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3sixtymedia Deploys Snell & Wilcox Kahuna SD/HD Multiformat Production Switcher

Kahuna Simplifies Complex Television Productions and Provides Studio with Future-Proof Solution for Controlled Shift into HD Work

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3sixtymedia has invested in the Snell & Wilcox Kahuna SD/HD production switcher for its Manchester Studios. Installed at Studio 12 in Manchester, the Kahuna offers extremely versatile source selection, access, and mixing capabilities that have been invaluable in the creation of television programs such as "Soapstar Superstar" and "A Question of Sport."

The Kahuna's unique ability to enable simultaneous SD and HD operations on the same control surface and in the same mainframe provides 3sixtymedia with a future-proof, fully HD-capable solution that has integrated smoothly into the studio's existing infrastructure and will support more advanced broadcast systems and productions as further upgrades are made to the facility.

"In consultation with our vision mixers and engineering staff, we looked at every production switcher on the market, and the Kahuna was the clear choice - the open architecture gives us a lot of versatility," said Paul Bennett, head of Studio & Location Services for ITV Productions.

Kahuna's unprecedented flexibility enables 3sixtymedia to work initially in SD-only mode and, after the refurbishment of the 3sixtymedia studio, monitoring, and infrastructure is complete, will allow the company to upgrade to multiformat SD/HD operation. In multiformat SD/HD mode, Kahuna's unique FormatFusion technology allows SD sources to be integrated seamlessly into HD productions and vice versa, with no need for expensive HD upgrades or extra HD upconversion equipment.

3sixtymedia upgraded its previous mixer with a 3-M/E Kahuna system featuring a 4-M/E option installed in the mainframe, a separate master auxiliary panel, six remote auxiliary panels, four channels of DVE, and an 80-input option. To give the system even greater power in mixed- or dual-format productions, the studio added new switcher options including ancillary data on the auxiliary output, a modulation option, and extended background FormatFusion.

The open architecture of the Kahuna allows every button on the control surface, including the auxiliary panels and remote panels, to be re-mapped using macros. As a result, Kahuna auxiliary panel buttons can be programmed, very simply, to perform any task that a macro can control, whether it be mixing two sources, selecting sources for a particular M/E bank, running a DVE move, controlling a disk recorder, or any number of other time-saving actions.

"We first saw the Kahuna system at IBC2004, and by the time we were ready to purchase, it was already a front-runner in its field,” said Eric Donbavand, technical supervisor for 3sixtymedia. “The auxiliary panel for a second operator was extremely useful on "Soapstar Superstar" and we've received very positive feedback."

More information about Snell & Wilcox products is available online at www.snellwilcox.com.

3sixtymedia, the ITV Productions/BBC Resources joint venture based in Manchester, provides studio, location services, postproduction, and creative facilities for broadcast, film, and commercial production throughout the United Kingdom. More information about 3sixtymedia is available online at www.3sixtymedia.co.uk.

Snell & Wilcox designs and builds the world's most advanced systems for video playout, mastering, repurposing, infrastructure, and live production switching. Providing solutions that deliver immediate value while enabling a controlled and cost-effective transition to HD and file-based systems, the company serves a worldwide base of customers in the broadcast, post-production, cable, satellite, and IPTV markets. In business since 1973, Snell & Wilcox maintains its U.S. headquarters in Burbank, Calif., and European headquarters in Hampshire, U.K. Additional offices are located in New York, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Russia. Visit www.snellwilcox.com for more information.

Press Contact: Susan Warren, Wall Street Communications, Phone: +1 631 261 1013. Email: susan@wallstreetcom.tv.

EMEA Press Contact: Becky Smith, on behalf of Wall Street Communications, Phone: +44 1622 684 592. Email: becky@ella-beck.co.uk.

Asia Pacific Press Contact: Genevieve Hilton, Ketchum Newscan Public Relations Limited, Phone: 852-3141-8112, Fax: 852-2510-8199 or E-mail: Genevieve.Hilton@knprhk.com

Snell & Wilcox, Kahuna and FormatFusion are all trademarks of the Snell & Wilcox Group.