SECAUCUS, NJ (August 28, 2008) – To enrich the viewing experience of on-site and on-line Buffalo Bills fans, the NFL franchise recently purchased Panasonic P2 HD production equipment to shoot game-day features that will be shown on the team’s 82′ by 35′ in-stadium HD video display. The same programming will be carried on the team’s closed-circuit cable network that airs in the facility’s suites and club areas.
Bills Television Network (BTN) purchased a Panasonic P2 HD production package that includes the AG-HPX500 2/3″ shoulder-mount P2 HD camcorder, the AJ-HPM110 P2 Mobile Recorder/Player, AG-HPG10 P2 Gear Recorder and the AJ-PCD20 five-slot P2 drive. According to BTN Video Production Director/Engineer Stephen Asposto, the team committed to HD acquisition for the 2008-2009 season to maximize the capabilities of the HD scoreboard it had installed last year.
BTN will also utilize the tapeless HPX500 HD camcorder to shoot widescreen content for the team’s website, www.buffalobills.com. Ultimately, BTN will produce HD programming for its in-season television shows.
“The HPX500 package, with its variety of recording and off-loading options, is tailor-made for our production environment, with edit suites in three different buildings on our campus,” Asposto said.
“The ease of the P2 workflow was a major reason for our decision.”
“Standardizing on DVCPRO HD is a win-win for us, as we can purchase weekly footage from NFL Films in that format,” Asposto added. “Moreover, BTN produces all the team’s pre-season broadcasts in-house, and it’s a simple matter to rent trucks with DVCPRO HD support.”
Asposto said that the HPX500 would also be used to shoot half-time features during the pre-season.
The P2 HD material will be edited on Avid Media Composers, and then transferred via FTP to a central Ross Video SMS server, which will feed the HD display and in-stadium television service.
About the HPX500
The AG-HPX500 teams the full production-quality of 2/3″ 3-CCDs, DVCPRO HD, 4:2:2 sampling and independent frame encoding with the versatility of interchangeable lenses and the creativity of variable frame rates. Offering the highly popular features of the incredibly successful AG-HVX200 P2 HD hand-held camcorder but with many new enhancements, the 8.2-pound HPX500 features progressive 2/3″ 3-CCDs that provide a larger light receiving area resulting in increased resolution and sensitivity, superb low-light performance and wide dynamic range. The HPX500 records in 32 high definition and standard definition formats, including 1080i and 720p in production-proven, 100 Mbps DVCPRO HD. The HPX500 records on removable P2 solid-state memory cards in 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p; in 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p; and in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO and DV. For more information on the HPX500, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.