Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 16, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Visit Sony at IBC in Hall 9, Stand 9.C10.
Building and integrating complex broadcast infrastructures has long been one of Sony’s core capabilities. Its systems-integration business has grown continuously over the past five years and accelerated again during the past 12 months, when order volume rose by more than 40 percent. Sony maintains long-standing relationships with many customers. One of them, broadcaster BSkyB, has just selected Sony as lead systems integrator for its new media centre in the United Kingdom.
During the past 12 months, Sony Professional Services also secured numerous other projects worth several million euros each. These include construction of 15 new HD outside-broadcast vehicles, many representing the first step in long-term HD strategies; relocation and rebuilding of Sky Italia’s complete broadcast infrastructure; integration of the SONAPS networked-production solution at Canal+ in France and RAI in Italy; and technical outfitting of Spanish broadcaster Telecinco.
Companies outside broadcasting have also benefited from Sony solutions. Professional Services installed high-performance video walls in Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport, designed a system for RaceTech in the United Kingdom to record and archive more than 1,400 horse-racing days digitally, and supported France’s La Poste in building the country’s largest digital-signage network.
“Sony Professional Services is a proven partner to broadcasters, production companies and forward-looking event and retail organisations,” says Matthew Coombs, Director of Sony Europe’s Professional Services Division. “Our growing team of consultants, software developers, specialist systems engineers and project managers actively supports customers in implementing HD strategies and building file-based production environments.”
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Inspired by you. Designed by us: worldwide demand for individual solutions
Sony also offers innovation and flexibility through its broad product portfolio. Customers’ response is reflected in strong sales for HD and file-based workflows. Worldwide sales have reached 37,000 XDCAM Professional Disc camcorders and decks. Sony has expanded its HD leadership as well: with 43,000 units sold, HDCAM and HDCAM SR products remain the de facto standard for high-end production. Sony has sold 8,800 HD system cameras, 6,900 switchers and 210,000 professional LCD monitors, including the award-winning BVM-L230 introduced at IBC 2007.
“Over the past year we have repeatedly emphasised the importance of choice when migrating to HD production or a file-based workflow,” says David Bush, Director of Marketing at Sony Europe. “The excellent sales across our portfolio demonstrate that no single solution suits everyone. Customers moving to HD or IT-based workflows come to Sony because they know we can provide an integrated, future-proof and flexible route to their goal. From standard products to customised systems, nobody can meet the industry’s requirements better.”
Sony expands its technology leadership
The latest product innovations are presented at the IBC stand in four areas aligned with different customer requirements.
News & Live Events
Sony was the first company worldwide to provide a complete 1080p production chain. Its new 3G migration kit for users of HDC-1500 system cameras again underlines the investment protection offered by its products.
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Features & Commercials
Sony is extending the HDCAM SR family’s postproduction capabilities with new SRW-5800 features supporting digital-intermediate workflows. These include 1080 50p/60p, RGB 4:4:4 HQ mode, a dual-stream 3D mode and double-speed transfer for twice-real-time high-speed ingest into an NLE. The new HKSR-5804 network interface card enables DPX file transfer into and out of SR format and storage of uncompressed HD-to-4K files up to 4096 x 3112.
Responding to strong demand for HDCAM SR quality in mainstream programming, and to the format’s rapid adoption as the leading exchange format at the BBC and other UK broadcasters, Sony is introducing the more affordable playback-only SRW-5100 recorder.
Sony is strengthening the HDCAM line-up with the new HDW-650P camcorder, which incorporates several innovations developed for the PDW-700.
The TRIMASTER monitor range gains the high-performance 56-inch QFHD model with 3840 x 2160 resolution, the 17-inch BVM-L170 master monitor and the affordable 23-inch PVM-L2300 broadcast monitor.
Professional Production
Sony is also expanding its affordable production tools. Its compact-camcorder range gains the mid-market, hybrid-capable HVR-Z5E HDV camcorder. Based on the industry-standard HVR-Z1E and DSR-PD170P, it adds improved low-light performance, a new 20x G lens and, with the optional HVR-MRC1K flash recorder, a hybrid workflow.
The XDCAM EX family is extended by the PMW-EX3, described as the world’s only semi-shoulder memory-card camcorder with an interchangeable lens.
XDCAM Workflow
Sony announced 23.98p capability for XDCAM HD422. Upgrade kits for the PDW-700 and PDW-HD1500 are scheduled to become available in June 2009.
Sony is launching XDCAM firmware version 1.2, extending the PDW-700 and PDW-HD1500 with new frame rates, film-like HyperGamma and SD options for recording DVCAM and IMX.
Sony is also showing the latest XDCAM field recorder for Professional Disc users and a new XDCAM memory adapter linking Professional Disc with SxS.
Further links:
- Sony
