COORDINATION AMONG DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF TELEVISION - 2 SUB-DEPARTMENTS AND SMALL SECTIONS

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TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

LESSON 44

COORDINATION AMONG DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF TELEVISION - 2

SUB-DEPARTMENTS AND SMALL SECTIONS

(ENGINEERING, TRANSPORT, FINANCE, ACCOUNTS AND MARKETING)

In previous lectures we have discussed the television setup and its departments on international level

as well as on national level but in this lecture we will focus the sub-departments and smaller sections

in a telecast organization which obviously are of very simple structure and not as much of size like

other departments but these contribute a lot in the process of production rather it would be appropriate

to say that the production is not even possible without the collaboration and cooperation of such

sections.

The Departments on international level include Sales, Entertainment, owned and operated stations,

Affiliated Relations, News, Sports, Standards and Operations while the departments on national level

include Human Resources or Administration & Personnel Department, Programmes Department,

News Department, Current Affairs Department, Sports Department, International Relations

Department, Engineering Department, Training Courses, Marketing, Information Technology and

Finance Department.

The Sub-Departments of television set up include Programmes Department, Camera Department,

Design Department, Make-up and Presentation Section.

Now we will discuss the role and functions of these sub-departments and related smaller

sections.

Sub-Departments

Programmes Department

This Department deals with the production of general entertainment programmes. It is headed by a

Programmes Manager and has Producer Programmes administration, Script Editor, Executive

producers of different kinds of programmes like Music, drama, documentary, events and general

assignments. All the senior producers, producers, associate producers, and assistant producers as well

as programme assistants and production assistants are part of this department.

Camera Department

This is a sub department of programmes production Department. It is headed by chief cameraman and

is supported by senior cameramen, cameramen, camera assistants, light men, lighting assistants, cable

men and still photographer. These all staff members work as per their duty schedule and the

recordings of the programmes.

Design Department

This department is responsible for set designing and erection of sets in the studios and outdoors of

various a TV network programmes. It is headed by the Design Manager and consists of senior

designers, designers and associate designers along with other support staff like welders, carpenters,

painters and studio hands to facilitate a producer for the recordings of different indoor as well as

outdoor programmes.

Make-up

This is also a sub-section of programmes department and it deals with the makeup, makeovers and get-

ups of the talents according to the nature of their performances. The Chief make-up artist heads it and

then there are both male and female make-up artists to make the actors, anchors, comperes and

newscasters, screen-friendly by their partial and full makeup as the heavy and flooding lights of studio

make the faces too bright and intense on screen if there is no makeup treatment done on the faces of

talents.

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TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

Presentation Section

This section comes under programmes department and is headed by a Presentation chief followed by

the transmission supervisors and duty officers to handle the scheduling and telecast of programmes

and advertisements. The section at any station has a liaison with the Programme planning department

at headquarters to make the daily cue sheet and the quarterly fixed-point chart.

Other related sections

Script Section

This section receives all the ideas submitted by the producers and other corners. It also evaluates the

scripts of all the programmes. All kinds of drama scripts as in series or serial, linking scripts as in

magazine shows, research scripts as in documentaries as well as lyrics of songs are submitted and

checked by the script section. Moreover the script editor is also the member of the previewing

committee. It comprises of a script clerk who stamps the scripts for payment to the writers and

researchers.

Library

This section is normally supervised by script section and has the broadcast media and television

production related books for the study of producers to keep them enlightened. National and

international Urdu and English dailies are also placed for latest updates in economic, financial and

political scenario.

Panning Cell

Planning cell a vital part of programmes department is headed by a Senior Planning Officer. This cell

issues different working schedules and facilitates the producers to make all kinds of planning for the

recording of different programmes.

Traffic Cell

This cell keeps the record of Masters tapes, Blank tapes and Chunk tapes issued and received by the

different producers. It notes down the previously recorded programme on the tape or tapes to be given

which have been televised or used and declares that now the tape or tapes can be used for the purpose

shown on schedule after checking carefully in the presence of concerned producer. However VTR

engineer and producer are also requested to check each tape well before the scheduled work.

ENG store

This section is responsible for issuing ENG equipment which includes Neck microphone, Hand

microphone, Cordless Neck Microphone, Cordless Hand Microphone, Boom / fish-pool Microphone,

Baby light, Kit light, Sun gun, Ultra light, Reflector, Battery Charger and Monitor.

Technical Store

This is responsible for issuing technical equipment like batteries, cells, CDs, adapters for mini DVs

and the maintenance as well as repair of any equipment damaged during the recording of a television

programme.

Properties store

This is responsible for providing all material to be used on the set. The producer of the programme to

designs department intimates all the required properties on the set of a television programme. The

supply, hire or purchase of the properties is the responsibility of this section.

Wardrobe

This section keeps all kind of dresses and costumes and get-ups to be used by the artistes and for the

performers in dramas. The dresses are kept in the wardrobe to maintain the continuity in appearance of

a serial or series.

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TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

Studio

The actual place where the all activities take place during recording and it includes floor and horizon,

cameras and boom microphones, set of the set, lighting grids, platforms, seating arrangement for

audience participatory programmes, place for the artists and the technical staff.

Workshops

It is the work place for welders, painters and carpenters to prepare and install the sets in to the studios.

Transport

This section is responsible for providing logistic support to the producer. The fleet of all the vehicles is

controlled and managed by the transport officer or supervisor.

MCR

Master Control Room is the place from where the final output signal received from the studios is

telecast with the superimpositions of the names, emails, telephone numbers, titles, end credits and last

but not the least the channel logo.

VTR

Video Tape Room is the used for a consolidated activity of editing, music mixing, sound effects,

graphics and animations a programme. The linear editing and NLE is also done in this section.

Moreover it records the live programme for the archives of the channel.

PCR

Production Control Room is normally known as panel and it includes monitors wall with cam 1, cam

2, cam 3 etc. Camera Control unit with waveform monitors, audio console, vision mixer or switcher,

recording equipment and lighting switchboard. It is the technical are to get and process the resultant

output by the cameras placed into the studios.

CRE

Central room for Equipment is adjacent to master control room and is responsible to throw the signal

off air through transmitter as it has all the technical equipments for this purpose. It collaborates with

the other channels of same network.

AFU

Audio Facility Unit is the section that has the archival audio pieces, all kinds of sound effects and

different types of music to be used for various programmes. Capable and competent audio engineers

handle all work in this section.

Graphics

This section is responsible for Animations, titles, end credits, super-imposed material and chroma

keying. Moreover the results of events, graphs and other relevant visual material like still photos and

drawings are also prepared by this section.

Duty Officer

This office monitors the transmission going on air and keeps a record of what all goes on air including

programmes and advertisements. Moreover this section also deals with the payments to the talents of

different TV programmes.

Media Cell

Media Manager or Public Relations officer works for press coverage, protocol duties, media liaison,

publicity and advertising, image building and public opinion formation. He or she welcomes the TV

journalists, arranges media briefings for the channel, manages launching shows, plans premier show

and issues news and photo releases to the print media.

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TV News Reporting and Production MCM 516

Security

The security officer along with the group of guards keeps an eye on all the expensive technical TV

equipment and the other movements in a TV station. It keeps the record of all kinds of visitors.

Exchange

It is essential part of a TV set up for the internal and external communication and coordination with

the co-workers and talent.

Reception

It is to receive and facilitate the talent, artists, participants and visitors with gate passes.

Canteen

It is for the refreshment of employees and artists coming for recording of a programme.

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