Press Releases: Latest News

CBN Deploys Kahuna SD/HD Multiformat Production Switcher at Heart of New HD Facility

Snell & Wilcox Switcher's Flexible Handling of SD and HD Within a Single Mainframe Supports Smooth Transition to HD Broadcasting

--

HAMPSHIRE, U.K. -- Nov. 8, 2007 -- Snell & Wilcox today announced that the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), one of the largest television ministries in the world, has standardized on the Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switcher within the company's newly upgraded HD-capable studios. CBN has installed two Kahuna production switchers within its Virginia Beach, Va., facilities to enable efficient, cost-effecting handling of SD and HD sources during HD production of well-known programming including "The 700 Club," hosted by network founder Pat Robertson, as well as "Christian World News," "CBN Newswatch," and "Living the Life."

"We evaluated a number of leading systems, and the Snell & Wilcox Kahuna offered key functionality that was lacking in other switcher products," said Kent Denton, director of engineering at CBN. "The Kahuna's FormatFusion technology saved us a lot of money on install and equipment costs because we didn't have to include as much up- and downconversion gear in our new plant. The switcher is also valuable in that it supports our gradual migration to HD, which we've pursued even as we continue live production for SD broadcasts five days a week."

CBN is equipping its production studios with HD-ready equipment and will "flip the switch" to HD when the installation is complete. In the control room used for CBN's news programming, the network is using a 4-M/E (mix/effects banks) Kahuna along with a 1-M/E control panel, which allows two operators to make maximum use of all of the switcher's M/Es in building a show. Each M/E bank features four keyers able to perform luma, linear, and chroma keying; five transition wipe generators; a still store and RAM recorder; RGB color correction; two utility buses; and DMEM capability. A second Kahuna system is installed in an additional CBN control room.

The daily live broadcast of "The 700 Club" is produced out of two studios and one control room.  Each studio has its own program feeds and graphical element feeds, and the Kahuna provides the needed aux sends and, in its SD mode, the internal clip player capacity to cut a talk show with live news elements included in the format.

To minimize first-day surprises when it does shift to HD, CBN will use the Kahuna to pre-visualize its HD set and shots. The network will use FormatFusion to begin providing dual SD and HD feeds through the switcher. With its unique handling of multiformat content, the Kahuna enables simultaneous SD and HD operations on the same control surface and in the same mainframe. Snell & Wilcox's FormatFusion technology allows operators to integrate any SD video into HD productions seamlessly or to output HD material as an SD feed, both without the need for up- or downconversion. The conversion of SD material, such as camera feeds, graphics, and archive content, is invisible to the operator and managed internally.

Each Kahuna was installed at CBN over the course of a weekend, so the network experienced no downtime as it brought its new switchers online. Operators at the network had little trouble familiarizing themselves with the new switcher, and became very comfortable with its interface within a few weeks. CBN engineers managed the Kahuna installation, while Snell & Wilcox provided on-site training and ongoing technical support.

More information about the Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switcher and other products from Snell & Wilcox is available online at www.snellwilcox.com.

CBN first went on the air on Oct. 1, 1961, as the nation's first Christian television station. Today CBN is a multifaceted nonprofit organization that provides programming by cable, broadcast, and satellite to approximately 200 countries, with a 24-hour telephone prayer line. Chief among CBN's broadcasting components is "The 700 Club," a daily television program featuring Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuswen, Gordon Robertson, Kristi Watts, and news anchor Lee Webb. On the air continuously since 1966, "The 700 Club" is one of the longest-running programs in broadcast history. Seen in 97 percent of the television markets across the United States, the show's news/magazine format presents a lively mix of information, interviews, and inspiration to an average daily audience of nearly one million viewers. More information about CBN and its programming is available at www.cbn.com.

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, postproduction, cable, satellite, mobile TV, 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. Further information is available at www.snellwilcox.com.

Press Contact: Susan Warren, Wall Street Communications, Phone: +1 631 261 1013. E-mail: susan@wallstcom.com.

Snell & Wilcox, Putting Pictures to Work, Kahuna and FormatFusion are trademarks of the Snell & Wilcox Group. All other trademarks mentioned herein are acknowledged as property of their respective owners.