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GOOGLE VIDEO GOES BYE-BYE
You may have heard that Google is pulling the plug on its Google Video service (they say they’ll leave the videos already uploaded available, but won’t accept any new ones), in an effort to concentrate their efforts on the search engine aspect of videos. I imagine the trial in Italy may not have helped either as Google Video is getting some pretty bad press. Of course, we figured Google Video’s future was short when they purchased YouTube. Since this is the site that we use to host our Channel 7 shows, we’ve been exploring other options.

The main problem with finding a hosting site for the videos is that most sites have file and time limits. Google was perfect for us, because the file size and length were unlimited, which worked because we were uploading half-hour programs and had just been approved to upload Council meetings to the web site. The great thing about unlimited file size was that we could upload the exact files that we currently use for cablecast and Google would recompress and reformat them. This saved us a tremendous amount of time, otherwise we’ll be spending hours of every day recompressing each show for online viewing, tying up equipment and staff hours. Plus you couldn’t beat the fact that the videos immediately showed up in Google searches.


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COUNCIL MEETINGS TO GO ONLINE
The Peters Township Council has approved putting its meetings up on the web site on a trial basis. Obviously, the Google Video downfall has put a slight hiccup into the plans, but we are working on solving it and getting them up ASAP.


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DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION DELAYED
There’s nothing like adding to consumer confusion by now having 2 dates that they have to worry about.

If you haven’t heard, Congress voted to postpone the digital television transition to June 12th to allow the procrastinators a chance to get their televisions up to spec. Unfortunately, a good number of stations will still be shutting off their digital signals on the original date of Feb. 17.

According to the Post-Gazette, WTAE, WPXI and KDKA will carry their analog signals through to June 12. However, WPGH, WPMY and WQED/WQEX will go digital-only on Feb. 17, as they originally planned. WPCB hasn’t decided what they are doing and WPCW can’t go digital until WPXI gets rid of its analog signal. What this means is that anyone who isn’t ready on Feb. 17 is going to lose half of their local channels (imagine if it was football season, I would imagine WPGH would take a lot of heat for switching on the original date).

I’m in constant amazement that Congress forced all of these companies to spend millions upon millions of dollars to upgrade towers and equipment, yet there’s a large group of Americans who are too lazy to go out and get their $40 converter box. Well, that and the mess that Congress and the FCC did in education and the whole converter box coupon fiasco. I would think the best way to spring someone to action would be to shut off the analog signal on schedule. Those waiting until the last moment would then have 2 choices, not watch TV or go out and get a box or new TV (even if they have to spend money to do it).


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MULTI-CAMERA BASKETBALL GAME
On Monday January 26th, the Period 5 PTHS Media Broadcast class produced a multi-camera PTHS Girls Basketball game from top-to-bottom. The students produced a pre-game tease video, built graphics, interviewed players, worked with the talent, produced a half-time show featuring the other winter sports and shot the game with 4 cameras, graphics, playback and instant replay. Even though the girls lost the game, the students gained a lot of great experience and the production looks good. The students in the 6th Period class were set to record the Boys game the following night, unfortunately the game was postponed due to the weather and we had to tear apart the multi-camera set-up.