Television Production Handbook

In the field-defining text Television Production Handbook, author Herbert Zettl emphasizes how production proceeds in the digital age-from idea to image-and how it moves through the three major phases, from preproduction to production to postproduction. In this context, Zettl describes the necessary tools, considers what they can and cannot do, and explains how they are used to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness. This edition features the latest digital equipment and production techniques, including stereo 3D, 3D camcorders, 4K and 8K digital cinema cameras, portable switchers, LED lighting instruments, and digital lighting control systems.

New to this Edition

• Since the last edition, digital technology has established itself so firmly in all facets of television production equipment that the difference between analog and digital signals no longer justifies an entire chapter. Consequently, the previous edition's Chapter 5, “Analog and Digital Television,” has been removed and the remaining information about digital processes has been integrated into several other chapters.


• Coverage of videotape production has been removed, as it is typically now used out of necessity rather than choice.


• Material has been honed and clarified, pared to eliminate unnecessary repetition, and in some cases relocated to create even more cohesive learning units. For example, the major discussion of color has been moved from the camera chapter to the design chapter.


• This edition discusses the basic equipment features as well as perceptual and production principles of stereo 3D. Zettle also covers all important new equipment, including 3D camcorders, 4K and 8K digital cinema cameras, portable switchers, LED lighting instruments, and digital lighting control systems.

About the Author

Herbert Zettl is a professor emeritus of the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department at San Francisco State University (SFSU), where he led the Institute of International Media Communication and received the California State Legislature Distinguished Teaching Award and the Broadcast Education Association's Distinguished Education Service Award. Prior to joining the SFSU faculty, Zettl worked at KOVR (Stockton-Sacramento) and as a producer-director at KPIX, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, where he participated in a variety of CBS and NBC network television productions. Because of his outstanding contributions to the television profession, Zettl was elected to the prestigious Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Northern California Chapter.

He is also a member of the Broadcast Legends of the NATAS Northern California Chapter. Lecturing extensively at universities and professional broadcast institutions both in the United States and abroad, Zettl has presented key papers at a variety of national and international communication conventions. He is the author of VIDEO BASICS, TELEVISION PRODUCTION HANDBOOK and SIGHT SOUND MOTION, which are translated into several languages and published internationally. His numerous articles on television production and media aesthetics have appeared in major media journals worldwide, and he also developed an interactive DVD-ROM - Zettl's VideoLab 4.0 (Cengage Learning). His previous CD-ROM version won several prominent awards, including the Macromedia People's Choice Award, the New Media Invision Gold Medal for Higher Education, and Invision Silver Medals in the categories of Continuing Education and Use of Video.