Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ R&D History: 1980s

A debate on how best to exploit the satellite broadcasting spectrum rages: should we use analogue, wait for digital, or a hybrid? The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ launches several important initiatives that the department contributes heavily to.

1981

"Songs of Praise" first programme to use Transportable Earth Station

Built by Research Department for live transmissions from Guernsey via the Orbital Test Satellite.

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1982

HDTV (High Definition Television) studies commence in earnest

1983

Successful transmission of two 68 Mbit/s PAL television/sound/data packages over 140 Mbit/s between London and Birmingham

This was undertaken in cooperation with Designs Department, Communications Department and British Telecom (BT). This experimental digital link provided the main feeds to Birmingham for several months.

Queen's Award for Teletext

Awarded with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

1984

Video Watermarking devised

A method for electronically labelling television pictures.

First ever IBC award presented to Dr Geoffrey Phillips

Dr Geoffrey Phillips, Head of Radio Frequency Group received the first ever IBC Award in recognition of over thirty years of internationally acclaimed work in fostering the efficient use of the radio spectrum. The award was designed by John Tribe, a graphic designer at London Weekend Television. It is in an engraved glass form, using the classic Greek Golden Section to symbolise the marriage between technology and artistic creation in broadcasting.

1985

LF Radio Teleswitching service launches

This enables the Electricity Supply Industry to remotely control radio teleswitches in homes, offices and factories in order to optimise power distribution at peak demand times.

1986

HDTV picture store and high line-rate picture monitor demonstrated

At IBC in Brighton.

Development of motion estimation technology and application to standards conversion

A patent for this work was filed in March 1986, it was licensed to Snell & Wilcox and used in the 'Alchemist' standards converter and jointly awarded a Queen's Award in 1998.

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1987

R&D designed Digital Audio Editor

It was subsequently installed in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Broadcasting House, London.

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1987

Queen's Award for LF Radio Teleswitching

In April 1987 Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Engineering received their fourth Queen's Award, on this occasion jointly with the Electricity Council, for their pioneering work in developing Radio Teleswitching. Radio Teleswitching was an offshoot of what, to broadcasters, was a much more important system - RDS.

1988

RDS (Radio Data System) on FM launches

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RDS prototype radio
RDS prototype radio

1989

The Ginger Tree (the first HD Film) produced

A co-production between the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and the NHK network of Japan, it was produced in 1035 line HD using the Sony HDD 1000 VTR.

Helitrak successfully demonstrated during the Boat Race

Helitrak stands for - Automatic Helicopter Radio Camera Link. 

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A helicopter in a hangar with an open platform on which is various equipment

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