Sports

Sony to Provide HD Broadcast Equipment and Production Technology for NBC's Coverage of the Vancouver Winter Games
XDCAM HD Camcorders and Decks, HDC Studio Cameras, MVS Switchers and HD Displays Bridge NBC's Coverage from Canada to United States

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 24, 2010 - Sony will provide a range of HD production technology to NBC during the network's coverage of the Vancouver Winter Games, Feb. 12-28.

To produce its 850 hours of coverage, NBC is using more than 50 Sony HD studio and portable cameras -- the HDC-1500 and HDC-1000 cameras, as well its newest HSC-300 and HXC-100 models. NBC will use Sony's MVS production switcher technology -- both the MVS-8000G and MVS-6000 versions -- to handle feeds from each sports venue and also to originate its HD cable coverage on USA Network, MSNBC, and CNBC.

NBC will use more than 20 XDCAM PDW-F800 cameras and 140 PDW-HD1600 decks. The network is planning to use the XDCAM camcorders as its primary ENG camcorder for its coverage of the Games. NBC crews also will use the optical camcorders to record athlete arrivals, interviews, press conferences and any other assignment that requires portable recording and capture. Complementing these are several PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX™ memory camcorders, used to capture shots that require a more mobile production tool.

NBC will also use about 500 Sony HD professional monitors, a combination of its professional public displays, LUMA™ LCD series and TRIMASTER™ BVM-L and PVM series for critical evaluation and broadcast video production.

"Sony's HD technology has come through for us time after time and we're confident that it will help us improve our production capabilities once again," said David Mazza, NBC's senior vice president of engineering. "The XDCAM system is a proven performer, and Sony's expanded line of HD studio cameras, switchers and displays deliver the right combination of features, quality and performance to once again make NBC's coverage of the Games come to life."

Enhancing the Sony camcorders' video capture qualities is Sony's professional audio products, including the DWT and DWR digital wireless system technology, as well as the ECM-77BC lavalier microphones, ECM-678 electret condenser mics.

To complement its live on-site coverage, NBC is also sending three Sony camera feeds to the Universal Sports facility in Los Angeles. Universal Sports will deliver five hours of live daily news and information, highlights, analysis and updates during the course of the Games.

Also working closely with NBC is Sony's Professional Services group, which is involved in product set-up and workflow testing, with a goal of providing 100 percent uptime for all broadcasting equipment and operations.

"NBC's production requirements for the Games continue to expand each year, especially as the use of HD technology increases," said Alec Shapiro, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Production group. "Our HD production technology is designed to keep pace with broadcasters' most challenging schedules, while still delivering high-quality images and unrivalled performance."