Online Journalism News

New software enables laptop broadcasts

The BBC is the first UK broadcaster to deploy Quicklink software, which allows reporters to broadcast video news live via their laptop computers.

Bristol-based Quicklink specialises in technology for broadcast, and launched ‘Live Broadcast’ at the end of November. The software can be downloaded from its web site for a free 30-day trial.

Journalists can produce live or edited video reports on their laptop computers anywhere in the world and use the Quicklink software to condense the video into a small file. They can then transmit the file to the broadcaster through a dedicated web connection, such as a satellite phone or ISDN line.

The new software has already been supplied to BBC news-gathering departments around the world. Several other broadcasters are also trying out the software, according to Ken Herron, director of Quicklink.

"Journalists working anywhere in the world could film a story, upload it to the web and then try to sell it to broadcasters," he explained.

"Say there were Danish tourists involved in an accident in Thailand, the journalist on location could upload broadcast-quality files, and Danish broadcasters could check out the images to see if they wanted to buy them."

Previously, journalists would have to rely on a videophone connection to transmit live video reports with a maximum connection speed of 128k. The new Quicklink software allows feeds of up to 1MB, depending on the speed of the connection.

"Normally broadcasters need special hardware to convert encrypted video, but they can use free software from Quicklink.

"This has great potential for freelancers. If they can get the pictures, this is a fantastic tool."

The software is designed for PCs and there are currently no plans to develop a Mac version.

See also:
http://www.quicklink.tv

Tags (click tag to find related articles; click icon for feed):
bbc | free software | united kingdom | isdn | satellite phone | bristol | thailand | dedicated web connection | fantastic tool | ken herron |

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