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 FOX ADDS EIGHT PANASONIC D-5 HD MASTERING VTRS TO SUPPORT "NFL ON FOX" BROADCASTS
SECAUCUS, NJ (August 31, 2004) – Panasonic announced today that FOX Networks’ Engineering & Operations has purchased eight AJ-HD3700B D-5 HD mastering VTRs to be used for 720p HDTV recording in its network operations. The primary application for the D-5 HD VTRs will be to record for archive the upcoming season’s broadcasts of NFL football games, including the 2005 Super Bowl, one of the network’s key sport franchises, all of which are being produced by FOX for the first time in the 720p HD format.
These D-5 HD VTRs are in addition to those FOX purchased last year for its network operations in Los Angeles, primarily used for accepting network programs delivered by producers and produced in the 720p HD format that airs on FOX.
FOX will also install the new AJ-HD3700B VTRs at the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles, and as of September 12, 2004, FOX will convert all of its network operations to the 720p HD format. At that time, the network will distribute at least half of its prime time schedule in HD, as well as six regular-season NFL games per Sunday, and all postseason NFL games, including Super Bowl XXXIX. This fall, the network also makes history with the first-ever HD broadcast of the World Series, and will also televise NASCAR’s famed Daytona 500 in HD next February.
Andrew G. Setos, President, Engineering, FOX Group, said, "The D-5 HD machine is the optimum machine to use to archive our NFL coverage in the 720p HD format, just as progressive scanning is the optimum format for capturing high-quality, crystal-clear images of the fast moving sports action of the NFL."
John Baisley, President, Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems, said, "FOX is a leader in the advancement of technology in sports broadcasting, and Panasonic is delighted that the network has chosen D-5 HD and expanded their commitment to the format. The availability of a full slate of NFL games in HD on FOX every Sunday is certainly a boon for sports fans."
The AJ-HD3700 series D-5 HD recorders are designed for challenging program mastering, high definition telecine, television commercial, and multi-format DTV and HDTV program production tasks. Panasonic’s D-5 HD recorders have established an unprecedented reputation for image quality and have been selected as the HDTV delivery format by major U.S. broadcast and cable networks.
The AJ-HD3700B is a true universal international mastering recorder that can record, edit and playback both 625 PAL and 525 NTSC D-5 cassettes as well as D-5 tapes from all previous versions of this widely-adopted production machine. The AJ-HD3700B can record, edit and play back in 720p/59.94p, 1080/23.98p and 1080/24p HD formats. Its progressive image recording of 24-fps film sources without frame-rate conversion enhances artistic image expression and allows high-quality digital mastering of film content, such as movies and commercials, into formats suitable for broadcasting and DVD packaging.
The AJ-HD3700B records up to 124 minutes in 1080/59.94i, 720/59.94p, and 480/59.94i. Recording times up to 149 minutes in 1080/50i and 1080/25p, and 112 minutes in 625/50i are possible, as well as 155 minutes in 24p. The AJ-HD3700B has the added benefit of recording and playing back eight discrete channels of audio in standard definition (NTSC or PAL) and high definition.
To date, Panasonic has delivered more than 3000 D-5 VTRs worldwide. |
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