Sony Electronics recently held a pre-NAB press conference during which it unveiled its NAB A99 show theme, Defining Digital @ Sony, and shared new product news and customer stories.
Billing A98 as DTVs year of introduction, Michael Vitelli, executive VP of Sonys broadcast and professional company, suggested that 99 would be the year of integration. He pledged Sony products that are open, flexible and scalable.
Sony committed to offering a full range of 24P equipment to high-end post facilities, which is something many have been hoping for as 24P in the digital realm is considered the equivalent of what D1 is in the analog world.
With Sonys 24P system, it is now possible to create single archival master from which all ATSC standards can be derived, Vitelli said. The HD master produced will be easily converted to any number of progressive or interlaced transmission formats, including 1080I, 720P, 480I or 480P. This saves post facilities and networks from the necessity of investing in multiple postproduction systems to satisfy different format demands.
The key is that the line is switchable between 1080/24P and 1080/60I/50I (25P). According to Sony, this allows a single postproduction system to scan in 24 frames progressive for film-originated material, in 60 field interlaced for recording HD video and in 25 frames progressive for international distribution.
At the press conference, it was announced that Laser-Pacific Media Corp., Burbank and Hollywood, Calif., would be the first company to incorporate the 24P system into its operations. The equipment is expected to arrive in June, in time to create episodic and movie programming for this falls TV season.
The industry has long recognized the need for a digital production standard to complement the new ATSC broadcast standards, said Emory Cohen, president of Laser-Pacific. I believe 1080/24P not only fills that need, but it also reduces economic barriers to HDTV program production.
Sony announced other sales of DTV-related technology to postproduction facilities in recent months. Customers include Encore Video, Hollywood and Santa Monica; The Post Group, Hollywood; Henninger Video and Roland House, Arlington, Va.; and Peachtree Post, Atlanta.
Sonys announced 24P line would include a HD telecine, VTR, editor, production switchers, digital effects systems, monitors, multiformat converters and peripheral products. It will be based around Sonys HDCAM format.
The first 24P products will be launched at NAB. They include the HDS-7100 HD digital production system. With a single mix effects switch and integrated digital effects options, the HDS-7100 is designed for telecine transfer, small postproduction applications or small mobile applications. It will list for $100,000.
Sony will also show an HD digital production switcher, the HDS-7000, which is designed for postproduction and live production applications and supports multiple standards including 1080/24P. It is priced at $500,000.
The HDME-7000 HD digital effects systems (24P) will be Sonys flagship HD DME and provides interface capabilities with the HDS-7000. It is also designed for post and live production, and supports multiple standards. It is priced at $400,000. These first 24P products are expected to ship in June.
The FVS-1000 multiresolution telecine, whose development was announced at the 97 ITS Annual Forum in Los Angeles, will also support 24P. Sony expects two of these systems to be demostrated at NAB. The FVS-1000 is currently in beta and scheduled to ship in June. Pricing is expected to fall between $750,000-$1.5 million.
At NAB, Sony will be promoting its HDCAM product line with an arsenal of production and post technology. That includes the HDW-250 HDCAM field recorder. This portable HD VTR offers four channel audio capability and is battery operated. It is compatible with a number of Sonys HD cameras. It is scheduled for October availability; pricing has not been announced.
In addition to its main booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sony will have an additional 40,000 square feet of exhibit space in the new expansion area of the convention center. (Sony will not have exhibits at Ballys this year.)
Super Sessions:
Y2K: The Final Checklist will be presented April 19 as one of the NAB 99 super sessions. FCC Commissioner Michael Powell, who co-chairs the telecommunications sector of the Presidents Council on year 2000 conversion, will keynote the session.
Panelists include Tom Beauchamp, chief engineer, WRAL-TV, Raleigh (one of the earliest TV station adopters of HDTV); and John Peterson, whose Washington-based think tank The Arlington Institute established Project Y2K.
Several more super sessions are scheduled. April 20, NAB A99 presents Electronic Commerce: An emerging multibillion-dollar industry. Keynote speakers are Steve Pearlman, co-founder/CEO/president of Web Networks; and Mitchell Kertzman, president/CEO of Network Computer.
Another April 20 session, The Virtualization of Hollywood, is co-produced by the Performance Animation Society and will address such topics as synthetic actors, virtual sets and digital props. Gregory Peter Panos, founding co-director of the Performance Animation Society, is scheduled to present with several digital technology developers and creative producers.
Where is Wall Street Finding Value: Broadcast, Multimedia, Satellite and Telecommunications will be held April 21. FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth will give opening remarks. Mark Cuban, president and co-founder of Broadcast.com will give the keynote address.
This session will focus on how Wall Street determines the value of converging electronic media industry segments, including broadcasting, multimedia, satellite and telecommunications.
Also on April 21 is Webcasting and IP Multicasting: Competition or new revenue generators. Rob Glaser, chairman/ CEO, RealNetworks, will give opening remarks at the session.
Part of the Webcasting and IP Multicasting session is co-produced by the International Webcasting Association (IWA), a source of information on the business of webcasting. Topics will include how the audio and video quality of webcasting has improved, driven by enhanced software, faster modems and improved Internet connections.
For Road to NAB editorial consideration, submit all information to Carolyn Giardina, senior editor/postproduction, SHOOT, 1515 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10036. Phone (212) 536-1427, fax (212) 536-5321 or e-mail cgiardina@shootonline.com.
