ABSTRACT
Since the last edition of this handbook was published, an immense change has overtaken the infrastructure of the typical broadcast facility. Only a few short years ago, most television plants had a largely analog infrastructure with islands of digital equipment. Today, virtually all facilities have converted to a fully digital core or are on a fast pace to get there. This chapter addresses the basis of the analog infrastructure for a broadcast facility, essentially as a historical reference. It then discusses various aspects of the contemporary digital plant, highlighting some of the issues and challenges for video and audio distribution, synchronization (sync), timing, and switching.
