SALT LAKE CITY — July 28, 2008 — Utah Scientific today announced that Hearst-Argyle-owned NBC affiliate WYFF of Greenville, S.C., has deployed the company's UTAH-400 digital routing switcher, MC-2020 master control switcher, and SqueezeMax effects unit to support its transition from analog to digital and to enable broadcast in HD.
"We've been a Utah customer for many years. In fact, the router I'm replacing is a 23-year-old analog router from Utah Scientific," said Doug Durkee, WYFF director of broadcast operations. "When necessity forced us to move from analog to digital, we were glad to stay with the company. Utah Scientific products are extremely reliable, durable, and easy to upgrade, and the warranty protection is excellent. We've also been very happy with the service from Utah."
WYFF serves the No. 36 Nielsen market, which is very competitive, especially on the local news front. One way WYFF distinguishes itself from the competition is that it broadcasts the region's only live Doppler radar. The Utah Scientific SqueezeMax effects unit, which replaces two outdated pieces of analog equipment, will, among other things, enable the station to use its live Doppler radar more flexibly and predictably as an element within its station ID.
"To stay competitive, broadcasters need more than high programming quality; they need high technology quality, as well," said Utah Scientific President and CEO Tom Harmon. "At WYFF, Utah is supporting a technology transition that is sure to sharpen a local station's competitive edge."
The UTAH-400 digital routing switcher family includes HD and SD digital video switchers and AES/EBU digital audio switchers in all matrix sizes. At WYFF, the UTAH-400 router, on the air since June, is a 144-frame, loaded 96x40 system. Specifically designed to address the growing requirement for large switching systems, the UTAH-400 is based on an innovative matrix architecture that greatly reduces system complexity, resulting in commensurate reductions in rack space and power requirements.
WYFF also purchased the new Utah MC-2020 digital master control switcher. The MC-2020 frame can hold two independent signal-processing channels, allowing WYFF to build a system in one frame that supports both SD and HD formats, as well as dual-channel configurations for either format.
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About Hearst-Argyle
Hearst-Argyle Television owns 26 television stations and manages an additional three television and two radio stations in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The company's television stations reach about 18 percent of television households in the United States, making Hearst one of the largest U.S. television station groups. The company owns 12 ABC affiliates, 10 NBC affiliates, and two CBS affiliates.
About Utah Scientific, Inc.
Utah Scientific, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of analog, digital, and HDTV routing switchers, master control switchers, and related products including a full range of software for controlling and managing switching systems. The company has been serving the broadcast industry for 30 years with industry-leading products and best-in-class service and support as recognized by Frost & Sullivan with its 2005 Customer Service Leadership Award and demonstrated by the industry's first 10-year warranty. Additional information about the company can be found at www.utahscientific.com.
