FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ProHD: HERE AND NOW
In 2007, HDTV is everywhere!
According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), more than thirteen million HD television sets were shipped to retailers in 2006. Today, about thirty million U.S. households own ATSC digital sets; about thirty percent of households with annual incomes greater than fifty thousand dollars own one or more HDTV sets. Moreover, twenty-four million DTV sets will be sold in 2007, with HDTV sales eclipsing SDTV.
HDTV is, indeed, everywhere.
This explosion of HD in the home has created a voracious appetite for HD programming. An increasing proportion of primetime network programming is being produced and aired in HD. National and local news have begun the migration to HD. In local news, a primary revenue source for most stations, the competition for eyeballs is fierce. HD technology necessarily becomes part of a larger competitive strategy. To remain competitive in a reality of continuous technological evolution, many organizations have adopted "interim" or "hybrid" tactics to their capital planning. Solutions enabling an HD transition while maximizing use of a pre-existing SD infrastructure can maintain a highly competitive edge while optimizing capital equipment R.O.I.
About thirty-five broadcast stations now originate local news in HD; in most cases, the transition to HD news brought ratings and viewer demographic benefit. As multiple HD news organizations populate each market, a finer edge will come to competition for viewers: this is where ProHD's extended capabilities push the competitive envelope. Capabilities including:
JVC's visionary ProHD design and partnership with other leading technology providers bring unparalleled flexibility, functionality and R.O.I. to HD News. The result is unrivaled competitiveness in HD newsgathering.
SEAMLESS HD MICROWAVE TRANSMISSION: ProHD Libre
In today's broadcast environment, creating the image is only part of the story. The fast-paced world of Ôbreaking news' and live events requires a reliable and cost-effective means of getting those signals back to the studio and broadcast center.
With the GY-HD250U's integrated HD SuperEncoder5, it's possible and cost effective for stations to upgrade from SD Remote transmission to live HD remotes. This unique capability is already being adopted by major-market news operations in the U.S. In a local variation, ProHD Libre enables wireless HD camera operation, up to 1 km, giving news crews freedom to do live remotes untethered to the news van.
The HD explosion is not exclusive to the broadcast domain. Cinematography, Documentary, Faith-based Organizations, Independent Producers and Corporate producers are moving to HD origination. It is the responsibility of the manufacturers like JVC to provide technology solutions to fulfill the requirements of this exploding demand for HD program material.
ProHD CAMERAS
Today, it seems there is an HD camera for every application and at every price point, with consumer camcorders available for about $2,000. Unlike some competitors' so-called "Professional" cameras that are derivatives of consumer designs, JVC's ProHD is firmly established in an original and unique design, inspired and influenced by actual Broadcast, Cinematography and Independent Producers. In stark contrast to massive camera designs that appear increasingly dated, JVC pioneered the "Compact Shoulder" form factor now valued by many shooters. Incorporating full bandwidth HD, native HD imaging and recording and JVC's SuperEncoder5, the only things missing in ProHD are excessive weight and excessive cost.
From the entry-level GY-HD110U to the selectable 24/25/30/50/60P recording frame rates of the 200 Series, ProHD cameras are being used for short-form commercial production (in either 24p or 60p) and in cinematography (at 24p) for major productions to the ever-expanding and exciting independent community. The increase in local HD news and sports production has found 60p highly effective. In its HD-SDI studio configuration, the GY-HD250U is HD picture format agnostic, equally capable of 4:2:2 full bandwidth 720P/60 or 1080i/30. Today, JVC cameras are at work today in all facets of professional production. More than 30,000 ProHD units are in use today, worldwide.
AFFORDABLE MEDIA STORAGE
While tape media leads in its affordability and convenience (and JVC believes market acceptance will extend for many years) non-tape storage is enjoying increasing popularity as an ever-increasing variety of storage option.
Currently relatively expensive, solid state storage is practical for limited applications. While JVC is optimistic about the future of solid state storage, to be truly effective in field recording applications generic solid state technical performance must rise, as must cost/capacity. Hard disk media has distinct advantages in long form recording applications such as concerts, theater events or to record Iso-cam feeds. While hard drive media has distinct advantages, it will take time to solve cost and archive issues. Optical disk has certain cost advantages but a number of workflow shortcomings. Current competitive implementations require relatively costly proprietary media that is unacceptably large, physically.
In today's reality, JVC believes a Hybrid media system including direct file access/native file based offers the optimum price/performance option. Products like the DR-HD100 recorder enable Hybrid recording in HDV or DV to both drive and tape using a single Firewire connection. And, DTE drives provide instant editing access to leading non-linear editing systems. In keeping with its commitment to Affordable HD, ProHD offers low initial cost of ownership and non-proprietary media.
JVC ProHD. Here and Now.
Four years ago, JVC ignited HD production with its controversial "Affordable HD". Unlike the earliest (ca 1995) frame-bound HD systems, ProHD's MPEG recording makes full advantage of modern processing power by using a GOP infrastructure. This newer method enables full bandwidth HD at a relatively low data rate, maximizing its flexibility while conserving archive and bandwidth requirements.
At NAB2007, the original ProHD vision is broadened to embrace an unequalled range of full system options. Taking HD well beyond the basics, ProHD is now wireless HD cameras, live HD remote capability, field-to-studio dual functionality, hybrid media options and blazing-fast workflow on multiple platforms. Technical cooperation with leading organizations like Troll Systems, BMS as well as leading NLE and server providers has greatly extended ProHD's range of applications.
ProHD maintains the full 1280 x 720 signal - full raster HD. ProHD operates using native pixel-to-pixel transfer of data, without scaling. That means a 720p camera begins with 1280 x 720 CCDs and maintains that resolution throughout the recording process. JVC provides the most practical and affordable means to fulfill evolving market needs.
HIGH DEFINITION STUDIO MONITORS
Today's professionals are looking for affordable, high-performance flat panel displays. Historically, flat panels did not provide the performance level of equivalent CRT displays. But through significant advancements in display and processing technology, JVC's new DT-V series of monitors boast superb contrast and color performance, with full native HD resolution available in both 1080 and 720 picture formats. The DT-V24L1DU and DT-V20L1DU panels accept analog and HD/SD-SDI inputs while the sister models DT-V24L1U and DT-V20L1U accept analog and DVI inputs. All DT-V panels provide safe zone indications for accurate monitoring of SD and HD images, display of up to twelve channels of audio levels, and individual display designation.
In combination with JVC's exceptional line of CRT monitors, we are providing solutions for just about every studio monitoring requirement.
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMITMENT
2007 marks the 80th Anniversary of JVC. For years, the company has been developing and offering high quality, competitively priced equipment.
JVC's commitment to efficient, full-featured HD is realized in all its product lines. But under no circumstances does efficient, full-featured HD mean compromises in performance or quality. As a founding co-developer of intra-frame and MPEG compression technology, JVC has a long history and deep resources in High Definition.
JVC marketed the industry's first 1080i model camera, and we were among the first companies to develop a recording system for SD intra-frame compression and the first to create an HD MPEG recording system.
JVC believes in delivering quality without compromise, maintaining its long-standing promise of quality combined with efficiency. In today's ever-expanding market, ProHD offers the most practical, affordable, and complete HD production solution.
JVC ProHD: Here and Now.