BROADCAST ENGINEERING A - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module is central to your development as a broadcast engineer. It builds on the fundamentals concepts learned in first year with a wide range of practical applications related to operational engineering practice in TV studios and OB vehicles. The knowledge and experience gained is applicable to many jobs within the creative industries.

You will learn the basics of television studio operational engineering techniques. The module balances understanding of the underlying theory with application in professional contexts, and the coursework is intended to allow you to put the theory into practice.

 

 

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

HAIGH Alan (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Detailed look at the equipment in the TV studio


• Analysis of studio systems


• Studio talkback set up and use


• Video channel


• Sound channel


• Synchronisation and timing


• Studio camera systems 


• TV communication systems


• Audio related metadata and embedding in SDI signal

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

their technical skills and theoretical understanding of video in film and TV through practical course work that will lead them through the functionality of a TV studio (Coursework).  The exam allows students to demonstrate their technical knowledge and systems applications for broadcast and film.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework -  (addresses learning outcomes 1,2,3,8,9).


• Exam –  (addresses learning outcomes 1-7)

Module aims

• Acquaint students with TV studio apparatus and communications
• Develop an understanding of television studio system diagrams
• Introduce the importance of timing in TV studio systems
• Expand student understanding of professional television systems and radio communications
• Introduce the requirements of sound in live television.
• Introduce communications systems and radio links in TV sound

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: further develop theory and practice in film and broadcast engineering, using both lectures and workshop sessions the students will become familiar with the TV studio system and the communications associated with it.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures


• Practicals working with TV studio equipment


• Guided reading

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: FVP2002

Other information

Digital capabilities: the module introduces the practical applications of digital video, as well as a theoretical understanding of how video is manipulated within the digital domain. As part of the coursework assignments, you will also develop skills in: Configuring digital mixing consoles. signal routing using computer based control systems, digital audio embedding and de-embedding,  tools for creating reports and diagrams.

Employability: the knowledge and skills developed within this module are the fundamentals of a successful career in the audio or video / broadcast industry. The lectures and workshops cover fundamental video systems, required to understand and fault-find in practical situations. The coursework is designed as team exercise. Working on a complex project together as essential transferrable skills relevant to most jobs. The written hand in is a systems diagram drawing and professional report write up, again of essential skills in many occupations. The module also includes some content which currently is needed in industry to fill a skills gap in the TV industry. Skills in practical Broadcast engineering in video and audio and knowledge of broadcast comms systems in particular.

Sustainability: as part of the theoretical understanding of video, the topics will also discuss aspects of sustainability in professional video, including large scale power systems and power efficiency.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: The workshops and coursework exercise develop practical skills in fault finding in the field, possibly in inclement conditions and in a strictly time limited situation.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.