Our biggest OB equipment provider Global TV who do around 70% of all OB's here (the percentage figure is much lower for HD OB's) use Grass Valley switchers in all of their SD trucks. However all 3 of their HD trucks and their fly away HD kit all use 8000k's. The 3 other companies that have HD trucks all use 8000k's as well. Also when the company I work for were building new studios and had the option to buy whatever they wanted to they went for a 7000 for the SD studio and a year later went for the 8000k's for the HD studios.

[quote="Mike Cumbo"]I'd love to know if the Australian government had any duties or tariffs on US made technology during the 70's and 80's that led to an Asian mind set? I have also recently heard some conflicts with audio people over audio boards. Most US trucks have some version of Calrec, however an audio supervisor at a network likes the sound of the SSL better. The field A1's argue that yes the SSL is sonically better but it takes longer to setup and the improved sound isn't worth the added setup time or trouble.[/quote] We KNOW that Canada had strong tariffs on broadcast equipment, hence the beginnings of Ross, CDL, Cross-Point Latch, Miranda, Evertz and the like. I'd be curious about Australian tariffs - the Talia line of routers that Ross was selling a few years ago were in fact Australian. Audio, even more so than the vision side of things, is one discipline that requires interchangeability. Imagine if you were doing your job AND patching monitors, programing routers, etc. I've sat in almost every chair in a remote truck and the A-1 is by far and away the hardest. Also, the technical support we receive from Calrec is truly second to none. As to which sounds better? That discussion is even more boring than getting video guys together and arguing over cameras and lenses... I certainly wasn't implying that the TD's opinion didn't matter. Certainly at the highest levels of remote broadcasting, individual 'technicians' have great say in what they'll be driving, not only switchers but cameras, audio consoles, tape machines, et al. But ask yourself this; when was the last time you saw ANY broadcaster, regardless of the equipment they were using, cancel a show because they couldn't find a TD to drive their odd-ball switcher? (and not that it matters from and EIC, but Sony so screwed up with the 7350 that they could have made the worlds perfect switcher after that and still be in second place! Personally I love the Sony 8K, but then again I don't TD OR write the checks.....)

[quote="hosko"]There isn't a single HD capable truck in Australia that doesn't use an 8000,[/quote] I find this interesting as well. What was the dominant switcher in Australia before the 8000 came on the scene?

Might have more to do with getting a package deal as well. Everybody uses Sony HD cameras here as well, I believe the new Panasonic HD cameras have failed technical inspection here due to electronic radiation and Panasonic deemed the market too small to worry about fixing it. I do know that if you buy Sony cameras and the switcher at the same time like when your building a truck you get a large discount, seems to make more sense then duties and tariffs because there were Grass Valleys around in the analogue days.

I'd love to know if the Australian government had any duties or tariffs on US made technology during the 70's and 80's that led to an Asian mind set? But yet I have heard from the old timers that if you wanted to rent a truck to either NBC or CBS, this was back in the late 80's early 90's, for NFL then the truck HAD to have a Chyron 4100 and Abekas A53. Not because they were better, just what someone decided was the best in a truck for those networks. I have also recently heard some conflicts with audio people over audio boards. Most US trucks have some version of Calrec, however an audio supervisor at a network likes the sound of the SSL better. The field A1's argue that yes the SSL is sonically better but it takes longer to setup and the improved sound isn't worth the added setup time or trouble.

I find it interesting how certain equipment is used predominately in one country yet in another its the complete opposite. There isn't a single HD capable truck in Australia that doesn't use an 8000, even the in TV studios pretty much everyone is using Sony gear. I guess once the first OB company chooses a brand of gear and trains people to use it, it just becomes easier fro everyone else to follow what they are doing because they have seen it, know it works and people know how to use it.

[quote="EIC-Jeff"]The reason we put the Kalypso in trucks is because that's what our clients wanted. You aren't the client. You don't pay for the truck. While a TD's opinion is very valuable to us, ultimately you don't sign the check. Sorry![/quote] This is an example of a statement that, while technically true, is misleading. The clients, the guys who sign the checks, who pay for the trucks, wanted Kalypsos. But [b]why[/b] did they want Kalypsos? Because, given the alternatives, the transition from 3000/4000 to Kalypso was the easiest for TDs that were used to GV products. Sony tried to make inroads with the 7000* during that transition and failed, very much because of the opinion of TDs. In other words, the Kalypso didn't get chosen directly by TDs, like you said, but ultimately, TDs drove that decision by influencing the guys writing the checks. To dismiss that influence by saying "you don't sign the check, sorry!" is shortsighted at best. *disclaimer: I'm a big Sony 8000 fan.

[quote="EIC-Jeff"][quote="XLNTeditor"]SNIP... My point is, what if a truck company was going to build some new trucks but came to us and gave us the choice of either a Thomson Kayanne, S&W Kahuna, Ross Vision or Sony 8K? In general we would probably pick the Kayanne just because it comes from GVG (Thomson currently). In reality, in terms of usability, Kayanne would be 4th on that list for quite some time. Look how long it took to rid Kalypso of most of its bugs. After using all of the above (except the Kayanne) and knowing GVGs history of initial switcher releases, I would rank them in order ? Kahuna, 8K, Vision, Kayanne. So even though there are better switchers out there, we won't pick it and because of that trucks won't have anything but GVG (except for a few Sonys). Irv[/quote] SNIP... The reason we put the Kalypso in trucks is because that's what our clients wanted. You aren't the client. You don't pay for the truck. While a TD's opinion is very valuable to us, ultimately you don't sign the check. Sorry![/quote] True. I probably should have included the networks in the mix. I assume the trucks are built according to the spec that is given by the networks that are going to use them. The networks won't spec a switcher that TDs don't know or don't want to learn. When Kalypso is dead then the Kayanne will probably get installed because it has GVG etched on the panel - not because it is the best switcher out there. That's what we get for years of drinking the Kool-aid. Like Matt said, the more switchers we know, the more work we can get. Everyone will have their favorites but having different switchers available in trucks will give us exposure to what's good and bad in each. It would make all the switcher products better because of the competition and we would benefit from that.

[quote="EIC-Jeff"]The reason we put the Kalypso in trucks is because that's what our clients wanted. You aren't the client. You don't pay for the truck. While a TD's opinion is very valuable to us, ultimately you don't sign the check. Sorry![/quote] I know that Jeff is right. I think that we as TDs have the power when it comes to operating this gear. Sure, we all have preferences, but in the end, it would seem that flexibility and acceptance helps brings-in a few more pay-checks for us. I wasn't happy the first time I sat at a Sony 7350 or a Philips DD-35, but I asked questions and figured it out, and was able to get more work because I did. I think that in one respect, the number of times we've suggested (and demanded) Grass switchers when asked by clients, backfired a bit when T/GV released the Kayak. While the price-tag of a Kalypso was much more than many places wanted to pay, I think many companies saw the Kayak as a chance to get a new, HD capable, Grass switcher, and save some money ... unfortunately, *we* all knew that the Kayak was a Philips in a Grass wrapper. It would seem that not all of the people signing the checks and the contracts understood what they were getting. Matt

[quote="XLNTeditor"]SNIP... My point is, what if a truck company was going to build some new trucks but came to us and gave us the choice of either a Thomson Kayanne, S&W Kahuna, Ross Vision or Sony 8K? In general we would probably pick the Kayanne just because it comes from GVG (Thomson currently). In reality, in terms of usability, Kayanne would be 4th on that list for quite some time. Look how long it took to rid Kalypso of most of its bugs. After using all of the above (except the Kayanne) and knowing GVGs history of initial switcher releases, I would rank them in order ? Kahuna, 8K, Vision, Kayanne. So even though there are better switchers out there, we won't pick it and because of that trucks won't have anything but GVG (except for a few Sonys). Irv[/quote] You're over thinking & assuming way too much. The reason we put the Kalypso in trucks is because that's what our clients wanted. You aren't the client. You don't pay for the truck. While a TD's opinion is very valuable to us, ultimately you don't sign the check. Sorry!

[quote="Lou Delgresiano"]Therein lies the danger of having non-industry standard switchers in trucks. BTN is fine having Kayak's in their trucks for their shows, but come MLB season when BTN isn't doing a lot of BT sports, and you are sending these things to cities that never see their mobiles, it's a problem.[/quote] It seems not that the danger is having "non-industry" switchers in trucks but in having "non-GVG" switchers in trucks. The industry standard was the GVG-300. When GVG came out with the 3000/4000 switcher it was not industry standard because it did not have 300-style Master EMEMs. But TDs learned it instead of other switchers because it was a Grass. The 3000/4000 then became the industry standard. More recently we all know that the Kalypso was not industry standard when it was released but the truck manufacturers installed Kalypso's instead of a possibly better switcher because they know that the freelance TDs will learn it since it is a Grass. I'm sure the same thing will happen when Kayanne is released. It will be non-standard but they will find their way into trucks because the big truck companies are afraid to put anything but a Grass in a truck because we as TDs will learn it if it's a Grass. Kayak is an anomaly because it is much closer to a BTS Diamond Digital than a GVG so very few TDs like it. My point is, what if a truck company was going to build some new trucks but came to us and gave us the choice of either a Thomson Kayanne, S&W Kahuna, Ross Vision or Sony 8K? In general we would probably pick the Kayanne just because it comes from GVG (Thomson currently). In reality, in terms of usability, Kayanne would be 4th on that list for quite some time. Look how long it took to rid Kalypso of most of its bugs. After using all of the above (except the Kayanne) and knowing GVGs history of initial switcher releases, I would rank them in order ? Kahuna, 8K, Vision, Kayanne. So even though there are better switchers out there, we won't pick it and because of that trucks won't have anything but GVG (except for a few Sonys). Irv

[quote="Mike Cumbo"]The Twins also brought the truck to Baltimore. "Lucky" for me, I was trained on the 7000.... of course, I only saw the box maybe once or twice a year. This was of course AFTER NMT took the 7000's out of DX-2 and 9. Now this also follow suit with the Kayak. Before the MLB season began in 2008 the local crewer arranged for MTVG to bring a truck and a trainer to this area so that several of us could get trained on the Kayak. A Philly area TD joined us. During the NBA and NHL seasons in both markets we see NCP trucks, so no Kayaks. Come baseball, MTVG will again start bringing Kayak equipped trucks to town. I have not touched one since mid September. Oh joy....[/quote] Therein lies the danger of having non-industry standard switchers in trucks. BTN is fine having Kayak's in their trucks for their shows, but come MLB season when BTN isn't doing a lot of BT sports, and you are sending these things to cities that never see their mobiles, it's a problem.

The Twins also brought the truck to Baltimore. "Lucky" for me, I was trained on the 7000.... of course, I only saw the box maybe once or twice a year. This was of course AFTER NMT took the 7000's out of DX-2 and 9. Now this also follow suit with the Kayak. Before the MLB season began in 2008 the local crewer arranged for MTVG to bring a truck and a trainer to this area so that several of us could get trained on the Kayak. A Philly area TD joined us. During the NBA and NHL seasons in both markets we see NCP trucks, so no Kayaks. Come baseball, MTVG will again start bringing Kayak equipped trucks to town. I have not touched one since mid September. Oh joy....

[quote="Lou Delgresiano"]I remember the Twins rolling the JMT straight trucks to most MLB Central cities. CHI, DTW, CLE, KC, and having issues in those towns finding Sony proficient TDs.[/quote] Oh, okay. I only started working around here the last couple years that JMT was around, so I didn't really know about that. But like I said, it wouldn't surprise me if they just traveled a Minneapolis TD whenever they did that. I'll have to ask next time I'm around.

I remember the Twins rolling the JMT straight trucks to most MLB Central cities. CHI, DTW, CLE, KC, and having issues in those towns finding Sony proficient TDs.

[quote="Lou Delgresiano"]What's with these people and their goofball el cheapo sports equipment?[/quote] Because it's a goofball el cheapo sports network. They use student labor wherever possible (It's an internship! That means we don't have to pay you!) and their football coverage doesn't even use a 50 yard line game cam, just the 20s. [quote]For the life of the Sony 7350 I wonder how much Trio, NMT, Juntenen, Classic, Cross Creek (and any others) and their clients wasted trying to find, then travel operators.[/quote] I know that in Juntunen's case, their trucks didn't move outside the Minneapolis market that often, so all the TDs around here knew it. Wouldn't be surprised if this market was where other crewers looked first for Sony TDs. It was actually a change when Mobile TV Group came in and everyone had to learn the Kalypso. The BTN came in and they all had to learn the Kayak (though some already had experience with it through the "PUMA" truck).

Why does it seem BTN is the dumping ground for non-industry standard switchers? What's with these people and their goofball el cheapo sports equipment? Wonder how much time their crewers waste trying to find people, then reading most of these forums it seems to be that most don't do or see their shows very often. For the life of the Sony 7350 I wonder how much Trio, NMT, Juntenen, Classic, Cross Creek (and any others) and their clients wasted trying to find, then travel operators. Probably spent more in travel solely based on people not being comfortable with it then if they bought a 3k, 4k or Kalypso. Same is probably true with the Kayak today.

[quote="AJR"]All, The show is on an 8k (which I know fairly well).[/quote] Sounds like BTN is using NMT as a subcontractor. HD6, not a bad truck. Hopefully Dave the normal EIC is on the truck. He knows the quirks that his truck has. BTW, last time I saw the truck, they were using a Lance to control the Spotbox and not the 8k's machine control.

The game is at Penn State.

Where are you doing the show at?

It's not a definite yet but I'm hoping it will be. It's great to be a part of the family (hopefully) :-) -Allan

Hi Allan, The shows are very basic. you will have about 10 effects to build, clean feed, and an ME with the clocks. Nothing in the way of suprises. Welcome to BTN world. Courtney