New York, NY--CBS Television is adopting Sony's XDCAM professional disc technology as the ENG platform for CBS News and all 16 CBS O&O stations. CBS News plans to be fully operational with the XDCAM system by early 2005. The O&O stations will convert to XDCAM for ENG beginning in 2006.
CBS's investment is projected to exceed $20 million over the next two years. CBS News will take delivery of more than 75 XDCAM camcorders and approximately 250 decks, with hundreds of more units to be allocated across the O&Os.
The [XDCAM's] ability to manage low- and high-resolution data dovetails perfectly with our workflow," said Andrew Heyward, president, CBS News, at a joint Sony/CBS press conference announcing the relationship. "It's cutting-edge technology but it grows organically out of what we're used to."
"For the first time, the stations and networks will be on the same platform," said Bob Ross, senior vice president, CBS east coast operations.
At the same press conference, Sony and CBS also announced that CBS is installing a second HD suite at its Television City facility in Los Angeles, comprising an array of Sony products, including a production switcher, monitors, and VTRs.
Sony
www.sony.com/professional
