December 31, 2012 Source: "News Practice" Magazine
■ Fan Guanyou (Author's Affiliation: Jiaxing Radio and Television Group News Center)
Live broadcasting has always been a "weapon" for urban television stations to seize the competitive high ground in news programming, and it is also an effective way for city stations to build competitive advantages. In the past, live programs primarily relied on SNG satellite trucks or microwave vehicles for on-site connections. However, due to factors such as high equipment investment, high operating costs, and insufficient mobility, it has been challenging for urban television stations to normalize live broadcasts. Today, with the advent of 3G technology, normalizing live broadcasts has become possible.
Since 2010, Jiaxing Broadcasting and Television Group has institutionalized and normalized 3G live broadcasting as an important aspect of improving news reporting formats. The news channel has equipped 3G devices, such as 3G device boxes and 3G wireless internet cards, applying 3G live broadcasting to programs like "Jiaxing News" and "Morning and Noon News." The application scope has expanded from livelihood news to major events and political activities. In the first half of 2012, "Jiaxing News" launched "Reporters Go to the Grassroots, Summer Live Broadcast Season," utilizing 3G live connections for significant news events such as international men's football matches, the second National Teachers' Choir Festival, and the fight against the strong typhoon "Haikui," achieving success. In just over a month, "Reporters Go to the Grassroots, Summer Live Broadcast Season" aired more than 30 news segments, significantly enhancing the timeliness and on-site feel of the reports, fully leveraging the advantages of television's realism and vividness. Given the current technical level of 3G live broadcasting and practical experience, I believe that to normalize 3G news live broadcasting, the following key points must be well understood:
First, build a robust 3G live streaming platform.
Compared to satellite broadcasting and microwave broadcasting, 3G live streaming has freed itself from the dependence on heavy equipment and high investments, effectively addressing the limitations of time and space during live broadcasts, and achieving low-cost operations. However, the prerequisite for 3G news broadcasting is the availability of a good 3G network support. Since 2010, Jiaxing Broadcasting Group has collaborated with Zhejiang Unicom to develop a brand new 3G mobile live streaming service. This service is based on the Unicom WCD-MA3G network and provides mobile video live streaming services to television stations through 3G mobile phones, 3G access gateway devices that support cameras, transmission lines, and live broadcasting system platforms, fully leveraging the advantages of Unicom's fast 3G speeds, intelligent terminals, and portability.
Secondly, establish a comprehensive live broadcast support system.
The quality of regular 3G news live broadcasts depends on the speed and capability of responding to news events. Among these, an institutionalized system of personnel, technology, and material support is a necessary condition for achieving rapid response.
1. Technical Support. The key to normalizing 3G live broadcasting lies in the coverage of the 3G network; without a network, everything else is moot. Due to the limitations of base station coverage, some areas may lack signal, resulting in coverage blind spots in certain regions. Additionally, the strength of the signal significantly affects image transmission, leading to unstable image quality. A slight shake of the camera can easily cause pixelation and other issues. Furthermore, in the same location and under the same base station, bandwidth limitations prevent the simultaneous use of multiple devices. If there are nearby users accessing the internet via 3G, image transmission may also be affected. Therefore, strengthening technical support for live broadcasting is particularly important. The Jiaxing Broadcasting News Channel has established a technical support organization, and before 3G live broadcasts, technicians lead tests of the 3G signal, especially conducting comprehensive checks for potential signal blind spots in elevators, underground parking lots, and factory buildings, leaving no dead angles to ensure a high success rate for live broadcasts.
2. Develop contingency plans. Achieving 3G live broadcasting is not a simple theoretical process; it requires a system of practices supported by various factors. First, contingency plans must be developed. Proper preparation leads to success, while lack of preparation leads to failure. Regular 3G live broadcasts must have contingency plans tailored to different potential scenarios. For instance, before a 3G live broadcast, reporters need to enhance communication with cameramen, informing them about the theme of the program and important considerations during the live broadcast, particularly regarding the selection of shots. Without prior communication, there is a risk that the camera will focus solely on the reporter, resulting in a monotonous news segment that leaves the audience with the impression that the reporter is merely talking without sufficient relevant visuals to support the information being presented. Additionally, cameramen should establish camera positions based on the situation at the scene, choose backgrounds, and plan for changes in shot composition and transitions. Given the current technical characteristics of 3G, it is advisable to minimize the use of push, pull, tilt, and pan shots. If such shots are necessary, they should be executed slowly to prevent the 3G live broadcast from experiencing "lag."
3. Team Building. 3G live broadcasting is not merely a simple presentation of news events at the moment they occur; it is a systematic engineering process for news broadcasting that includes information acquisition, resource scheduling, team assembly, transmission editing, and broadcast integration. 3G live broadcasting places high demands on the professional capabilities of reporters and editors, and the differences in skill levels are very apparent. For on-site reporters, it is essential to complete the introduction, commentary, and interviews in one go, with no opportunity for a second take; the quality of the report is a complete reflection of the reporter's personal qualities. Camera operators must execute uninterrupted shooting, adjusting focus, composition, movement, exposure, and even white balance during the broadcast. Post-production editing, hosts, technical switching, and audio all require elevated levels of expertise. Therefore, strengthening the team building for 3G live broadcasting, mastering live broadcasting operations and processes, and strictly controlling each aspect of the live broadcast are crucial conditions for normalizing 3G live broadcasting.
The application of 3G communication technology in news live broadcasting transmission systems has greatly enriched the forms of program presentation and serves as a means to enhance the competitive advantage of urban stations. With the continuous maturation and promotion of 3G communication technology, the normalization process of live television broadcasting will accelerate.