Broadcast Engineers are professionals who work in a subfield of electrical engineering. This area deals with radio and television broadcasting, etc. They are responsible for making sure that programs are broadcast at the highest quality level and on time. Their job also includes the operation and maintenance of systems used in television, radio and other broadcasting channels.
Broadcast Engineers also work with hardware and broadcast systems that are used across television, radio and new media. They make sure that programmes are broadcast on time and to the highest possible level of quality; they also carry out updates and repairs. Broadcast Engineers work in a range of locations and situations such as studio or set work or post-production operations. They could also be involved in outside broadcasts, where sound and images are relayed live back to a studio or straight to the network.
There are many steps and procedures that candidates have to go through it for having this very demanding profession.
Broadcast Engineer Eligibility
Candidates should be passed their Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering and or Broadcast Technology from a recognised institute.
Broadcast Engineer Required Skills
- Broadcast Engineers should possess a good knowledge of audio engineering, radio frequency (RF) engineering, information technology and computer engineering is a must, as broadcast engineering entails elements of all these fields.
- They should also possess an aptitude for technology is paramount regardless of field of speciality, and a keen interest in new technologies is crucial for career development.
- They must be familiar with A/V instrumentation measurement, studio acoustics, camera lenses, audio mixers, video compression, video capture, radio frequency satellite unlinking and down-linking and occupational health and safety.
- They should be required to have strong teamwork skills which are essential such as broadcast engineers usually work closely with radio and television producers, studio managers and supporting technical staff.
How to become a Broadcast Engineer?
One has to follow below-given steps for becoming a Broadcast Engineer-
Step 1
Candidates after passing 12th class in science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognised Board go for Bachelor’s Degree. There are many institutes offering Degree Courses in the very subjects for this profession. The admission to these courses is given on the basis of entrance test conducted by institutes or all India level tests. The percentage marks of 12th class are also given credit/or considered during admission procedure.
Bachelor’s Degree Courses-
- B.E. (Electrical Engineering)
- B.Tech. (Electrical Engineering)
- B.E. (Computer Engineering)
- B.Tech. (Computer Engineering)
Course Eligibility-
For above-mentioned courses, candidates must be passed 12th class in science stream and a pass in the entrance test conducted.
Entrance Test for these Courses-
Step 2
The Master’s Degrees are not required for most broadcast engineering jobs but it is considered an asset for career advancement. For entry-level jobs, employers can favour candidates who have gained some experience in student broadcasting or who have worked at local stations or production companies.
Institutes offering Courses for Broadcast Engineer
- Aditya Engineering College, East Godavari
- Alpha College of Engineering & Technology, Gandhinagar
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Institute of Engineering and Technology, Shimla
- V.N.S. Institute of Technology, Bhopal
Broadcast Engineer Job Description
The duties of the broadcast engineer include:
- They generally set up the studio instruments for the transmission and editing.
- They also have to design and set up the audio as well as video circuits.
- They instal the multimedia hardware, software and other digital broadcast technology systems.
- Moreover, they set up and operate the links between studios and OB units.
- Even, they edit the live programmes as they are being transmitted or recorded.
- They also test and service the equipment.
- Besides this, they have to find and repair the technical faults also.
Broadcast Engineer Career Prospects
After passing the courses, they have many job scopes as full time at a single station or work as freelancers and offer their services to more stations. They do work there such as maintenance of radio towers, broadcast automation systems for studios and automatic transmission systems for transmitter plants. In case there is a change in a station in its transmission facilities, a broadcast engineer will usually be tasked with addressing any issues concerning radio frequency interference. Broadcast Engineers also work in a studio and an on the number of locations from which broadcasts are relayed back to the network or studio.
Broadcast Engineer Salary
The starting monthly salary of a Broadcast Engineers is ranging from Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 on an average basis. It also differentiates from place to place and company to company such as they are given more than this in reputed companies in the country or in foreign countries. They can also earn more than this as they keep gaining work experience with the passage of time.
