Ensure the reliability and integrity of broadcast and media systems critical to the delivery of TV, radio and online services; in a broadcast industry.
This occupation is found in the Broadcast, Media and Entertainment industries.
Technicians will typically work for a broadcaster or media services supplier or broadcast equipment supplier/manufacturer.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to ensure the reliability and integrity of broadcast and media systems critical to the delivery of TV, radio and online services; in a broadcast industry which operates 24/7. It’s fast paced, dynamic and constantly changing. Technicians need to be able to respond quickly to problems, faults and the loss or impairment of services to ensure customers experience the best possible service. Broadcast and Media Systems Technicians need to know and understand the maintenance characteristics that are particularly critical to the broadcast and media equipment or system, including electrical, electronic, mechanical, software, environmental and ergonomics. They are also responsible for ensuring broadcast and media systems modifications and upgrades are delivered in line with agreed timescales and to industry specification.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with broadcast technical operators, broadcast engineers, customers and suppliers. They will be expected to work autonomously and take sole responsibility for making decisions about ongoing maintenance versus replacement and the implications of this such as cost, downtime and reliability. They will also be expected to take ownership to resolve and/or escalate faults and incidents following the correct company procedures. Broadcast and Media Systems Technicians must also be able to provide technical advice and support to users and operators of broadcast and media systems in line with service level agreements.
This role could be located in a broadcast or operations centre, at customer premises, playout operations, outside broadcast units, transmitter sites, production control rooms or IP Networks or Software Support. Operating and maintaining these systems is demanding,and may require out of hours working through shift working or on call rotas.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for operating and maintaining the broadcast and media systems which underpin the media and entertainment industry.
Core duties include:
Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Carry out planned maintenance on broadcast and media systems |
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Duty 2 Carry out corrective maintenance |
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Duty 3 Understand and comply with Health and Safety policies, processes and procedures for your organisation and role |
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Duty 4 Maintain Broadcast and Media Systems test equipment |
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Duty 5 Undertake Broadcast and Media Systems testing |
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Duty 6 Provide technical advice and support to users and operators of broadcast and media systems |
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Duty 7 Manage performance data and reporting for broadcast and media systems |
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Duty 8 Develop and maintain broadcast and media systems knowledge and skills |
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Duty 9 Support broadcast and media systems modifications and upgrades |
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Duty 10 Operate broadcast and media transfer/playout/export systems |
K1: Know where to source the correct maintenance procedures and schedules relevant to own role
Back to Duty
K2: How to obtain functional and specification documentation such as equipment manuals, system specifications, manufacturers’ maintenance plans, design documents, fault logs/databases, regulatory requirements, functional specifications and operational handbooks for maintenance
Back to Duty
K3: Understand the maintenance characteristics that are particularly critical to the broadcast and media equipment or system, including electrical, electronic, mechanical, software, environmental and ergonomics
Back to Duty
K4: Understand the safe systems of work and isolation for working on antennas, high voltage, power boards, switchboards and uninterruptable power supplies
Back to Duty
K5: Know and understand the factors affecting decisions about ongoing maintenance versus replacement, including cost, downtime, reliability
Back to Duty
K6: How to connect broadcast systems and equipment to IT systems
Back to Duty
K7: Understand the types of faults that may occur in broadcast and media systems and how to identify these
Back to Duty
K8: How to conduct root cause analysis
Back to Duty
K9: Why it is important to minimise equipment and systems downtime, and to solve problems quickly e.g. loss of service and potential reputational damage, or financial penalties for breach of service level agreements
Back to Duty
K10: Know and understand own Business Continuity procedures
Back to Duty
K11: Know and understand own workplace Health and Safety legislation, processes and procedures
Back to Duty
K12: Know how to safely use and maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), tools and equipment
Back to Duty
K13: Understand the company procedures for reporting hazards and risks to the appropriate personnel
Back to Duty
K14: Understand the main hazards to personal health and safety within own role such as electrical voltage and radio frequencies (RF)
Back to Duty
K15: Understand the different types and uses of broadcast and media systems test equipment such as analysers or meters
Back to Duty
K16: Know and understand the importance of keeping testing equipment clean and accurately calibrated
Back to Duty
K17: Understand the correct procedures for storing and transporting testing equipment
Back to Duty
K18: Know and understand how to use the testing equipment correctly and safely
Back to Duty
K19: Know when, and who to report faults with the testing equipment to
Back to Duty
K20: Understand elementary analogue and digital electronic techniques
Back to Duty
K21: Understand the fundamentals of digital signals, coding techniques, modulation and multiplexing techniques and fibre optic communication
Back to Duty
K22: Understand Radio Frequency (RF) communication principles, wave propagation, transmission media and RF radiators
Back to Duty
K23: Understand the principles, techniques and applications of computer network systems, ethernet and IP technology, network components, server systems, virtualisation and remote access technology
Back to Duty
K24: Understand the purpose, benefits, limitations and risks of the different equipment and software required for broadcast and media systems and when it is appropriate to use them
Back to Duty
K25: How to operate the broadcast and media systems, software and equipment required
Back to Duty
K26: Know the types of problem that can occur with the operation of broadcast and media systems such as loss of power, signal degradation, overheating etc.
Back to Duty
K27: How to prioritise operational problems and why it is important to solve a problem quickly
Back to Duty
K28: Understand the technical quality of service requirements that affect your work
Back to Duty
K29: Understand how to adapt communication style and supporting information to meet audience requirements
Back to Duty
K30: Understand how to identify and advise on the most effective and realistic solution in each circumstance, taking constraints into account
Back to Duty
K31: Understand the importance of and methods for, organising and storing information such as written descriptions, diagrams, note taking from meetings, feedback from reports, presentations and change control
Back to Duty
K32: Understand how to use the organisational recording systems correctly
Back to Duty
K33: Understand broadcast technical operations, technical systems and equipment and the context of their use in workplace activities
Back to Duty
K34: Understand the broadcasting and media systems industry; its heritage and its future direction.
Back to Duty
K35: Know how to use resources, such as online sites, to update knowledge and find out what others are doing
Back to Duty
K36: Understand how and when to ask questions to improve your practice
Back to Duty
K37: Understand the principles of design, architecture, development and maintenance of broadcast and media systems and networks
Back to Duty
K38: Understand the brief for the work and how to interpret requirements and parameters as provided by the customer or line manager, or project manager and/or senior engineer
Back to Duty
K39: Understand the file transfer protocols, relating to broadcast and media systems, software and equipment including file access rights
Back to Duty
K40: Know how to connect broadcast and media systems and equipment to networks
Back to Duty
K41: Know and understand the appropriate formats required for different broadcast methods such as Joint Photographic Experts Group Standard (JPEG) or Moving Picture Experts Group Standard (MPEG) files or MP3 (audio format of MPEG)
Back to Duty
K42: How to protect content and the importance of information security
Back to Duty
S1: Conduct planned maintenance on all systems in line with organisational procedures
Back to Duty
S2: Ensure maintenance work complies with all relevant regulations and guidelines
Back to Duty
S3: Take prompt action to respond to and diagnose any problems encountered
Back to Duty
S4: Record maintenance carried out and actions taken in appropriate systems in line with organisational procedures
Back to Duty
S5: Identify problems to broadcast media service or systems, conducting in-depth root cause analysis and fault finding as required
Back to Duty
S6: Take ownership to resolve and/or escalate faults and incidents following the correct company procedures
Back to Duty
S7: Communicate fault conditions in a timely manner, to colleagues, customers and service suppliers
Back to Duty
S8: Log faults and report them to the relevant operational business area
Back to Duty
S9: Comply with organisational Health and Safety policies, practices and procedures
Back to Duty
S10: Identify, mitigate and report any incidents or risks to the appropriate personnel
Back to Duty
S11: Complete Risk Assessments for tasks and work activities within and relevant to, own role
Back to Duty
S12: Work safely and follow procedures for working on antennas, high voltage, power boards, switchboards and with uninterruptable power supplies
Back to Duty
S13: Identify and obtain the appropriate test equipment required
Back to Duty
S14: Ensure the equipment is in working condition and calibrated correctly
Back to Duty
S15: Safely transport and store the testing equipment in line with organisational procedures
Back to Duty
S16: Report any faults with the test equipment, rectifying these if appropriate
Back to Duty
S17: Test and evaluate the performance of electronic circuits
Back to Duty
S18: Use software and hardware diagnostics tools and connectivity protocols to interface and integrate broadcast systems
Back to Duty
S19: Use test equipment correctly, evaluating results and taking the appropriate course of action
Back to Duty
S20: Interconnect and trouble-shoot video and audio signals
Back to Duty
S21: Identify and advise on the most effective and realistic solution in each circumstance taking into account constraints
Back to Duty
S22: Use a level of technical terminology that meets the technical understanding of the person receiving the advice
Back to Duty
S23: Adapt your communications style according to the audience
Back to Duty
S24: Use supporting information that aids others’ understanding of advice when required such as system diagrams
Back to Duty
S25: Check that the advice given complies with all relevant regulations and guidelines
Back to Duty
S26: Ensure the delivery of systems/services to customers in line with agree service levels
Back to Duty
S27: Comply with organisational systems for reporting and recording information
Back to Duty
S28: Ensure records relating to planned and corrective maintenance are correctly completed and updated
Back to Duty
S29: Create and maintain a professional development record to document progress against key competencies and enable effective learning from the workplace
Back to Duty
S30: Seek help or advice from appropriate people or information sources when limitations in your knowledge or expertise will impact on your work
Back to Duty
S31: Seek out learning and networking opportunities that will be most beneficial to you
Back to Duty
S32: Remain flexible, adaptable and positive to new directions, creative requirements and technical developments
Back to Duty
S33: Check that specifications are capable of being implemented and operated
Back to Duty
S34: Implement upgrades or modifications in line with organisational procedures and specification
Back to Duty
S35: Check ingested data or transport streams against workflow requirements
Back to Duty
S36: Operate broadcast and media systems using methods and procedures that meet requirements
Back to Duty
S37: Comply with the organisational processes for ensuring physical and electronic security of data and systems
Back to Duty
S38: Play out or export media in line with requirements
Back to Duty
S39: Check that outputs of broadcast and media systems comply with specifications, regulations, standards, guidelines and procedures
Back to Duty
B1: A strong work ethic and commitment to meet the standards required
Back to Duty
B2: Desire to expand technical knowledge, and passion for working with broadcast and media systems
Back to Duty
B3: Thinking creatively and logically to solve technical issues - contributing to a process of continual improvement
Back to Duty
B4: Recognition and compliance with workplace legislation, policies and procedures
Back to Duty
B5: Displaying confidence in their approach to communicating with different audiences
Back to Duty
B6: Building and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, customers and suppliers
Back to Duty
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
5
24
this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.
Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date | Latest end date |
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1.0 | Approved for delivery | 06/03/2020 | Not set | Not set |
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