The future of news channels

[technossomy]

The current wave of online broadband radio stations will gradually also spark off an increase in the number of online tv channels. Some of these channels will be news channels for which a studio is needed. The idea is to create a virtual studio much like the BBC has pioneered, which will cut cost and save on space. The digital studio is a monochromatic backdrop that is digitally transformed into an area with a description and imagery of the topic at hand, and an editorial office together with virtual people. The desk and lighting would have to be arranged for by the owner or financier of the channel although some digital enhancement can be offered. The studio toolset would hence be a software kit that allows small office online tv channels to inexpensively create a feature rich environment for the viewers.

[Roxoff]

Sounds a bit like John Craven's Newsround, which I used to watch while growing up in the late seventies and early eighties. Then they had John Craven sat in front of a blue screen, and they'd change the backdrop card in front of another camera between stories. You frequently saw one card being removed and another replacing it. It was top telly though, kinda raw - rough and ready.

Sounds like this is kinda thing opens the market for news providers to sell on pre-packaged news bulletin services to others with the matte background for them to fill in their own 'studio'.

Are you suggesting that someone develops a package for Linux that can handle the visual effects needed for this in real time?