BBC - Commissioning - HD Production & Delivery

Production and Delivery

• Delivery
  • Publicity
  • Transmission essentials
  • Programme duration
  • Programme numbers
  • Paperwork
  • The Basics
  • Online programme page deliverables
  • HD Production & Delivery
  • Commercial Availability
  • Red Button Commissioning and Delivery for BBC Television
  • How to deliver live/late programmes and OBs
• Credit Guidance
  • Online programme page deliverables
  • Credit Positioning
  • Full Credit Guidance
  • Talent as Executive Producer Policy
  • Credit Durations
  • Closing Credits
  • Opening Credits
• Branding Guidelines and Logos
  • Online programme page deliverables
• Open University
  • Online programme page deliverables
  • OU delivery requirements and publicity guidelines
  • OU branding and end credit guidelines
• Business and Production Guide
• Editorial Guidelines and Safeguarding Trust
• Programme Quick Checklist
• Nations' Production and Delivery

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HD Production & Delivery

The BBC sees high definition television as the future for programme delivery. With this in mind, HD is the standard delivery format for all new BBC network commissions, and from April 2011, we will expect all network programmes to be delivered in High Definition. You should contact your Business Affairs Manager for any HD advice on specific titles. 

We have been commissioning programmes for HD delivery since 2006, and showcase our HD content within the BBC HD channel and through the BBC iPlayer.

The steady growth in HD connectivity, and feedback from our existing audiences, means that we are now accelerating the speed at which we want to migrate all our commissioning to HD.

HD Cameras for HD Programmes

The BBC uses the EBU’s Recommendations for high definition cameras.  The current document EBU R118 gives details of camera criteria and how they can be tested.  The site also has recommended set-ups for all cameras currently tested.

Minimum Camera Requirements

Cameras usually have a minimum of 3x1/2” sensors or 1x1” and a recording format of a minimum of 50Mbs inter-frame or 100Mbs intra-frame.

You can find the EBU HD Camera Recommendations on the EBU Technical Website.

BBC In house staff can also find production support information and contacts on this BBC DV Solutions Gateway site page.

In-house camera hire information and contacts are available on this BBC DV Solutions Gateway site page.

Technical standards & Delivery

Information on HD technical standards and delivery is available in the following guides on the BBC's Delivering Quality site:  Delivering Quality Technical standards. You can also find the Blits ident (courtesy of Martin Black & Keith Lane) on this page.

For help and tools to deliver programmes by file, vist the Digital Production Partnership site.

Additional download documents on colorimetric and resolution requirements and sound settings can be found in the downloads section, top-right of this page.

PLEASE NOTE: The BBC will make announcements about delivery by file.  Programmes should continue to be delivered on HDCamSR tape until specific details have been given for individual programmes or by the BBC at the time of commission.

HD Team:

Editorial Head of BBC HD : Janice Hadlow

Head of Technology, BBC HD & 3D: Andy Quested

Executive Producer, BBCHD: Ian Potts