subtitles & the EPG Works by a Retired BBC Engineer #TechTalk

Behind the Scenes of Teletext: Subtitles, Data Broadcasting, and More Former BBC engineer Peter Wietzel joins Russell Trafford-Jones in this episode of Broadcast Focus as they delve into the intricacies of Teletext covering how subtitles work, why the BBC tansmission actually used two simultaneous subtitle transitions, and the many uses of carrying arbitrary data over Teletex were were the hidden heros! Peter finishes by talking about how the implementation was one of the first cross industry examples of collaboration in creating standards and talks about MHEG which replaced Teletext. Whether you're a technical enthusiast or just curious about broadcasting history, this should be good! 00:00 Welcome & Intro 02:30 Understanding Subtitles in Teletext 04:11 Technical Details of Subtitles Transmission 10:42 Subtitle Demo 11:10 Inserting Live and Recorded Subtitles 15:57 Dealing with Lack of Subtitles & Policing 18:35 Using 'Subtitles' to Help Deal with AFD/VI/Aspect Ratio 19:34 A Second Simultaneous Subtitle System for Internal Use 21:27 Inserting Subtitles in the BBC Regions 22:50 Teletext in SDI - SDI Bridge 25:25 Second Generation SDI Bridge 27:40 Quick look at Presfax 29:06 Databroadcasting – Sending Generic Data 31:40 Uses of Databroadcaster 34:00 Dairy Farming 36:00 Carrying audio over Teletext 40:40 Presfax Details 44:36 Controling Overlay Insertion at Transmitters 46:11 Ceefax In Vision 49:25 Teletext Standards 50:58 Collaboration and Standardisation in the 90s 54:58 Technical Enhancements and Memory Management 01:02:56 The Rise of Electronic Programme Guides 01:08:19 PDC - Recording Programmes 01:20:09 The Transition to Digital Broadcasting 01:23:00 The End of Teletext and Its Legacy 01:28:00 Reflections and Closing Remarks With thanks to https://www.nathanmediaservices.co.uk/ceefax/ for the demos and by extension ZXGuesser

S1 · E31

Jan 7, 2025

1:30:58

Ep 30: Ex BBC Engineer Returns to Tell More About Teletext #TechTalk #Deepdive – Part II

Peter Weizel spent many years in the BBC working on Teletext and even wrote part of the standards so who better to continue guiding us on our journey into the first digital broadcasting on TV. Teletext is a pioneering pre-internet information distribution system. In part one, we heard about the inception of Ceefax at the BBC and the some of the inner workings of Teletext, its page and data structures, and its significant role in modern broadcasting technology. Part One: https://youtu.be/tbDB8FCOaV4 In part 2, we go into detail about data broadcasting, government interference, dynamic allocation of packets, using teletext for BBC internal staff information, regionalising CEEFAX 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 01:42 Ceefax Demo 02:11 Teletext Services and Features 03:03 Finding ways to apportion the VBI 05:11 Government Wants To Sell Teletext Space 07:15 Dynamic Allocation and Optimisation 11:18 Better Data Multiplexing 26:55 Test Equipment 31:05 Early Ceefax Architecture 33:23 Ceefax in the regions 39:49 BBC FAX service in Europe (WSTV) 45:28 Telfax – Ceefax for BBC Staff 49:04 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser Many thanks to Nathan Dane for bringing Teletext to the internet: https://www.nathanmediaservices.co.uk Shout out to @ZXGuesser for the online interactive teletext viewer. Wikipedia's summary of Ceefax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceefax Wikipedia's summary of Teleteix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletext

S1 · E30

Dec 18, 2024

50:14

Ep 29: Georgiana Verdonk on boosting your career by finding mentors on the way

Rise Mentor and Fractional CMO Georgiana Verdonk explains all aspects of mentoring, showing it's great for all stages of your career! We look at why it makes sense, why companies should offer it, and how to get your own mentor when no one else is helping you. Rise Women in Broadcast: https://risewib.com Broadcast Academy: https://www.broadcastacademy.net Women in Streaming Media: https://www.womeninstreamingmedia.org

S1 · E29

Dec 18, 2024

38:47

Ep 28: Ex BBC Engineer explains how Teletext works! #TechTalk Deep Dive.

Peter Weizel spent many years in the BBC working on Teletext and even wrote part of the standards so we go on a journey into the first digital broadcasting on TV. Teletext is a pioneering pre-internet information distribution system. Learn about its inception at the BBC and its evolution in broadcasting digitally across the UK and Europe since the 1970s. We look at the inner workings of Teletext, its page and data structures, and its significant role in modern broadcasting technology. 00:00 Introduction and Channel Overview 00:53 History and Evolution of Teletext 02:30 Teletext Functionality and Features 07:30 Technical Details of Teletext Transmission 21:49 Teletext Data Broadcasting and Equipment 34:11 Modern Applications and Preservation Efforts Many thanks to Nathan Dane for bringing Teletext to the internet: https://www.nathanmediaservices.co.uk

S1 · E28

Dec 18, 2024

36:32

Ep 27: Carrie Wootten's plan to fight the skills shortage - Global Media & Entertainment Talent Manifesto

Carrie Wootten explains the Global Media & Entertainment Manifesto. She delves in to what it is and how businesses and individuals can help. Revolving around reducing the skills shortage and increasing diversity, this multi-pronged plan is already making an impact. https://www.mediatalentmanifesto.com

S1 · E27

Dec 18, 2024

32:33

Ep 26: #TechTalk What's new with GCCG from the VSF? Live Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground Transport

Andy Rayner updates us on what's new in this new specification helping move video and media into and around the cloud. This is a break away from the traditional model where all video is sent one frame after another, so there's a lot to do and I find out the latest thinking coming out of the recent meetings and conferences in the US. "What is GCCG?" with Andy Rayner: https://youtu.be/zJkw0fRfD6E VSF Website: https://vsf.tv GCCG API on Github: https://github.com/vsf-tv/gccg-api #Broadcast #Broadcasting #GCCG #cloud

S1 · E26

Nov 20, 2024

20:54

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Broadcast Focus

Ep 32: Reviving Ceefax: How To Build Your Own Teletext System. On air 24x7 on the web and YouTube!

Ep 31: 'Secret' Uses for Teletext plus how Subtitles & the EPG Works by a Retired BBC Engineer #TechTalk

Ep 30: Ex BBC Engineer Returns to Tell More About Teletext #TechTalk #Deepdive – Part II

Ep 29: Georgiana Verdonk on boosting your career by finding mentors on the way

Ep 28: Ex BBC Engineer explains how Teletext works! #TechTalk Deep Dive.

Ep 27: Carrie Wootten's plan to fight the skills shortage - Global Media & Entertainment Talent Manifesto

Ep 26: #TechTalk What's new with GCCG from the VSF? Live Ground-Cloud-Cloud-Ground Transport

Ep 25: Lee Hunt from InSync on what you need to succeed in a career in media.

Ep 24: What is Green Shaming? Neil Howman on Sustainability in Media

Ep 23: What makes Radio TechCon so special?