Tele-Communications Inc. Unveils State-of-the-Art Production Facility for Interactive Television

Los Angeles Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) has taken a significant step in the realm of interactive television by unveiling its new production facility in Hollywood. The sprawling facility, spanning over 125,000 square feet, boasts cutting-edge studios, control suites, and editing facilities, solidifying its position as the nation's leading laboratory for interactive television. TCI's Hollywood hub will cater to the creative community, serving as a hub for brainstorming and idea-sharing, particularly in the realm of cable and entertainment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new facility has 125,000 square feet of studios, control suites, and editing facilities, making it a comprehensive production center for interactive television.
  • The facility offers a teleport for uplink and downlink of satellite signals, as well as fiber optic cables direct to the metro Denver headquarters, enabling seamless connectivity and collaboration between the two centers.
  • TCI officials have emphasized the goal of creating a one-stop shop for programmers, where they can produce shows, do post-production editing work, digitize signals, compress them, and uplink them to satellites.
  • MTV staff members were actively producing a new show called "The Blame Game" while April Kwan was preparing to anchor a newscast for Asian Americans, demonstrating the facility's operational capabilities.
  • The center's news studio has been used as a TV news set in notable movies, such as Titanic, Contact, and Independence Day.
  • Liberty Media's interactive venture has rented space in the facility, and other companies are expressing interest in joining the hub.
  • The facility will have a uniquely LA flavor, with amenities like makeup and dressing areas, an exercise room, and a special room for the pets of Hollywood stars.

Statistics:

  • 125,000 square feet of studio space available for interactive television production.
  • 75 television network executives and other programmers attended the facility's opening event.
  • 10 satellite dishes at the facility enable seamless uplink and downlink of satellite signals.
  • The facility has fiber optic cables direct to the metro Denver headquarters, facilitating collaboration between the two centers.

Sources:

  • [1] Rebecca Cantwell News Staff Writer, "Tele-Communications Inc. Debuts New Facility for Interactive TV" (no date provided).
  • [2] NDTC President David Beddow (no date, or specific quote source).
  • [3] General Manager Rosemary Danon (no date, or specific quote source).
  • [4] Brent Imai, Vice President of Programming for ACTV (no date, or specific quote source).
  • [5] Peter Douglas, NDTC official (no date, or specific quote source).