Snell & Wilcox Kahuna scoop awards at NAB

The Snell & Wilcox Kahuna SD/HD production switcher was recognised with four best-of-show awards at NAB2005, with wins including the Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit, a TV Technology Superior Technology Award Recipient (STAR) Award, a Television Broadcast Top Innovation Award, and a Government Video Salute.
Kahuna, the first production switcher to offer simultaneous standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) operations in the same mainframe with the same control panel, puts broadcasters in control of their transition to HDTV by allowing them to start working in HD now while continuing to use legacy SD equipment.
Kahuna's extraordinary flexibility enables users to work initially in SD-only or HD-only mode, and then upgrade to multiformat SD/HD operation whenever they choose. In multiformat SD/HD mode, Kahuna's unique FormatFusion technology allows SD sources to be seamlessly integrated into HD productions and vice versa, with no need to purchase expensive HD upgrades or extra HD upconversion equipment.
Kahuna operators can allocate mix/effects banks (M/Es) to either SD or HD sources, or to mix the two together on a single M/E. This operational flexibility makes maximum use of all available M/Es by networking multiple control surfaces to different mainframes, allocating one mainframe to separate control panels, or operating in SD or HD as required. This capability not only makes Kahuna the most versatile production switcher available on the market, it also eliminates the expense of additional upconverters, graphics systems, and other peripheral equipment. Its low weight, power consumption, and heat generation make Kahuna equally at home in weight-sensitive OB vehicles and in fixed installations.
Users of the Kahuna system have access to an extraordinary customer support program created by Snell & Wilcox. The multitier Kahuna Care program provides a preventative maintenance regime, and offers services - such as on-site attendance by a Snell & Wilcox engineer or backup TD at critical events.
To date the new SD/HD production switcher from Snell & Wilcox has achieved more than 20 orders from customers in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
(CD/SP)