Panasonic broadcast equipment in wide use at Olympics

Broadcast to more than 3.9 billion people, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games is one of the world's most watched sporting events, and Panasonic is playing a key role in bringing the Games to television viewers around the world.
Athens Olympic Broadcasting (AOB), the host broadcaster, is using Panasonic DVCPRO50 50Mbps 4:2:2 VTRs and camcorders as its official video recording format.
AOB is utilising over 100 Panasonic DVCPRO50 VTRs, including AJ-SD955 and AJ-SD930 editing decks with variable slow-motion playback, at the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC), while 200 professional cameras and camcorders are in use in the field at Olympic venues. These include 100 AJ-SDX900 16:9/4:3 switchable DVCPRO50 camcorders capable of shooting 24 frames per second as well as recording full 48-kHz/16-bit digital audio on all four channels.
Panasonic has also equipped AOB with 1,600 broadcast-quality monitors, including 1,100 LCD displays (such as the 14" BT-LS1400). The Panasonic monitors are being used by editors and technical operators in the IBC's editing suites and transmission centre.
Panasonic has supplied the AOB with 40 advanced DVD-RAM video recorders. The DVD-RAM video recorders can record 16 hours in EP mode on a 9.4GB double-sided disc, while a progressive scan component terminal optimises the resolution for both PAL and NTSC sources when connected to a plasma display, LCD TV or LCD projector.
The combination of Panasonic DVCPRO50 VTRs and camcorders, digital cameras, DVD-RAM recorders and monitors is helping the AOB provide world broadcasters with 3,800 hours of live and recorded pictures from Olympic venues all around Athens and Greece.
In addition to the AOB, many world broadcasters are using Panasonic HDTV and DVCPRO format equipment to shoot additional images, live interviews with athletes, or interesting features about Athens and the Games. Panasonic's new DVCPRO P2 Series solid-state memory camcorders are being tested by the AOB and Beijing TV Station, China.
Panasonic is providing extensive engineering support to service the world broadcasters around the clock during the Games.
Panasonic has supplied broadcast video equipment and maintenance support to the host broadcaster during the Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Nagano 1998, Sydney 2000, and Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games.
(GB)