HDTV Dailies Now a Reality for Laser Pacific With TANDBERG Television ATSC Encoder
TANDBERG Television E5820 HDTV ATSC Encoder Integral Part of Unique High-Def Dailies System
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--March 13, 2000-- Laser Pacific, a Hollywood-based post-production facility, recently purchased a TANDBERG Television E5820 high-definition ATSC encoder to offer as part of its high-definition dailies system. Laser Pacific's unique implementation is the first of its kind and allows production teams to view each day's work in high-definition with minimal expense.
The high-definition dailies system at Laser Pacific is comprised of several units, all working together to provide the desired end result. The video itself is sent from a high-definition VTR to a TANDBERG Television E5820 ATSC encoder. The video is then compressed and transmitted through a SMPTE 310 converter to an 8VSB modulator. It then goes from the modulator to a Panasonic digital set-top box and is finally fed into a Panasonic digital VHS machine. That digital VHS tape is then sent to Laser Pacific's clients.
In order to replay the tape, the clients need a Panasonic digital VHS machine for replay, a Panasonic digital set top box for connection to the television, and a digital television. The total expenditure for the clients is well below $10,000, and they have an opportunity to see their high definition dailies in high definition as opposed to making production decisions based on a standard definition tape, which was the solution until now.
According to Emory Cohen, President and COO of Laser Pacific, the company set out to accomplish a first in the dailies industry: create a fast, reliable, high quality, low-cost way for producers to view dailies in HD. ``Prior to this system, there was no way a producer could see his dailies in high-definition because the broadcast-quality, high-definition VTRs are far too delicate and expensive to be used for dailies screening purposes, particularly on location,'' said Cohen.
He explained that after initially researching the idea, Laser Pacific discovered they could create a low-cost system for viewing high-definition dailies that used the same equipment and format that is used for broadcast. Additionally, since the equipment is easy to use, the learning curve is extremely short. ``Because the playback equipment (the set-top box and digital VHS machine) are consumer devices,'' said Cohen, ``they are simple to operate and don't require any type of engineering background.''
According to Cohen, Laser Pacific chose the TANDBERG Television ATSC encoder over the competition due to its reliability, availability, competitive price and image quality. "The quality of the pictures we saw were above the competition, and the availability of the product was important -- we were able to receive the encoder in a timely fashion,'' he said.
Cohen added that the support from TANDBERG Television has been nothing short of exceptional. ``In order to meet our production needs, it was necessary to get a loaner system before our own came in,'' said Cohen. ``The technical support was very responsive, and we were providing high definition video to our clients within two weeks of placing the order.''
Laser Pacific currently provides the option of high-definition post-production services for eight episodic television series and a number of movies and mini-series for television. Many of the associated production companies are beginning to use these services. Among the recent projects to use the system was the CBS mini-series "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town,'' based on the book about the Jon Benet Ramsey murder.
About TANDBERG Television ASA
TANDBERG Television ASA, a Norwegian technology company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, has operations worldwide and employs 850 people in Asia, Australia, Europe and the US. The company provides open solutions for digital broadcasting, specialising in products and systems for the management and transmission of digital TV signals. TANDBERG Television is a leader in digital video compression, multiplexing, transmission and reception and has proven systems integration and global support capabilities. The company is committed to open solutions and plays a major part in developing open systems and international standards such as MPEG-2, DVB, ATSC, SMPTE and DTTV.
TANDBERG Television's customers include major broadcasters and network operators in the digital cable, satellite and terrestrial TV markets as well as leading players in the mobile contribution, distribution, ATM and private network sectors. Current customers include BSkyB, BBC, BT, Echostar, Eutelsat, FOX, France Telecom, NBC, NTL, NTU, Reuters, SES (Astra), Sinclair Broadcasting, SkyLA, StarTV, Televisa, Tribune Broadcasting and USA Broadcasting.
TANDBERG Television Inc., 3501 Jamboree Road, Suite 200, Newport Beach, California, 92660. Tel: (949) 725-2548; Fax: (949) 725-2545;
Web Site: www.tandbergtv.com.
Note to editors:
On October 14th, 1999, TANDBERG Television completed its purchase of all the assets of NDS' Digital TV products business, the Digital Broadcasting Business (DBB), a subsidiary of The News Corporation group, for the sum of $272 million. This new business combination positions TANDBERG Television to address future challenges in the Digital TV market, and will strengthen the competitiveness of TANDBERG Television with a comprehensive value-added service offering to the global market.
----------------------------------
Contact:
Pipeline Comm.
Brian Galante, 703/339-9831
[email protected]
or
TANDBERG Television Inc.
Lisa Hobbs, 949/725-2548
[email protected]
or
Platform
Gay Platts or David Bramley, +44 181 964 9149
[email protected]
|
