Sony Takes The HD Highway To NAB 2005

Sony Takes The HD Highway To NAB 2005

HD Technology Covers an Array of Applications Including TV and Movie Production, Network News, Digital Cinema, Event Videography and Electronic Cinematography

LAS VEGAS, April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (NAB Booth SU6406) -- With more than 60 percent of U.S. households expected to have high definition television (HDTV) sets in 2005, the demand for HD production equipment is rapidly rising. At this week's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, Sony Electronics is ready to meet this demand, with more than 50 percent of its professional broadcast products on display featuring HD production capabilities.

Under the theme of "HD Highway," the new Sony professional products at NAB include cameras, camcorders, optical disc technology, production switchers, non-linear editors, tape recorders and videotape, for use by television and motion picture directors, network and affiliate news organizations and post production facilities.

"Sony broadcast and professional products are helping to drive the growth of HD consumer entertainment in every form, from the digital production of TV shows and movies, and even to digital projection in your local movie theater," said John Scarcella, president of Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Business Solutions Company. "And the applications for these products stretch out beyond broadcast and video and into all aspects of everyday life, from medical and education to corporate and government uses."

For broadcasters, Sony's XDCAM(TM) Professional Disc(TM) system, which uses blue-laser optical media to capture footage instead of tape, has been adopted by leading news organizations and at NAB, Sony is announcing that the 10 owned-and-operated networks of the ABC Television Network will adopt XDCAM technology over the next 18 months for their newsgathering and production processes. This announcement comes on the heels of CBS Television's decision to adopt XDCAM technology for its network news division and 16 owned-and- operated stations.

Other high-profile XDCAM customers being announced at NAB include the E! Entertainment Network and five stations within the Gray Televsion Group.

Also on display at NAB will be a technology demonstration of a high- definition version of Sony's XDCAM system.

For the growing digital cinema industry, Sony is showing its SXRD digital projector, which is capable of displaying images at nearly four times the resolution of current HD displays, and higher levels of contrast than competing technology.

Sony's SXRD technology is driving the introduction of digital cinema to the American mainstream, starting this summer Landmark Theatres takes delivery of six Sony projectors. The theatre chain, co-owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner, will eventually convert all of its 59 theaters to digital projection.

Sony HD production equipment is also prominent throughout the current television primetime schedule, with more than 50 new and returning shows shot digitally with Sony's CineAlta(TM) line of acquisition and recording products.

CineAlta technology is also at the forefront of motion picture production. Recent digital releases that have taken advantage of Sony technology include Michael Mann's "Collateral," Robert Rodriguez's "Sin City" and the soon-to-be released "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith."

Other planned exhibits and demonstrations from Sony at NAB will focus on current and future HD products and technologies, and the roads customers can take to migrate from their standard definition infrastructures to HD-based operations.

"We've revamped existing Sony SD and HD product lines with new products featuring 24P production capability and built-in up-converters," said Scarcella. "Sony can offer a cost effective road to take towards an HD future without compromising current SD or HD investments."

In the Sony exhibit, visitors can also view applications of Sony products that extend beyond traditional broadcast markets: Sony LUMA professional LCD monitors that bring HD viewing capabilities into medical operating rooms; Sony H.264 products that define a higher level of videoconferencing; Sony MPEG4 security cameras that extend customers' ability to protect premises; and digital signage networks that offer new levels of IP-based communications and control.

While HD is clearly on customers' minds, Sony remains strongly committed to those who have significant SD investments and seek a cost-effective migration path to HD. Sony is rolling out four new SD camcorders that can extend current infrastructures while providing new levels of image quality, functionality and ergonomics.

The DSR-400 and the DSR-450WS (wide-screen) models expand Sony's line of DVCAM professional camcorders. Both are based on 2/3-inch Power HAD(TM) EX CCDs, and the DSR-450WS is a wide-screen model that can capture images in 60i as well as 24PsF, 25PsF (PAL models) and 30PsF.

Continuing the 24P imaging capability across all SD formats, the new MSW- 970 MPEG IMX camcorder and the DVW-970 Digital Betacam camcorder complete the SD 24P line up. The new models are based on a common platform, bringing 14-bit A/D and high-end image quality and production flexibility to their respective camcorder families.

"These new features and enhancements to our widely used acquisition and storage solutions, including 24P options and i.LINK(R) connectivity, reaffirm our commitment to our customer bases," said Scarcella. "While we're clearly developing products for the future, no other company in the industry supports its legacy systems the way Sony does. There are many lanes on Sony's HD Highway. Our goal is to support our customers at any speeds they choose to travel."

Source: Sony Electronics Inc.

CONTACT: Tom Di Nome, +1-201-930-6357, tom.dinome@am.sony.com, or David Migdal, +1-201-930-7394, david.migdal@am.sony.com, both of Sony Electronics Inc.

Web site: http://www.sony.com/news

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more detailed product information, your readers can visit http://www.sony.com/professional. To find the nearest Sony authorized dealer or service location, readers can call 1-800-686-SONY. For additional press information and digital images, please visit Sony Electronics' news and information web site at http://www.sony.com/news.

------- Profile: Ent