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Delta Média

Delta Média is a local press group situated in Gravelines (in the north of France) that is made up from three entities. A radio station with a strong coastal image, a TV station that's trying to become a true local authority and a website that allows everyone, especially those who've moved away, access to local news at the click of a button.

We spoke to Karim Maatem, the director of Delta TV - the TV station arm of Delta Média, a venture that supports 17 competent and motivated professionals - about their use of the Video Toaster to make their headline TV programme "La Quotidienne" (The Daily). A morning show broadcast live every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning at 10:30, the presenters hold live chats in the section entitled "aquarium" with guests who discuss all manner of local events, whether they be sporting, cultural or merely odd.

Live TV is a constant challenge - not only for technical or human reasons, there's a majority agreement to be made every second by the team at Delta TV. Strict organisation, precise and motivated choices, a clip for every programme, a guest every day and recurring themes.

Hi Karim, can you tell us exactly what your role is at Delta Média?

Karim Maatem: I am responsible for the Television arm and I supervise five people.

Can you tell us a bit about Delta Média? How many people make up the Delta TV team?

KM: A journalist; an editor; a cameraman; a Video Toaster technician/operator; a trainee cameraman; and me, a reporter and the editor in chief.

When did you first hear about the Video Toaster?

KM: I found the Video Toaster on the net, a bit by chance. I was actually looking for an alternative to analogue editors that were completely out of our price range. After the first taster, we searched further: into English-speaking forums and finally we got in touch directly with NewTek Europe.

What about the Video Toaster convinced you to integrate it into your production pipeline?

KM: The all-in-one aspect of the Video Toaster was already really exciting on paper. DDRs, professional titling and above all live mixing of multiple video streams. Once we saw it at a demonstration, we were conquered by the ease of use of the program. It really worked! And for our twisted but committed digital video minds, with a limited budget and no time, it turned out to be the ideal tool. In addition, with needs based around a live morning show, we needed to base our work around a key machine without the means or space to get loads of recorders or a dedicated titling system - there are only four of us in the production suite! The Video Toaster enables us to solve all these problems with a quality suited to our broadcast facilities. From sound to titling avoiding dedicated video recorders or titling machines, all for the price of a DSR 80!

Mathieu Vanquelef, editor and Video Toaster operator for Delta TV joined us for the following questions:

What equipment did you work on previously?

Mathieu Vanquelef: Panasonic W J 50, 1 DSR 90, a DVD player and a titler, and a PC equipped with Flash for titling.

You use the Video Toaster to produce your TV programme "La Quotidienne", I'd like to know a bit more.

What subjects do you cover?

MV: Local information mainly, but very general - sports, culture, politics.

Is it a pre-recorded or live TV programme?

MV: It's live but certain sections are pre-recorded.

If pre-recorded, is the programme's post-production carried out on the Video Toaster?

MV: Some elements are, especially when we need overlays - VT-Edit is very flexible.

If live, is the Video Toaster used to broadcast?

KM: Yes, the Video Toaster is the final mixer.

How many people have been trained on the Video Toaster?

MV: Three people with one of them being the permanent operator (Mathieu Vanquelef - ed's note).

What were their respective jobs (journalists, reporters, editors, playback)?

KM: Technician, journalist and editor/director.

Delta Média

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