Visit Report – AGM & SRF TV Studio Tour – 23 July 2016
This year’s AGM and subsequent visit to the Swiss SRF Studios was a great success.
Following a delightful Aperitif, and hearing that IET Switzerland would support his “not for profit” organization, Fabrizio Rincon delivered an enlightening keynote presentation, detailing the aims and goals of the Zurich FabLab.
We learned all about how the Zurich FabLab started and how they support the local community to fulfil their own Digital Fabrication Projects and ideas. Fabrizio and another Board member in attendance were glad to receive our small donation, which should help to cover the cost of 5 Raspberry Pi 3 Starter Kits.
For those of you who don’t know, the Zurich FabLab is located in the City of Zurich (Hardplatz) and can be easily reached. Walk-in attendance and participation at events where you can expect to see, amongst other things, 3D printing, CNC Machines, Laser Cutting, Robots, Raspberry Pi & Arduino Kits is actively encouraged. They are non-political, adopt an open source policy and only charge the bare minimum wherever possible (not for profit). Since the aims of the Zurich FabLab coincide with the Mission and Strategy of the IET in general, it is likely that we shall look to arrange an event there in the not too distant future.
Following our AGM, Claudia Frei (from the popular TV Consumer programme “Kassenstutz”) took us around the SRF TV Studios. We saw the latest Newscast technology, learning how Robotics play a pivotal role in supporting live and daily editions of the “Tagesschau”, the “10 vor 10” as well as popular the “Meteo” programme. Paul Hulbert got the opportunity to give a sample newscast, using the automated Teleprompter, and rather entertainly, we saw which clothes should not be worn by presenters (a mix of Green and Blue can give some interesting “Disappearing” results if the person and make-up artist are not too careful!)
Behind the scenes, we learned how the TPC (Technical Production Company) make everything possible – there are a whole host of trades and skills required to present a TV program, from building a stage out of wood and cloth (sometimes appearing quite different on TV), through to Power and Lighting as well as the rather special techniques used to simulate a large Audience for example. My personal favourites were the granite “stone”, which I could have lifted with one finger and the Sports-Studio backdrop where the director is able to control thousands of LEDs so as to give a special affect or illusion.
Apart from the Engineering and Technical aspects, we also learned how even live events have to be choreographed before the event, since each Camera technician, interviewer needs to know exactly where to stand (for best lighting) and what subjects to address (SRF must be seen as being both impartial and fair in every respect). They have thus a good reputation from a both Technical and Professional perspective, which means they are increasingly being asked to produce / televise events for other countries.
It was real pleasure to organise and attend this Technical Visit. Lastly, but not least, Claudia Frei advised how we all have the possibility to write-in and request audience tickets for productions, such as Televised sport / talk shows via the SRF website, which I would highly recommend should you have missed this tour…
Jeff Hunter
Chair – IET Switzerland