TV Standards

TV Standards across the world

The link to the table below shows the type of television broadcast standard used in most countries around the world. In Australia we use PAL.

There are currently 3 main television standards used throughout the world:

NTSC - National Television Standards Committee. The oldest existing standard, developed in the USA. First used in 1954. Consists of 525 horizontal lines of display and 60 vertical lines. Sometimes irreverently referred to as "Never Twice the Same Color."  Only one type exists, known as NTSC M.

SECAM - Système Électronique pour Couleur avec Mémoire. Developed in France. First used in 1967. A 625-line vertical, 50-line horizontal display. Sometimes referred to by wags as "Something Essentially Contrary to the American Method" or SEcond Colour Always Magenta!"  Different types use different video bandwidth and audio carrier specs.  Types B and D usually used for VHF; types G, H, and K for UHF; types I, N, M, K1 and L for both VHF/UHF. Different types are generally not compatible.

PAL - Phase Alternating Line. Developed by German engineer Walter Bruch and the German electronic corporation Telefunken. Walter Bruch patented his invention 1963 and the first commercial application of the PAL system was in August 1967.  Also a 625/50-line display and variant of NTSC. Proponents call it "Perfection At Last."  Due to the cost of the enormous circuit complexity, critics often refer to it as "Pay A Lot," and engineering students may hear it introduced as "Picture Always Lousy."  Different types use different video bandwidth and audio carrier specs.  Common types are B, G and H; less common types include D, I, K, N and M.  The different types are generally not compatible.

Unfortunately even with the advent of DVDs we still have to format productions specifically for the relevant markets. Although in Australia we use PAL, a lot of Australian equipment will play NTSC productions however the USA (NTSC) tends to not be aware of PAL as a TV standard, so anything produced for the US needs to be mastered in NTSC.

Click here to view the PDF listing of TV Standards Worldwide

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DVD Duplicating Tips

Duplicating DVDs seems straight forward however to ensure you get what you need consider these things.

What cases will your DVD be delivered in?
There are an endless list of option starting from the standard size you see in the Video rental shop through to some imaginative shapes and sizes.

Of course there are also cardboard options which enable you to print your information directly onto a cardboard slick and then there are multi-disc options as well. Do you want a cheap mailing option, an integrated marketing package version or a multi-disc solution?

Who will be designing the artwork for the disc label and the disc slick (the piece of paper that slips inside the cover)? Do you have the correct templates for these?

What format does the duplicating house require the master and the artwork to be supplied as?

What quantity do you really need?
Some people order extra because per unit it is cheape. However be prepared to have to store boxes of unsent discs.

Compare the prices for different quantities.

You may find that per unit once you order over 100 discs or so there are only a few cents different in price.

So you might be better off to order 1,000 to start with and then the second 1,000 in a few months time when you know you really need them.

It may not be a cheap as buying 2,000 to start with, but the few dollars difference at the end of the day is a big difference to having a few thousand dollars of unsused discs taking up office space.

Allow enough time for duplication.
As a rule it is best to allocate 3 weeks for the duplication process. Sometimes it can be done quicker (depending on quantity), but faster turnarounds generally increase the cost.

Local and international markets.
Be aware that other countries have different television standards. Although Australian TVs and players are pretty flexible in being able to play formats from overseas, not all countries are so forgiving. For example if you are providing a DVD for the US you will need to create an NTSC version. In the DVD production process this needs to happen at the start so don’t forget to mention it. Check country formats here.

Do you really need a DVD?
Given the costs of duplication and distribution it is worth asking yourself if the video can be just as easily appreciated online. This option may not replace the need for a set of DVDs but it may considerably reduce the quantity required. It also makes it easier to update and replace content if necessary. This is also a serious cost saving option to consider.

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Free FTP Service

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Essentially it is a way to send large files over the internet. If you’ve ever tried to send a 10Mb email you’ll be aware that there’s a problem.

One of the answers is a free online service called www.yousendit.com

This website enables you to upload files up to 100Mb for free. An email is sent to your recipient with a link telling them to download the relevant file.

You can also pay for more services such as being able to send larger files, store them on the server longer, track who’s been downloading the files.

There are other websites that offer similar services, but this one works for us and is how we send client preview versions of their videos.

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Cheap web site hosting

In the age of the global village, it is worth shopping beyond your local neighbourhood for the best deals.

When looking for a good value, feature packed web hosting service I came across HostGator. They are a US based operation and offer a full suite of packages and services for quite reasonable rates. Starting with a whopping 350Gb of storage and 3,000 Gb of bandwidth, it will handle most small business needs. It comes with a backend management control panel where you can add email address, check stats etc.

Just be aware though of the prices they promote for their hosting deals. They are often for a 3 year pay in advance rate (per month). The per month rate is a few dollars more but still very competitive.

It's worth putting Google to good use and you'll be often suprised with the options out there, or check out HostGator.