European broadcasters and programme makers rush to embrace HD

Sony is responding to unprecedented levels of interest in high definition within the international programme making community by taking its team of HD specialists to MIPCOM.
With hundreds of stations already transmitting High Definition pictures in Asia and the United States, European commitment to HD is rapidly gaining pace. Following the lead of Euro1080 with HD1 – Europe’s first commercial high definition service – broadcasters including Sky, TF1/TPS, Canal+ and Premiere have signalled their intention to launch HDTV transmissions in the near future.
Meanwhile, programme makers are rapidly switching content production to HD in anticipation of mainstream television service launches. Many dramas and factual programmes as well as sporting and cultural events are now routinely produced in High Definition to broaden their international market appeal. In parallel with this, consumer ‘pull’ for HD content is being stimulated by the new wave of attractively priced HD-compatible flat screen receivers, by next-generation games consoles and the imminent arrival of high definition Blu-ray players and packaged media.
Quality-critical programme makers are already appreciating that High Definition equals lower real-world costs – and thanks to the latest generation of High Definition production tools from Sony, HD is a more affordable choice than ever. By offering a choice of high definition options – from the affordability and convenience of the entry-level HDV format to the peerless quality of HDCAM and HDCAM SR – Sony allows programme makers to realise their creative and commercial vision without compromise.
Rapidly emerging as a de facto international standard for High Definition production and distribution, Sony HDCAM is now routinely specified by broadcasters, rental operations and post facilities for creation of the very highest quality programming. Combining high definition picture quality with proven reliability, HDCAM is instantly familiar to camera crews and edit houses. And recent additions to the HDCAM line-up now offer programme makers the choice of shooting in high definition while operating within standard definition budgets. As a complement to HDCAM in a wide range of applications, the compact, highly affordable HDV format offers all the benefits of HD shooting and postproduction at a modest price premium over Standard Definition DVCAM.
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