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The UK Section holds monthly evening meetings, where we get together to socialise and discuss topics impacting our industry. Take a look at the meetings listed below, sign up and come along! Priority is given to SMPTE members, but newcomers are very welcome. At every event, there will be an interesting technically-oriented presentation, plenty of time to network with industry peers, and ample refreshments courtesy of our sponsors and supporters.
Next meeting
SMPTE UK celebrates... Young Innovators and Emerging Talent
Date: Mon 5 December 2022
Time: Doors open 18:00. Talk starts at 19:00. Event ends at 21:30.
Location: Sky Central Cinema, Grant Way, Isleworth TW7 5QD
This event was a huge success in December 2021, and we're thrilled to be invited back once again to the Sky Central Cinema at its Osterley campus. Join us as we celebrate the achievements of young innovators and emerging talent, and encourage them onwards in their careers. There will also be plenty of opportunity to make contact with those who are key to developing and attracting that talent at an academic level.
Open to existing professionals and students alike, this event will be a great opportunity to spot who’s new to our sector and to get an understanding of the pathways and experiences of those who are currently entering our disciplines for the first time.
We’ll hear from a selection of recent entrants into the industry, who will deliver a series of lightening talks on their areas of knowledge, followed by a fire-side chat - led by Emily Bergun.
Attendance is free of charge. There will be ample refreshments courtesy of our hosts, Sky.
Previous meetings
SMPTE UK South Coast event... The Rising Tide of Video Formats
On Weds 23 Nov 2022, 40 SMPTE UK members and friends met at The Port House in Portsmouth on the UK's South Coast to hear all about video formats and standards conversion. The meeting began with James Shepherd from InSync Technology giving an entertaining and very informative talk about the history and science behind standards conversion.
The meeting then paused halfway for the SMPTE UK Intermission, encouraging attendees to 'talk to someone you didn't come with', aiming to make SMPTE UK meetings friendly and accessible to newcomers and existing members alike. There was really good discussion in the room with lots of new connections being made.
We then resumed for part 2: Ed Calverley leading a panel discussion with Ian Trow from Sky, Penny Westlake from Interra Systems, and James Shepherd from InSync which explored video quality and standards more broadly.
The attendees were a great mix of industry professionals and young talent, with many students from Solent and Portsmouth Universities joining us. We had a great time of networking before, during and after the event, and are grateful to our event sponsors InSync Technology for the ample refreshments!
The evening was recorded, and an edited video of the talk will be posted soon.
SMPTE UK Headlines... Polly Hickling
On Weds 16 Nov 2022, 75 SMPTE UK members and friends met at Ravensbourne University to hear Polly Hickling, superstar of the UK media industry, talk about her career in education.
The SMPTE UK Bill Lovell Lecture 2022 featured Polly Hickling who gave us a view of Solent Uni life from the other side, student successes, projects during maternity leave, involvement with SMPTE, Rise, DTG, WSM, IET…and now, a move to industry!
Polly Hickling is the Learning and Development lead for Media at Atos. Prior to this she was the course leader for the media technology programme at Solent University in Southampton for 13 years. Her role included designing, developing and delivering curriculum in the field of media tech, seeing through two course validations during her time as course leader. Polly has strong connections with the media technology industry, particularly with the Solent course alumni which allowed her to develop work experience, placements and graduate positions with companies within the broadcast industry. This also then lead to wider connections and she currently sits on the SMPTE Education Advisory Committee and the UK Board of Managers, is the Head of Education for Women in Streaming Media and sits on the IET Media Network.
Just like all SMPTE UK events, this meeting was open to existing professionals and students alike, and we were joined by students from Ravensbourne, Solent and Surrey universities as well as several recent graduates.
We trialled for the first time a new idea: the SMPTE UK Intermission halfway through the event, which encourages attendees to 'talk to someone you didn't come with', making the meetings friendly and accessible to newcomers and existing members alike. This seems to have been successful, with lots of attendees making new connections!
We're grateful to Ravensbourne University for hosting us, and to our generous event sponsors Atos and PHABRIX for the ample refreshments!
SMPTE UK visits... The National Physical Laboratory
On Tues 4 Oct 2022, 60 SMPTE UK members and friends had a wonderful evening of science and networking courtesy of the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, just outside London. We learned all about time and timing, and how it is so critical not only for broadcast but also for many other industries. We're grateful to NPL for their hospitality and the ample refreshments.
At SMPTE UK we like to explore a range of topics relevant to the motion picture and television industries and this was a great example. Here's a quote from one of the attendees: “I was expecting another presentation on how XX implemented PTP in a broadcast environment. This was different, thought provoking and I learnt things. Very unexpected”.
Just like all SMPTE UK events, this meeting was open to existing professionals and students alike, and we were joined by students from Surrey and Solent universities, including a group of First Year students from Surrey only two weeks into their studies. Welcome guys!
What do radar, packet switching, the ACE computer and the Caesium atomic clock have in common? They all originated from NPL!
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK's National Metrology Institute (NMI), developing and maintaining the national primary measurement standards, as well as collaborating with other NMIs to maintain the international system of measurement. As a public sector research establishment, they deliver extraordinary impact by providing the measurement capability that underpins the UK's prosperity and quality of life. They develop the metrology required to ensure the timely and successful deployment of new technologies and work with organisations as they develop and test new products and processes.
In this digital age, NPL’s world-leading measurement science provides confidence in data, which enables innovation and international trade to flourish. NPL align their capabilities with the most important national challenges like energy, health, security, net zero and the prosperity of the nation, and lead major national programmes that deliver impact across the UK. The next generation of atomic clocks at NPL, using laser cooled trapped ions or atom should achieve accuracies around 100 times better equivalent to gaining or losing no more than one second in the age of the universe.
Over 120 years since they were first established, NPL still remains true to their core mission.
SMPTE UK drinks at the International Broadcast Convention
On Sat 10 Sept 2022 over 200 SMPTE UK members and friends gathered for drinks at IBC2022 in Amsterdam! We were joined by SMPTE Exec Director David Grindle and his team from Head Office in New York, and many SMPTE global members. We had a wonderful time of networking, and courtesy of our hosts BT Media & Broadcast enjoyed ample refreshments in the sunshine after the show!
SMPTE UK visits... Amazon UK
On 6 Sept 2022, around 100 SMPTE members and friends had a wonderful evening's visit to Amazon UK's headquarters at Principal Place, London.
We had a presentation in three parts: Tim de Marco talked about how Amazon Prime Video delivers content to global audiences. Tim Burton of 7fivefive talked about practical media workflow deployments using cloud infrastructure. Thomas Edwards of AWS talked all about how the cloud makes a transformative difference to broadcast and media workflows.
We were treated to ample pizza and beer, and enjoyed a great time of networking with many key members of the UK and global media industry.
Just like all SMPTE UK events, this meeting was open to existing professionals and students alike, with groups of students from Solent and Surrey Universities joining in and networking.
We are grateful to Amazon for their generous hospitality, and for the ample refreshments!
SMPTE UK... Goes to the pub!
On Tuesday 12 July 2022, to round off our successful series of in-person meetings in 2021-22, we gathered for an informal meet-up on a balmy summer's evening in the Crown and Sceptre pub, just a few minutes' walk from BBC Broadcasting House and BT Tower in London's West End. Conversation ranged from the importance of timing in all things broadcast, to where people will be staying in Amsterdam for IBC. Some of us wore our SMPTE UK baseball caps, flying the flag for the Society!
SMPTE UK Media Technology Conference 2022
On 29 June 2022 we held a conference in London in partnership with the Broadcast Tech & Sport Group. 170 delegates from across the UK's broadcast and media industry met to learn, debate and network at the BFI Southbank, London.
It was a hugely successful event, with many hot topics raised and discussed. If you'd like to contribute to the SMPTE UK Media Technology Conference 2023, do get in touch with us!
SMPTE UK visits... The BFI Southbank
On Tues 10 May 2022, around 100 SMPTE members and friends visited the BFI Southbank in London for a truly wonderful evening explaining and demonstrating the technical operation behind the BFI's cinema exhibition programme.
The BFI Technical Services team has been supporting the BFI’s diverse and complex cinema exhibition programme since 1957 when the National Film Theatre first opened its doors. Critical to the success of the programme is the ability to screen every possible projection format and this is as true today as it was back then. With up to 1200 different titles screened each year on formats ranging from 16mm CinemaScope to 70mm Todd-AO, through to the latest D-Cinema laser presentation, this is always a challenge.
Dominic Simmons guided us through the BFI’s exhibition technical operation and highlighted the complexities and pleasures of working in this unique venue, including projection of some classic movie moments including Stanley Kubrick's classic '2001: A Space Odyssey', Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws', and Mike Hodges' 'Get Carter'. Adrian Bull of Cinelab completed the evening with a glimpse of the on-going role of film in movie production.
SMPTE UK gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the BFI for hosting this event and Cinelab for supporting our ample welcoming hospitality.
Just like all SMPTE UK events, this meeting was open to existing professionals and students alike, with groups of students from Solent and Surrey Universities joining in and networking.
SMPTE UK debates… Cloud Live Production
On Weds 6 April 2022 at BT Tower in London, 70 SMPTE members and friends including students from Salford, Solent and Surrey universities came together for a high-calibre meeting all about Cloud Live Production, followed by drinks and views on the 34th floor. Many thanks to our generous hosts BT Media & Broadcast for the amazing views and ample refreshments!
Hosted by Andy Rayner, Chief Technologist at Nevion, our panel of industry experts included:
Together, they debated the evolution to an all-software live production chain and the ongoing journey to that point. Starting with the end-user requirements, our technology visionaries plotted the path based on what the creatives want to achieve. We heard from vendors who have actually built some of this, and exposed the challenges which remain. And we asked the question: Are these actually technology barriers, or issues that creatives have with the new ways of working?
Watch the recording of the event here:
SMPTE UK debates… The future of Audio, Objects and the Cloud
On 8 March 2022 we held a Section meeting all about the future of the entertainment experience. 60 SMPTE members and friends met at Deluxe's UK headquarters, enjoyed wood-fired pizzas and good beer, and settled down for a thought-provoking evening exploring different aspects of object-based media.
Personalising Audio for a greater user experience, Object-based media with video for enhancing story telling capabilities, and how cloud services can potentially help bring this to a reality.
Chaired by Chris Johns, Chief Engineer, Broadcast Strategy at Sky, our panel of experts included:
Just like all SMPTE UK events, this meeting was open to existing professionals and students alike, and was a great example of how SMPTE enables people from all stages of their career to learn and mix together in a friendly environment.
We're very grateful to Deluxe for kindly hosting us for the evening at their UK Headquarters, and providing ample refreshments!
SMPTE UK visits... an On-set Virtual Production
On 2 - 4 Feb 2022 we held a spectacular three-day hybrid event at ETC in Ealing, London.
A hybrid 3-day event with in-person demos of the real-time technologies used for In-Camera VFX and Virtual Production.
SMPTE along with supporting partners 80Six, ETC, disguise, Solent University and head Sponsor Mo-Sys, hosted an interactive 3-day hybrid event providing attendees the opportunity to experience first-hand the intricacies of on-set virtual production in the context of a mixed reality set up within a ‘pop-up’ LED Volume built by the team behind Virtual Production Studios by 80six at ETC Playhouse in West London especially for SMPTE and its members.
This included a tour of the VP workflow for creating in-camera VFX (ICVFX), supported by cutting-edge technologies from 80six' inventory: ROE Visual, Unreal Engine, Mo-sys camera tracking and Disguise media servers.
Lighting a production when using LED backdrops is undoubtedly a hot topic and debate right now given the lighting aspect of the LED itself. As part of this showcase, attendees had the opportunity to discover the ground-breaking fos/4 range of luminaires from ETC that introduced a patented deep red emitter into the LED array, filling in a portion of the spectrum we did not realise we were missing – a must-see for the technologically-savvy and those with a passion and interest in lighting and colour.
The event showcased these cutting edge technologies in a production-ready setting and was globally live streamed, offering a tour of the technology, that dives into the key components of OSVP technology and ICVFX.
The global live stream included an update from SMPTE’s Rapid Industry Solutions group and their latest work on OSVP including the groups recently awarded Epic Mega Grant, and an expert panel Q&A for both our in person and virtual live audience.
SMPTE UK celebrates... Young Innovators and Emerging Talent
Over 70 SMPTE members and friends, including many students from Solent, Surrey and Ravensbourne Universities met at the fabulous Sky Central Cinema in Osterley on Thurs 9th Dec 2021. We heard from three new entrants to the media industry, Emily Bergun, Jon Bourne and Dan Turner. Each delivered a lightening talk on their area of knowledge, followed by a Q&A - led by Polly Hickling.
The evening was a wonderful celebration of the talents of newcomers to our industry, but also served as a great networking opportunity with students and graduates mixing and chatting with SMPTE UK members from across the UK media industries.
Many thanks to our hosts, Sky for the ample refreshments!
Bill Lovell Memorial Lecture 2021: Prinyar Boon
On Thurs 11th Nov 2021, over 50 SMPTE members and friends were welcomed to the DTG offices in Vauxhall for the Bill Lovel Memorial Lecture 2021. This event is a celebration of SMPTE members in a very social way and after having to miss the 2020 BLL we were really looking forward to getting together and the DTG made us very (very) welcome!
This year Prinyar Boon let us into his life of music, rock climbing, playing in a band, the early days of television, being shipwrecked and of course his passion for all that’s new and exciting in media technology today.
The trouble with each BLL is getting everyone in their seats and starting the event – why? Because our main attraction is always in demand and “doing the room” meeting and greeting - but we finally settled for a really good talk full of anecdote, personal thought and a lot of laughter!
We will say no more about Prin’s talk here – watch the video and enjoy.
Thanks once again to all who contributed to the event and Prin’s story and of course to our sponsors, the DTG for their support and “ample refreshments!”
SMPTE UK visits... BBC Research & Development
On Tues 19th October 2021 we held a virtual section meeting. 85 of us, including SMPTE members from the US as well as a posse of media students from Solent university in the UK, joined researchers from the BBC as they presented their work on a number of exciting subjects looking to the future.
We covered several great topics:
We also heard from the BBC Graduates, who each did a 60-second brief on the work they're involved in, and at the end of the meeting, we did a reverse Q&A, where the BBC Graduates asked the SMPTE board questions about the industry.
The meeting was recorded, and you can re-watch it here.
Please note the presentation on HLG has been removed from the recording due to content rights.
SMPTE UK – back together again after lockdown! So…what’s been going on in our industry over the past 18 months?
On Weds 22nd September we held our first section meeting of 2021. 50 SMPTE members and friends gathered together in the iconic ‘Crown and Two Chairmen’ pub in London’s Soho for a wonderful evening of discussion and networking. We had an energetic and opinionated panel session featuring the following industry personalities:
The panel covered a lot of ground - bringing young people into the industry (and convincing their parents!), Rise, remote production, standards bodies and filibustering, Low Earth Orbit satellites, business models, 4K HDR versus HD HDR, iPhone Outside Broadcasts, and the next Big Thing: Object Based broadcasting.
Lots of discussion followed, but the big topic of the evening was clearly bringing young people into our industry. We all agreed there is a problem with attracting students to study broadcast engineering and to apply for jobs in our industry.
SMPTE UK has big plans for reinforcing links with universities and encouraging graduates. But as individuals we all have an opportunity to invest in inspiring young people to join our industry. Have a look at the Rise Up Academy, and help out!
Thanks to our sponsors for this evening: pixitmedia for the ample refreshments!
SMPTE is a members’ organisation - we gather together for community, to educate one another, and to set standards, and we'd really like you to play a part.
Become a SMPTE member and receive these benefits:
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(Student members free then just $15 about £11 a year and recent Graduates get a discount on full membership!)
We look forward to welcoming you at our next meeting.
We really want to hear your ideas and suggestions as we build up SMPTE UK. Feel free to get in touch if you have topics for talks you think people would be interested to hear; or a venue we could use for one of our evening meetings. We're always on the hunt for a new broadcast or media facility to tour!
Add your name to our mailing list — click on 'Join our Friends List' at the top of this page, or contact us.
Meet the UK Board of Managers
Chris Johns, Sky UK (Governor)
John Ellerton, BT Media & Broadcast (Chair)
Tim de Marco, Amazon Prime Video (Jul 2022-Jun 2024)
Christina Nowak, Newchapter Productions (Jul 2022-Jun 2024)
Ian Trow, BT Media & Broadcast (Jul 2022-Jun 2024)
Prinyar Boon, PHABRIX Ltd. (Jul 2021-Jun 2023)
Carys Hughes, SKY UK (Jul 2021-Jun 2023)
Polly Hickling, Solent University (Jul 2021-Jun 2023)
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