Broadcast Quality?

A local news channel has asked if I could give an SL demo on TV. Assuming top quality equipment, what is the maximum resolution possible and will I be safe in telling them SL can produce broadcast quality graphics?

It is totally feesible to make high resolution movies in SL, using the right equipment, but bear in mind, high resolution doesn't mean high quality, it just means more pixel footprint.

Using a high quality GC, and as importantly a fast HD array (SATA II, 10,000rpm with 16mb cache each) to suck the fps off a good quality flat panel, should make for detailed high resolution raw data. Always checking your display using Displaymate is essential. Just because something looks bright and good contrast/colour balance on your screen, doresn't mean it will on everyone elses. Using Displaymate at least will assure you produce a 'standard' which can suit most display setups.

If you are looking to show your creations on TV, check the standard required, PAL and NTSC are two different resolutions. If you are showing them in SL, forget TV resolutions, you are using a PC Monitor not a TV. If you need both PAL and NTSC resolutions, render them both seperately, don't try creating say PAL, then use a software converting programme (unless you have a professional media editing version of software costing a few thousand bucks), simply because the pixel shape and sizes, are different ratios.

What Capturing/Editing/Rendering software do you have?
Hardware spec would also help.

SL is a Virtual Environment created using a basic selection of textured prims. Windlight won't make up for the lack of real time shadows and raytracing, unless you shoot a lot of sunsets/sunrises by water, at best you will notice that textures are now tinted and look different than before.

Difficult question because it depends where you are in the world and what your local station is using. That said, I'm guessing that most stations would be able to handle material that conforms to the HDTV standard which has a resolution of 1920x1080. If you have the necessary hardware secondlife handles that just fine.

The other otption is to get me to do it, I can capture edit, supply video fro SL in full HD

http://www.slodcast.com

http://www.youtube.com/SLODCAST

The HDTV standard spec IS full HD. HD isn't hard. It just takes the right hardware. BTW none of the examples you provided appear to be HD.