ITU-R REPORT BT.2069-4 PDF

Introduction

This Report provides information on the current status of terrestrial electronic news gathering (ENG), television outside broadcast (TVOB) and electronic field production (EFP) systems.

It was developed by the former ITU-R Working Party 6P (now Working Party 6J) in response to WRC-03 agenda item 7.1 (Recommendation 723 (WRC-03)).

Member States, Sector Members, television broadcasters and organizations involved in terrestrial electronic news gathering (ENG), television outside broadcast (TVOB) and electronic field production (EFP) systems contributed to its development.

An input contribution to Working Party 6J from the United States of America (Document 6J/28) stated:

"The Report provides excellent illustrations of how spectrum is utilized in the production of programmes for news, disaster reporting, sports, and entertainment. The interest of the public is served by live coverage of events especially those situations affecting public safety and national security. Improvements in quality and enhanced impact of programmes are facilitated by the use of non-wired technologies including point-of-view (POV) cameras and wireless microphones. Wireless devices for programme content production are providing the viewer with ever increasing opportunities to experience the coverage of live and realistic situations throughout the world. These devices rely heavily upon spectrum allocations beyond those primary allocations for broadcasting. The allocations include SAP (Services Ancillary to Programme making) and SAB (Services Ancillary to Broadcasting) as defined in the Report as well as fixed, mobile, and satellite services.

The preliminary draft new Report provides administrations with insights into the importance of spectrum usage by broadcasters and other programme content providers."

Similarly a contribution from the North American Broadcaster's Association stated:

"The public interest is served by live news coverage of breaking events, especially disasters or potential disasters affecting public safety and national security. The public is served by broadcasters' increasing use of a visual intimacy and immediacy in such things as medical news, disaster reporting, and sporting events that can only be delivered via non-wired technologies such as live point-of-view (POV) cameras and wireless microphones. The broadcaster in developing programme content relies heavily upon the use of spectrum beyond those bands primarily allocated to broadcasting.

NABA continues to express serious concerns regarding the unregulated use of indoor, mobile, and hand-held systems that cause interference to radiocommunication services in support of broadcast systems. NABA strongly supports the protection of Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) spectrum.

The Report illustrates the critical need to coordinate and protect the spectrum on an international basis."

To develop this Report Working Party 6J established a Rapporteur who was to study¹:

– the technical, operational and frequency issues of ENG on a global basis;

– whether digitization may provide an opportunity for more efficient spectrum usage for ENG that could assist with meeting a growing demand for spectrum by these systems;

– provision of adequate and appropriate spectrum to meet the needs of broadcasters including the temporary needs of visiting broadcasters of other administrations.

This Report has been used as the basis for advancing studies in ITU-R on terrestrial electronic news gathering (ENG), television outside broadcast (TVOB) and electronic field production (EFP) systems.

It is provided as guidance for Members States, Sector Members, television broadcasters and organizations seeking to implement ENG, TVOB and EFP systems.

¹ Refer Administrative Circular CA/131.