Telecast Fiber's CopperHead(TM) Transceivers Enable Smooth HDTV Transition for WHYY
Public Television Station Achieves Maximum Flexibility and Economy With Studio Deployment of Sony Camcorders via CopperHeads
WORCESTER, Mass. — May 5, 2009 — WHYY, the public television and media company serving the Greater Philadelphia market, has chosen Telecast Fiber Systems’ patented CopperHead™ line of advanced fiber optic video systems to help facilitate a cost-effective path to HDTV content production. The CopperHead G2 2400 camera-mounted transceivers deliver full studio capabilities to new HD camcorders installed in WHYY’s studios in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del., and also facilitate mobile production.
As WHYY planned its transition to HDTV, the station chose to upgrade its two studios with Sony PDW700 XDCAM® HD camcorders rather than go to the expense of purchasing fixed, limited application studio cameras. Each studio is equipped with three of the camcorders; each one outfitted with a CopperHead G2 2400, which multiplexes all of the camera’s output and input signals onto a single, durable, and lightweight fiber optic cable. In addition, WHYY has installed a CopperHead control unit in its Y-Arts mobile production van, which enables any one of the Philadelphia camcorders to be taken into the field for multicamera, mobile production operations. Any of these camcorders can easily be taken into the field for electronic field production.
The CopperHeads enable capabilities for the camcorders that are typically found only on high-end fixed studio cameras, including camera control, tally lights, teleprompters, and sync. Likewise, the CopperHeads enable producers to take full advantage of the camcorders’ onboard recording capabilities. Each camera can simultaneously record its output locally on an XDCAM-HD disk while being used by a “live” control room switcher. Isolated camera capture is then instantly available for use during post-production editing.
“With the CopperHeads, not only have we saved a great deal by leveraging less expensive camcorders in the studio, but we’re maximizing our investment in the cameras by using them for field work as well,” said Bill Weber, vice president and chief technology officer at WHYY. “And, since the CopperHeads also accept SD inputs and outputs, they have enabled us to continue SD production as we complete the build-out of our control room facilities for HDTV — an essential step in our HD transition.”
“WHYY is a textbook example of how the CopperHead system can bring tremendous flexibility and cost savings to any broadcasting operation,” said Richard Cerny, president of Telecast Fiber Systems. “We applaud WHYY’s creative approach to its HDTV migration, and we’re pleased that the CopperHeads are playing such a starring role.”
# # #
About WHYY
WHYY, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate TV12 and WHYY FM, the public broadcasting stations serving southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and south New Jersey. Offices and studios are located in Philadelphia and Wilmington. WHYY TV12, serving the Delaware Valley for more than 30 years, broadcasts to more than 2.6 million households in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, which extends south to approximately Dover, Del.; east to Atlantic City and northeast to New Brunswick, N.J.; north to Bethlehem and west to Lancaster, Pa. WHYY also operates TV64 in Seaford, which transmits TV12 programming to southern Delaware. For more information, visit http://www.whyy.com/.
About Telecast Fiber Systems, Inc.
Telecast Fiber Systems, Inc. is a leader in portable and fixed fiber optic systems for television broadcast production. The company’s video, audio, and communications systems are used worldwide by TV networks, teleproduction companies, sports venues, and various private, educational, and government and military organizations to extend range, simplify cabling, and reduce labor costs and set-up time. Telecast systems accommodate all television production signals, including NTSC/PAL video, SDI and HD/SDI video, analog and AES/EBU audio, HD and triax camera interfaces, and intercom and data signals. More information can be found at http://www.telecast-fiber.com//.
All trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners.
Get Press Release .PDF