All BBC sport programming will be produced without the use of video tape within three years, thanks to BBC post-production's decision to move to a totally tapeless service, writes Will Strauss.

All BBC sport programming will be produced without the use of video tape within three years, thanks to BBC post-production's decision to move to a totally tapeless service, writes Will Strauss.

Working with manufacturer Quantel, the post wing of BBC Resources will gradually introduce a digital server-based set-up that will be phased in to allow all of its users, including BBC sport, to produce, edit and play out without ever going near tape.

BBC Resources director of technology Paul Grice, speaking at NAB, said: "The post-production market is seeing advances in server-based technology and this is going to continue to change the post industry within the next three to five years."

BBC sport and other quick turnaround programming currently rely mainly on tape and are limited by the inefficiencies of the medium. A tapeless environment is expected to improve efficiency and work flow.

In the short term, there will be a reduction in tape-based working at BBC post-production, although archive capture will still take place on tape.

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