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Snell & Wilcox Universal Conversion Platform Crossconverts NBA Finals For Japanese Broadcaster

NBA Entertainment employs Ukon to cross-convert 720p HD signal to 1080i

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, June 18, 2003 -- Snell & Wilcox today announced that NBA Entertainment, the Emmy Award-winning production and programming division of the NBA and WNBA, used a Snell & Wilcox Ukon universal format conversion platform to cross-convert high-definition broadcast signals of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Jersey Nets.

The signals were cross-converted from 720p to 1080i at the venues in San Antonio, Texas, and East Rutherford, New Jersey in NBA Entertainment's mobile truck prior to being recorded onto HDCam. The tapes were then sent to NHK, a leading Japanese broadcast network headquartered in Tokyo, where the NBA Finals were broadcast in 1080i HD throughout Japan.

Introduced at NAB 2003, Ukon is designed for use in broadcast, post and production environments where images need to be converted in all directions between standard and high definition environments, either singularly or in any combination. With its representation of up, down and cross conversion, Ukon provides the most economical way of supporting all conversion permutations that may be required.

As well as providing high quality picture output, Ukon offers the added benefits of aspect ratio conversion with tilt, pan and zoom, time-code conversion with precise frame mapping, comprehensive audio handling and 3:2 cadence detection and repair. Unlike other format conversion systems, Ukon carries out all these functions at the same time - in a single pass, thereby freeing up expensive non-linear software tools that would otherwise be necessary.

David Cunningham, Press Relations Manager, Snell & Wilcox, Southleigh Park, Southleigh Park House, Havant, Hampshire, UK PO9 2PE, UK
Tel: +44 23 9248 9144
Email: david.cunningham@snellwilcox.com



Snell & Wilcox is an electronics design, manufacture and engineering group with an international reputation for the development of advanced image communications technologies for the world's broadcast television, video, satellite, cable, film and image communications industries. The company is dedicated to preserving the true content of the moving video image. Snell & Wilcox Ltd. is based in Hampshire, England with offices all over the world.