MAM
Failing to create New Broadcast Standard for all platforms will harm the industry: Haim Saban
NEW DELHI: Asserting that it is “not just important, it is vital,” Univision chairman Haim Saban has urged the development of a new broadcast transmission standard “to allow us to deliver our signal to all platforms, all the time.”
Addressing the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas, Saban said “If we do not, we will be left back in the 20th century. It is not an option.”
He called on the Advanced Television Systems Committee to “seriously not consider anything else.” “Make it freakin’ happen,” Saban added, urging the NAB to lead the effort.
Saban’s remarks came during a frank and lively keynote conversation with NAB president and CEO Gordon Smith.
During the discussion, Smith additionally asked Saban about his support for retransmission consent. “I don’t understand what the argument is,” Saban said. “‘I have got your content. I’m going to sell it and get paid for it—but I am not going to pay you. It is illogical; it does not make any sense.”
He got a laugh when he recalled selling Fox Family Worldwide, which included the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers franchise, to Disney, only to buy the Power Rangers back “at a fraction, fraction of the cost.”In that specific case, I guess we were better than them,” he quipped.
In another session, Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC, spoke about the film ‘Gravity,’ the groundbreaking Alfonso Cuarón-directed film that has the whole motion picture industry re-examining the once-clear borders between animated and live-action filmmaking.
Produced in partnership with the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the session was presented in the form of a lively interview with the ASC’s Jon Witmer. Set in outer space, the film positions real actors inside an almost entirely virtual environment. Lubezki recalled the first time he heard Cuarón’s idea for ‘Gravity.’
The film combines the shooting of actors with elaborate CGI work, so VFX supervisor Tim Webber came on board very early in the production process of determining exactly how to create the elements necessary to realize Cuarón’s vision.
“We can do it very simply,” Lubezki recounts Cuarón saying. “It will be one actor. It’s in space so we can shoot it in front of a black background.”
Lubezki explained that they immediately realized the procedure was “the opposite of normal. Usually, you shoot the actors and then [the VFX artists] make the CG work with those [elements]. This time, we had to make an entire CG movie, then shoot actors to incorporate into that.”
The CG artists at visual effects house Framestore built an elaborate pre-visualization of the film with all the shots planned precisely, with roughly animated likenesses where the real actors’ faces would later be composited. Lubezki discussed his collaboration with the 10 animators at Framestore who were creating much of what would become the movie.
“It was a group of different artists with different ideas and different solutions,” he said. “I would say I want the sun to be a little to the right in this shot and they might see it as ‘cheating.’ ‘That is not where the sun would be if there is a cut from here to here,’ they would object. It was like working with 10 different gaffers!”
As the CGI took form, the filmmakers were still figuring out how to shoot and light the actors who were going to be composited into the “CGI movie” they were creating. So much of the texture and feeling of cinematography comes from the way the subject, environment and light all interact. And the filmmakers still wanted as much of that magic to take place in camera as possible.
Lubezki explained that the way the actors floating through space was simulated, was through a combination of moving the actors on platforms, and flying cameras and lights around them using robotic arms. Much of the shooting of the actors was done inside a specially-designed “light box,” a small room of approximately 12 x 12 feet, constructed entirely from LED panels on which the production could project appropriate portions of the pre-vis so that the actors could see what the characters were seeing and the illumination from the projected scenes was actually reflecting on them.
“If you zoom in on [Sandra Bullock’s] face,” Lubezki said, “you can see the environment and even other characters reflected in her eyes. That’s the kind of thing we really did not want to try to do in post.”
The then-new ARRI Alexa made the film possible, he reported. This was partly due to its ability to shoot at EI 1600, which he says was sometimes necessary in order to get the exposure he wanted with the LED panels serving as the primary source of illumination. He also explained that despite his love of shooting film, his initial testing indicated that film’s texture — even stocks with the tightest grain — simply didn’t work for the 3D experience.
The fact that ‘Gravity’ was always designed to be shown in 3D informed everything about the way he shot the live-action portions. He worked primarily with very wide lenses — mostly 18 mm and 21 — and at deep stops—generally T-5.6 —“to give the audience an immersive experience.”
While his approach was clearly a departure from the simpler style that has helped Lubezki’s work stand out for some time, he emphasized that he didn’t really see his work as a cinematographer as essentially different on “Gravity” than on any other project. “It felt exactly the same. It was about lighting and framing and movement. It was everything I do on a ‘normal’ movie, just using different tools.”
MAM
Worldwide Travel Insurance for Indian Travellers: How to Find a Plan Without Geographic Gaps in Your Protection
Travelling to more than one country can make insurance selection more complex, because a policy that looks broad at first may still leave certain destinations, transit points, or regions outside its scope. For Indian travellers, this can lead to gaps in cover during a medical emergency or travel disruption abroad.
Here’s a guide to understanding how worldwide coverage works, which plan types to review, and how to check for geographic exclusions before choosing a policy.
Why Geographic Coverage Matters in Travel Insurance
When travellers look for the best travel insurance, medical cover and premium often get early attention, but geographic scope matters just as much. A policy may appear broad while still limiting cover in certain countries, regions, or travel routes.
This can affect hospital access, emergency support, evacuation terms, and non-medical benefits. For Indian travellers visiting more than one destination, checking where the policy applies is an important way to avoid gaps in protection.
Types of Worldwide Travel Insurance Plans Available to Indians
Worldwide travel insurance may be available in different formats, and each one should be reviewed based on the route, trip pattern, and list of destinations.
Single-Trip Travel Insurance
This type of policy is generally chosen for one overseas journey with fixed departure and return dates. It may suit travellers visiting one country or more than one destination during the same trip. The policy still needs to be checked carefully to confirm whether every destination on the itinerary is covered during the full travel period.
Multi-Trip Annual Insurance
This type of plan may be suitable for travellers who visit different countries several times a year. It can be useful only when the policy’s covered regions match the countries included across those trips. Before choosing it, travellers should check trip duration limits, region-wise exclusions, and whether all intended destinations are covered under the annual plan.
Region-Specific Plans
Some policies are built for selected regions rather than for the whole world. These plans may be arranged by destination groups such as Asia, Europe, or broader international zones. They may be suitable in some cases, but they should be reviewed carefully if the journey includes stopovers, connecting countries, or travel beyond the listed region.
Comprehensive Worldwide Plans
These plans are usually reviewed by travellers who want broader international cover across multiple destinations. However, a plan described as worldwide may still have country-wise limits, separate terms for certain regions, or limits on healthcare access and emergency services. The wording should therefore be checked in detail before relying on the description alone.
Key Coverage Areas That Ensure Global Protection
A worldwide policy should be reviewed for the coverage points that matter when travel includes more than one country or a wider international route. These areas help show whether the plan is suitable for broader overseas travel and not limited to only a few listed destinations.
● Cover that applies to all countries listed in the itinerary, not only the main destination.
● Cover for transit stops and connecting countries that are part of the planned journey.
● Clear mention of excluded countries, restricted regions, or destinations not covered under the policy.
● Emergency medical and assistance support that remains available while travelling across different countries.
● Evacuation and repatriation terms that continue to apply during multi-country travel.
How to Check for Geographic Exclusions Before Buying
Geographic exclusions are often found in the detailed wording rather than in the headline promise of the plan. A careful review before purchase can help travellers understand whether the policy matches their travel route.
● Check the destination list in the policy schedule.
● Read whether excluded countries, sanctioned regions, or restricted zones are mentioned in the wording.
● Review whether transit stops and connecting destinations are mentioned as covered travel locations.
● Check if medical network access differs across countries even when the policy appears globally valid.
● Read whether adventure activities, cruises, or remote locations have separate geographic conditions.
● Review assistance and claim support terms to see if they apply equally across all covered destinations.
Conclusion
A travel insurance plan cannot be judged only by premium, destination label, or the word worldwide term alone. For Indian travellers, geographic scope needs close attention because exclusions and regional limits may affect how the policy works during the journey. A careful review of plan type, covered locations, medical support, and destination-specific terms may help reduce avoidable gaps.
