Sony Introduces Digital High Definition Video System

Business Wire, March 5, 1997

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 1997--High definition television in the U.S. officially began with the FCC's approval of a digital television transmission standard on December 24th, and Sony Electronics is positioned to unveil a new HD product line designed to meet the digital television (DTV) needs of the industry. Sony's high definition video system (HDVS) products represent the achievement of accumulated breakthrough technologies coupled with the wisdom of ten years of high definition market leadership. A new line of HDVS products will be shown at the National Association of Broadcasters conference in Las Vegas.

"Digital high definition television has arrived, and Sony is ready to direct a new course," said Charles Steinberg, president of Sony Electronics' Business and Professional Group. "Sony has been patiently preparing for the advent of standardized digital television for more than a decade. The FCC ruling has provided a framework for broadcasters to pursue a flexible digital HDTV/SDTV future which, in turn, has quickened the pace for manufacturers. Sony is in the fortunate position of being able to capitalize on our existing widescreen SDTV digital technologies to develop a cost-effective high definition video system which will more realistically fit broadcasters' and producers' creative and economic needs today and in the future."

Sony's HDVS system is based on the 1920 x 1080 resolution format specified by the SMPTE 274M HD production standard and the ATSC A/53 DTV Transmission Standard. The HDVS product launch at NAB will include the world's first one-piece HD camcorder, an associated editing VTR, a digital switcher and digital multi-effects unit, control room HD monitors and key peripheral products.

All HDVS equipment has a built-in HD Serial Digital Interface for baseband distribution and networking (which adheres to the SMPTE 292M serial standard.)

Established Systems Prove Beneficial

At first glance, Sony's new HDVS product line bears a striking resemblance to the company's present 525-line SDTV product line--BVP-700 camera series, the Digital Betacam(R) camcorder and DVS-series switcher. Most of the HDVS equipment provides dual outputs, one being full HDTV at 1920 x 1080 pixels, and a simultaneous 525-line SDTV output that can operate in either 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios. This flexible approach is for the benefit of broadcasters who are planning on orderly migration to HDTV or who are interested in operating multiple program origination formats (HDTV and SDTV) within their networks. Maintaining high comfort levels of user operation was a key factor in deciding to replicate existing control panels. In fact, the high definition HDC-700/750 HDVS Studio/OB/EFP camera family is built in the same physical casings as the existing BVP-700/500 SDTV camera family and can utilize the same lenses and video operational panels. The HDW-700 one-piece HD camcorder utilizes the same physical hardware as the widescreen DVW-700 Digital Betacam camcorder, the HDS-7000 digital switcher utilizes the operational panel of the current DVS-7000 digital switcher and the HDME-7000 uses the same interface as Sony's existing DME-3000 and 7000 units. By basing the HDVS products on existing 525-line products like the BVP-series cameras and the Digital Betacam system, Sony is able to achieve crucial economies of scale in the manufacturing process which will bring the new product line to market efficiently and cost effectively, and thus greatly aid and accelerate user implementation.

Sony mobilized the most contemporary of VLSI chip technology in the development of the camcorder which resulted in a drastic reduction of the size and cost of the unit over existing HD cameras and VTRs. Aside from the tremendous cost saving owed to this technology, the initiation of HD in-the-field acquisition and production represents a major advancement essential to the successful emergence of DTV.

The creative benefits of digital HD -- almost six times the total resolution of current television production, widescreen images, and superior six-channel digital surround-sound -- will be most appreciated in mobile field production where the wide angle HD capture of natural elements will redefine cinematography for television. The dramatic new portability of an integrated HDVS system will allow producers to work in any remote location at the highest possible DTV broadcast standard without the prior limitations of a studio-designed approach.

Finally, unparalleled HD imaging performance as well as the flexibility associated with more familiar video production will also be realized by the new HDCAM recording format which uses Sony's BCT-40HD Metal Particle tape. With a 40-minute running time in the new HD camcorder, and in excess of two hours in the associated editing recorder, the standard half-inch-wide, 145m-thick tape in a standard Betacam cassette offers long-running, robust reliability, which is essential for dependable remote production.