The BBC is using the switcher Kahuna, by Snell & Wilcox, for SD/HD production multiformat in standard and high definition coverage definition of the 2006 World Cup from the studies and BBC facilities in both Munich and Berlin.
Kahuna Systems installed at both sites allow the production team work with both SD and HD sources on the same computer, integrating them in production and transmission feeders simultaneously in both formats.
"The 2006 World Cup represents a major challenge for broadcasters such as the BBC, while the meeting is one of the most viewed productions of the year, as well as the main event to be broadcast both in SD as well as HD," said Joe Zaller, vice president of marketing from Snell & Wilcox. "The BBC is originating SD and HD broadcasts for multiple locations in Germany and our Production Switcher Kahuna is the key to integrating SD and HD sources in production and simultaneous power supply of SD and HD broadcasts".
A Kahuna 4-M/E system (mix/effects banks) in Berlin and a 2-M/E system in Munich, both supplied and installed by GearHouse Broadcast, allow the BBC production team and operators of the switcher choose from a wide variety of resources -cameras SD and HD, VTR, graphics systems, etc.- regardless of their format.
The unique FormatFusion technology Kahuna enables unparalleled integration of SD fonts into high quality HD productions without conversion external. Snell & Wilcox switcher offers trading Simultaneous SD and HD on the same computer with the same SD panel control, which helps operators locate M/Es both in SD sources as in HD, or mix them in the same M/E.
Snell & Wilcox supplied a significant support in the design of the systems and in the training of freelance operators before the opening of the event.
