THREE MORE POLICE AGENCIES CHOOSE JVC'S D-9 For Accuracy and Economy, D-9 is Still the Prime Suspect Wayne, NJ, (November 8, 1999) -- JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY announced today that the San Jose Police, Kansas Highway Patrol and the Louisiana State Police have each selected JVC's D-9 (D-9) as their in-house videotape formats for a myriad of uses, including creating public service announcements, training officers and recording intricate detail at crime scenes. Police Departments across the country are finding JVC Professional Products Company's line of D-9 editing recorders "arresting" as they take advantage of quality video production technology at affordable prices. Used in the creation of "How To" training videos, such as DWI checks, arrest procedures and report filing, and public service announcements, the upgrade to the D-9 suite of high-performance cameras, camcorders, recorders and players delivers great value to budget-conscious law enforcement departments. D-9 offers superior picture quality with high resolution 4:2:2 component processing on robust « inch metal particle tape. The long-length tape (maximum recording times of 124 minutes) yields plenty of time to fully record action scenes as well as staged events. San Jose Police Department Calls D-9 Into Action Unlike the private sector, this police department's video hardware is funded through private gifts and as discretionary funds become available. Therefore, the migration from analog to digital is gradual. Each piece is selected with great care, and must be backwardly and forwardly compatible to provide the most value, says Ron Daley, of the San Jose Police department's video division. The affordable cost of D-9 and its robust capabilities led the San Jose Police Department to its most recent purchase of the BR-D750 player/recorder. "The D-9 format was the only one offering 4:2:2 processing at a price under $10,000. This combination of high- performance and value made the BR-D750 our primary choice," says Robert Nouchi, video unit supervisor at the San Jose Police department. Nouchi reviewed other brand editing recorders at the NAB trade show. "The alternative to the D-9 recorder and the quality it delivers would have been the Digital Betacam format, but that would have cost us three times as much." Another factor in the San Jose Police department's decision to purchase the BR-D750 was its experience with the JVC's KY-27B camera. "Our next purchase will be the digital backs (BR-D40) for our KY-27s, which will allow us to fully enter the digital realm, quickly and economically," explains Nouchi. The San Jose Police Department uses D-9 to offline videos for its own force, as well as for the Commission of Police Officer Standards and Training in Sacramento and various federal agencies. "Ultimately, we will implement D-9 technology from digital acquisition through editing and, finally, to our point of distribution," says Nouchi. "JVC's products really help us to move steadily forward to our goal of being end-to-end digital while getting the very most value from our equipment budget." Kansas Highway Patrol In July 1999, the Kansas Highway Patrol upgraded its production capabilities with an array of JVC products, including a KY-D29 camera, BR-D40 D-9 dockable recorder, and a BR-D85 D-9 recorder with pre-read function. According to Will Downing, media specialist for the Kansas Highway Patrol, JVC's D-9 was selected for its superior strength-of- format, especially its 4:2:2 sampling and its future compatibility with high definition products which will soon be the mainstay of television stations state-wide. Downing described a heavy work load for the Kansas Highway Patrol's JVC equipment. "We focus on public information, public service and some in-house training applications, shooting up to 15 PSAs a year for our department and others." Story topics cover a broad range of safety issues, including DUI and safety belt education. But, the Kansas Highway Patrol also shoots lots of video for inter-departmental training purposes, with overviews of the whole agency and details on unique parts of the agency. We believe the high quality provided by D- 9 gives the crisp images sophisticated viewers expect from their viewing experience. Downing applauded the new JVC equipment saying, "We're very satisfied. With the KY-D29, our picture quality is exceptional and the low-light capability has far exceeded our expectations." According to Downing, this was the Kansas Highway Patrol's first upgrade in 10 years, and they plan to hold on to the equipment for an equal term in the future. Taking the longterm view, Downing selected D-9 as a digital videotape format, that will be compatible with future products, while delivering cutting-edge performance today. Downing recalled, "One of the main reasons for choosing D-9 was that it's switchable. With D-9, we can deliver PSAs and other video products that will work well into the 21st century." Louisiana State Police Moves in on High-Quality Video At Louisiana State Police headquarters, the JVC D-9 BR-D80 and BR-D85 editing recorders have replaced the Sony 9800 and 9850s because the equipment became "old and tired," says Guy LeBrance, AV production manager. "We wanted D-9 because of its 4:2:2 digital format, high image quality and incredible value. The pre-read capability is especially important, since it gives us the chance to produce complicated wipes and fades without the expense of two A/B roll machines." Besides high resolution and color details accomplished via 4:2:2 bit component processing, superior to any 4:1:1 digital format, the D-9 editing recorders offer mild 3.3:1 compression for superior multi- generation picture quality and 2-channel PCM audio. The Louisiana State Police department is also no stranger to JVC quality products. For years, it has been shooting its video productions with the company's KY-D29 camcorders. Says LeBrance, "JVC has always provided us technically superior products at a reasonable cost, and we are very excited about using D-9 to better our enforcement of the law." Graphic Detail Helps Police Train Better The law enforcement industry has migrated to video training and video event recording of crime scenes, confessions and other sensitive matter in a unified effort to better support legal cases. Training with videos has proven to be a particularly good method of immersing new officers in "real-life" scenarios efficiently and safely. Using sharp, life-like digital video to portray true crime scenarios can be a dramatic and unparalleled training tool. Police departments who've utilized the power of video often report that the training sessions have a profound effect on the types of choices young officers later make in similar dangerous situations. JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY is based in Wayne, New Jersey, and distributes a complete line of broadcast and professional equipment including cameras, recorders, monitors, projectors and editing products. For more information about JVC, contact David Walton at 1- 800-JVC-5825 or visit the corporate website at www.jvc.com/pro.