Thanks for that Aaron! Is there a way to present the footage I get with the Z7 is accordance with these guidlines? I shoot 1080i, 25p and the resolution looks the same - where is the catch...? (-:

Please check my email.

Thanks!!
Ofer

You can present it on HDCam or even SR if you hire a deck and play out to that. The problem is that they (for the most part) have these technical requirements for a reason, the main one of importance is transmission problems with under-spec stuff. So while your Z7 stuff might look great to you, when it's transmitted apparently the MPEG codec falls to pieces when mixed with their transmission codec and looks terrible. When they would discover this (ie at delivery or on transmission) I'm not sure, but I am pretty sure that the upshot would be that you'd never work for them again!
I do think some of the technical requirements are a bit silly though, particularly the one about chip size - it really doesn't mean anything.
Steve

Thanks Steve, I have no intention to deceive anyone. If what I get with the Z7 or even the EX3 is not up to the standards of broadcasters - I will just have to get the right camera - I believe the RED ONE looks like a good option.

Keep in mind that the video quality of a Z7 or EX1 is really excellent, and that by the time you downrez the RED ONE to viewable HD, the image won't be any better.

Thanks Laurance - I am sure you are right and I will post some footage this week to show it. However,since the broadcasters dictate the rules I will just have to follow. If the quality of footage captured with the EX3/EX1 is not good enough according to these standards - then I don't really have a choice - do I ?

Once the footage is mastered to digibeta or xdcam it has robust video status that will stand up to the transmission.

Just look at all the programmes using consumer vhs type clips of funnies of people doing stupid things for the camera its called youve been framed here in the UK.

Do those clips break up or cause problems with the transmission system?

No they dont because they have been transfered to digi beta and this is the robust system required for TX, if you look closely at specifications for most TV stations it is a spec for DELIVERY not shooting formats. Ok the bbc one is the exception but BBC3 and 4 have full programmes shot on z1 cameras and they are fine for TX as they have been properly mastered to digibeta or another pro format.

There are loads of programmes that use DVCAM and HDV material and the pictures are fine as they have been mastered to a higher format for delivery to TX.

Laurence, again the problem is not so much the image quality as the way the codec behaves under the transmission codec (I think!) That's where you start to get problems. It's the same with Super 16 film, it looks gorgeous, but apparently on HD transmission the codec has all sorts of problem when it encounters the film's grain and breaks up causing the transmitted picture to be pretty rough.
Steve

There might be a little of that, but I think it is mostly politics.