WAYNE, NJ (Aug. 15, 2019) – JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, today announced the Big South Conference, an NCAA Division 1 collegiate athletic conference, has standardized on ProHD GY-HM850 shoulder-mount camcorders to provide multi-camera coverage of sports for the ESPN+ streaming subscription service.

“It’s a really nice piece of equipment, and it’s the right tool for the job for us,” said Mark Bryant, director of broadcast services and development for Big South. “I’ve gotten positive feedback from virtually all the members – they are appreciative of having these JVC cameras in their arsenals. These are top-notch camera setups.”

When Bryant first arrived at Big South 12 years ago, he said the video equipment across the conference was a “ragtag collection” of technology. When the conference began streaming its sports content to its website, an agreement between the 11 member schools created “centralized video planning” with a basic production infrastructure and workflow to provide some consistency in coverage.

Since then, the conference has adopted a staggered upgrade path that continues to set new benchmarks in quality. Bryant said the need for a camera upgrade coincided with the move from the Big South website to ESPN+. “Last year, we knew it was time to do the cameras,” he explained. “We wanted to make a serious investment, and we wanted to do it right.”

The conference purchased 36 camera packages – three for each of the 11 member schools and three for the conference office in Charlotte, N.C. – that included the GY‑HM850, interchangeable FUJINON lens with hand grip focus and zoom controls, ProHD seven-inch LCD viewfinder, and Miller tripod. Camera packages were delivered last fall, with all schools equipped in time for basketball season. Bryant said the new cameras are a significant improvement over the Big South’s previous camcorders, which were smaller, handheld models with integrated lenses.

“What we wanted was the ability to tell our schools, ‘Here’s everything you need,’ and execute that within our budget,” Bryant explained. “JVC really understood what the conference was attempting to do and where we were going. There was really one clear winner on that.”

As part of the Big South’s agreement with ESPN+, each school provides at least a three-camera shoot for all home games for nine different sports – football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, and lacrosse – plus championships and other sporting events as scheduling allows. The conference streams hundreds of sporting events throughout the school year, and provides a package of about 50 contests to ESPN3. The new JVC cameras are also used to provide coverage of press conferences on the Big South website, and each school’s athletic department can use the cameras for other projects across campus.

The GY-HM850 offers full HD image capture and delivery, plus a built-in streaming engine with FTP and 4G LTE connectivity. It features three, 1/3-inch CMOS sensors that provide 12-bit readout, F11 sensitivity (60Hz), and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Dual SDHC/SDXC card slots allow simultaneous recording for instant copy/backup or relay recording for continuous shooting. The camera supports multiple native file formats at a variety of bit rates, frame rates, and resolutions. Other features include a four-channel audio system with stereo AUX inputs and two XLR inputs with phantom power, 12 assignable user buttons, and genlock and time code terminals for multi-camera setups.

ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL VIDEO
Headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, JVC Professional Video is a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JVCKENWOOD Corporation. The company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of broadcast and professional video equipment, as well as D-ILA front projection systems. For more information, visit JVC’s website at http://pro.jvc.com or call (800) 582‑5825.

WAYNE, NJ (June 17, 2019) – JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, today announced WFIE, the NBC affiliate in Evansville, Ind. (DMA #103), is using its ProHD Studio 4000S live sports production and streaming studio to produce breaking news and local sports coverage for the web. Owned by Gray Television, the station originally purchased the system last summer in time for high school football season.

“We had been considering the idea of streaming live high school sports on our website, and JVC’s studio-in-a-box solution seemed like an affordable way to consolidate the equipment needed for multi-camera productions,” explained Jason Gravens, news operation manager for WFIE. ”The 4000S gives you the basics of everything you need to make a ballgame happen.”

Rack mounted into one of the station’s live trucks, the system anchored three-camera productions for five high school football games and two-camera productions for three high school basketball games. “If you’re a sports fan, you want to see replays – without it, the production is missing a key element,” Gravens added. “The built-in replay feature in the 4000S is fantastic. Just having it included in the unit itself is great.”

Although only available to streaming audiences, at times WFIE had about 1,000 people watching the games. Following its successful sports coverage, the station decided to use the 4000S to produce breaking news updates for the WFIE website and other social media platforms.

An old conference room at the station was converted into a small studio, with the 4000S and an audio mixer positioned on a small table. Beth Sweeney, WFIE evening anchor, has been trained to be a one-man band for the productions, operating the 4000S and audio mixer while reporting live news updates for the WFIE website and other social media platforms.

One of the station’s older ENG cameras is mounted on a tripod, and a mic is positioned above Sweeney on a C-stand. The small studio also includes a basic three-point lighting system, plus an extra piece of WFIE’s current news set mounted to the wall as a backdrop.

When the station wants to stream an update, the equipment is turned on and still images or graphics are loaded into the 4000S using a flash drive. The 4000S has a built-in CG, but WFIE imports its own station graphics. Sweeney makes sure the mic is off and puts a slate on the screen. When she is ready, Sweeney opens the mic, switches to the camera, and begins the webcast. Once the update is complete, she returns to the slate, kills the mic, and ends the stream.

While the sports directors tend to use the touchscreen for switching, Sweeney prefers the keyboard and mouse. Gravens said the control flexibility is a big positive, because the 4000S operator can use whatever interface works for them. He also said the built-in multi-view was helpful in training Sweeney how to use the system. “In fact, the whole system is very user friendly for someone who’s not necessarily a trained TD,” he added.

Earlier this year, JVC introduced the CONNECTED CAM Studio 6000S, a six-input model that supports NDI® and SRT streaming protocols. Both the 4000S and 6000S offer automated multi-channel instant replay and slo-mo, as well as an integrated sports CG for scores and timers. Other features include an integrated audio mixer, four layers of DSK, production switcher with automated switching mode and choice of transitions, and full PTZ control for the JVC KY-PZ100 robotic PTZ production camera.

ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL VIDEO
Headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, JVC Professional Video is a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JVCKENWOOD Corporation. The company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of broadcast and professional video equipment, as well as D-ILA front projection systems. For more information, visit JVC’s website at http://pro.jvc.com or call (800) 582‑5825.

LAS VEGAS– At the 2019 NAB Show, JVC Professional Video will showcase three new cameras in its CONNECTED CAM product line. Introduced in late 2018, the 500 Series of streaming handheld camcorders are designed to optimize both image processing and IP performance. The new cameras include:

• GY‑HC500 base model

• GY‑HC550 with advanced streaming and graphics

• GY-HC500SPC sports production camera

The new 500 Series cameras can record to SSD (solid state drive) media in 10-bit ProRes 422 at 4K resolution and 50/60p frame rates. The cameras also record several other native 4K UHD and HD file formats to support a wide range of workflows, and the GY‑HC550 adds MPEG-2 and MXF recording as well.

When paired with any ProHD Bridge product, JVC says all 500 models provide reliable 1080p streaming performance up to 20 Mbps with SMPTE 2022 forward error correction, low latency (less than 500ms), and return video and IFB. The GY-HC550 also includes dual external antennas with built-in wireless LAN, integrated GPS, and Zixi error correction with automatic repeat request (ARQ).

All 500 Series cameras feature a 1-inch 4K CMOS imager and integrated 20x zoom lens with built-in ND filters and manual zoom, focus, and iris control rings. For creative flexibility, the cameras record HDR footage in the HLG (hybrid log gamma) mode or 10-bit J-Log mode, and support 120 fps slow-motion HD recording.

Both the GY-HC550 and GY-HM500SPC include integrated lower-third and full-screen titling options for recorded or streamed video output without an external CG. The GY‑HC500SPC also offers professionally designed, high-resolution score overlays for a number of sports, and users can add logos or icons to customize graphics. Camera operators can update scores using a Wi-Fi connected smartphone or tablet, or receive real-time data automatically in venues where a Sportzcast Scorebot is integrated with the scoreboard. For coaches, the GY‑HM500SPC is compatible with DV Sport and XOS Digital technologies for critical video analysis.

Dual SDHC/SDXC media card slots offer redundant, relay, backup, and proxy recording modes. Other 500 Series features include a four-inch, high resolution LCD screen for menu navigation, LCOS viewfinder, dual XLR inputs, 3G-SDI and HDMI video outputs, and M.2 drive slot for external SSD recording. The cameras are expected to ship in June, with MSRP starting at $3,900 for the GY-HC500.

JVC will also demonstrate its GY-HC900 and GY-HC900ST CONNECTED CAM models at NAB. Both cameras feature three 2/3-inch CMOS sensors to produce full HD images, plus an industry B4 lens mount and four-position optical filter. For news-over-IP applications, the GY-HC900 has built-in Wi-Fi, dual external antennas, streaming/FTP performance up to 20Mbps, and SMPTE 2022 forward error correction and Zixi error correction with ARQ for reliable transmission. The GY-HC900ST studio camcorder, with full streaming and recording capabilities, integrates seamlessly with the JVC FS-900 camera module for an affordable fiber-based studio solution.

WAYNE, NJ (March 19, 2019) – JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, today announced World TeamTennis will provide multi-camera live coverage of its matches this season for the second consecutive year using flypack production systems, each anchored by a ProHD Studio 4000S sports production and streaming studio and three GY-HM620 ProHD camcorders. The league’s 2019 season will run July 14 - August 3, with matches in eight locations across the United States.

In previous seasons, the league would hire an OB production truck with a large crew, an expensive process that limited its ability to provide extensive coverage of the tournament. Last year, WTT decided to establish an in-house media production and distribution capability that would allow every match of the season to be broadcast live on digital and linear TV platforms.

Once the project was approved, the league hired Pittsburgh-based TDS Media, which had only 50 days before the first match to design, order, build, and deliver the systems – plus provide training for the production crews.

Doug Sicchitano, principal of TDS Media, chose the 4000S because it was an economical tool that allowed one operator to switch as well as handle replays and commercial video playback. “This was the best solution out there for what we wanted to achieve,” he said. “The user interface feels like a smart phone app. It’s a highly intuitive layout that I can teach anybody in of a couple of hours to use and use well.”

WTT features co-ed teams in New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, Washington, D.C., Orange County, Calif., Springfield, Mo., Orlando, Fla., and Las Vegas, Nev. For the 2018 season, WTT produced 32 of its 43 matches using the flypack systems, with only the Springfield venue and four matches for national cable TV relying on outside production services.

All matches were streamed on WTT.tv and syndicated to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. Plus, select matches were provided to regional sports networks on tape delay. With the addition of new teams in Orlando and Las Vegas, the number of matches to be produced using the flypacks will increase to close to 40 of the 59 in the 2019 season.

“We are excited to continue working with JVC Professional Video in 2019 to deliver WTT action to our fans around the world,” said Carlos Silva, CEO of World TeamTennis. “The flypack system enables us to produce a high-quality live match broadcast at a very attractive price point.”

With the WTT’s new flypacks, a three-camera production is handled by a six-person crew plus two commentators. In the control room, the director switches the show and handles replays, while the producer handles audio and graphics. There are also three camera operators and a utility crew member.

Directors generally use the 4000S color-coded illuminated keyboard to switch and create replays, as well as the touchscreen for playback and replays. Although the 4000S includes a built-in audio mixer and CG, Sicchitano included a Behringer mixer that feeds analog directly into the 4000S via USB and a separate graphics laptop with NewBlueFX Titler Live 3 for the producer. Programs are recorded to a Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio Mini and streamed using a Teradek VidiU Pro, with the 4000S serving as a backup for both.

A typical three-camera setup includes one high game camera and two low cameras positioned on each side of the net for player ISO and bench shots. The fourth input of the 4000S is used for Hawk-Eye SMART Replay technology, which the WTT uses to help officials with close line calls and provide graphics and data to the live production. WTT includes limited commercial breaks during its coverage, which are stored, organized into separate playlists, and played through the 4000S.

Sicchitano praised the GY-HM620 because of its integrated Fujinon 23x zoom lens with manual zoom, focus, and iris control rings. “There are not a lot of camcorders out there with a 23x zoom lens, so that checks a huge box for us,” Sicchitano said. “JVC’s color profiles have always been very rich with bright colors. Then you factor in the price point, and it was a no-brainer to choose it.”

ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL VIDEO
Headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, JVC Professional Video is a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JVCKENWOOD Corporation. The company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of broadcast and professional video equipment, as well as D-ILA front projection systems. For more information, visit JVC’s website at http://pro.jvc.com or call (800) 582‑5825.

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LAS VEGAS—At the 2018 NAB Show, JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, unveiled a broad range of new products, including the CONNECTED CAM,  which provides for what the company calls "a complete news-over-IP workflow solution in the field." 

The GY-HC900 “CONNECTED CAM” broadcast camcorder features three 2/3-inch CMOS image sensors for full HD imagery, as well as enhanced connectivity. When paired directly with the optional ProHD Dockable Bridge or via Wi-Fi with any ProHD Bridge unit, the new GY-HC900 allows on-air talent to conduct a two-way interview with return video while streaming live to air without any external boxes or backpacks. It is JVC’s first camera featuring a new communications engine that optimizes both image processing and IP performance. The engine enables simultaneous recording, low latency streaming, and simultaneous decoding for return video and IFB. Latency can be as low as 500ms for both outgoing and incoming video.  

The GY-HC900’s complete IP workflow includes streaming performance up to 20 Mbps and built-in Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz/5GHz) with dual external antennas. The camera also features Zixi error correction with automatic repeat request (ARQ) and SMPTE 2022 forward error correction for reliable transmission.

Beyond ENG, the GY-HC900 also targets high-end EFP and studio fiber applications. It works with the FS-900 camera module, which attaches seamlessly to the camera via a 68-pin interface, and feeds 3G-SDI signals, control, audio, sync, and intercom to a base station via fiber.

ENHANCED 4KCAM

JVC also launched two new 4K cameras at the show. Designed for enhanced single-camera production, the GY-HM250U and GY-HM250SP both feature built-in streaming with Wi-Fi and 4G LTE-connectivity providing live access to Facebook Live, YouTube, and other CDNs. The cameras also work as part of JVC’s S.L.I.M. multi-camera production system, which uses the RM-LP100 remote camera control as a CCU for JVC IP-capable cameras.

The GY-HM250U integrates lower-third and full-screen titling without an external CG or production switcher for both recorded or streamed video output. Lower-third graphic overlays may be generated and controlled using a tablet, smartphone or other browser-equipped device, and logos or icons can be uploaded and displayed in the lower-third of the recorded video. With the in-camera storage for up to 50 .JPG or .PNG graphics, such as team logos or religious icons, users can manually advance the full-screen graphics, or present them as slideshows with user-defined timing during production.

Also joining the 4KCAM product line is the GY-HM250SP, which adds sports-specific score overlays, while a third new model, the GY-HM180U offers 3G-SDI and live 4K via HDMI output, only without built-in streaming or graphics. The GY-HM250SP’s score overlays—for football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and volleyball—can be placed in various screen positions. Scores can be updated using an external Wi-Fi connected smartphone or tablet, or real-time scoreboard data delivered automatically via wireless connection to a Sportzcast Scorebot integrated with the venue’s scoreboard.

Both new 4KCAM models feature 4:2:2 recording for 4K/30p and 4K/24p and a 4K/60p HDMI output; a tele-macro shooting mode for greater focusing on close objects; and a new Zero Config function that provides automatic, one-click configuration when the camera joins the same LAN as other cameras. All three models record footage in a variety of file formats and frame rates, including up to 120fps slow motion, to economical Class 10 SDHC/SDXC memory cards.

PROHD DECODER

When paired with JVC IP-enabled cameras, the new JVC BR-DE900 ProHD decoder provides bandwidth-efficient, error-free streaming over any IP network. When paired with the JVC BR-800 ProHD Broadcaster streaming server, the BR-DE900’s H.264 codec—and integrated Zixi or SMPTE 2022 Pro-MPEG stream protection technologies—enable broadcast-quality video to be delivered anywhere over public networks.

Designed for field use and fly packs, this low-latency appliance supports H.265 and H.264 compression standards with versatile A/V connectivity for ENG field reports and other video-over-IP applications. It also enables reliable HEVC decoding or H.264 streams up to 10-bit 4:2:2 1080p/60, with bit rates up to 50 Mbps, and dual 3G-SDI, HDMI 2.0, and composite connectivity.

PRODUCTION SWITCHER

Also new is the ProHD Studio 4000 compact live production and streaming studio. Also available as the ProHD Studio 4000S for sports production, the self-contained, four-channel system includes a complete control room solution for smaller, budget-conscious facilities. 

The ProHD Studio 4000 includes four SD/HD-SDI inputs, four IP stream inputs, and four NDI inputs. An additional HDMI/NDI input with keying can capture an external screen, so users can include content from a smartphone or PowerPoint presentation. Users can record the program output and the streaming output, along with simultaneous ISO recording of all cameras, directly to the ProHD Studio 4000.

Unique features include automatic motion tracking for JVC KY-PZ100 PTZ cameras, as well as Zero Config, which provides automatic, one-click configuration of any IP-enabled JVC camera when it joins the same LAN as other JVC cameras. The ProHD Studio 4000 also includes an integrated remote control for JVC cameras, including full PTZ control for the KY-PZ100. For live sports production, the ProHD Studio 4000S adds automated multi-channel instant replay and slo-mo, as well as an integrated sports CG for scores and timers   

LCD MONITORS

To support today’s growing 4K workflows, JVC also introduced new DT-U and DT-G series LCD studio monitors that feature multiple 4K inputs, including 12G-SDI, 3G-SDI quad link, 4K/60p HDMI 2.0, and more, as well as display of four independent SDI sources in quad view mode.

Designed for critical video applications, the DT-U series provides native 4K-resolution with 10-bit color depth and HDR compatibility, while the more economical DT-G series converts 4K and 2K sources to full HD. Both offer zero latency image processing, remote control via a web browser, built-in auto calibration, color generator and calibration software, and support for user-uploaded 3DLUT cube files for color creation in post.

Available in the fall of 2018, the DT-U series includes: the 28-inch DT-U28U and 31.5-inch DT-U31U, which feature native 3840x2160 4K-resolution, LED backlight, wider color gamut and HLG HDR and PQ HDR display for more realistic imagery. And with sizes ranging from 17.3 to 27 inches, DT-G series monitors—including the DT-G17U, DT-G21U, DT-G24U and DT-G27U—support 4K/60p HDMI and 2K-SDI signals. Available this summer, the DT-G monitors feature an 8-bit panel with 10-bit signal processing and LED backlight, with the three largest models offering a 1000:1 contrast ratio.