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Snell & Wilcox Introduces Cost-Effective Upconversion, Downconversion & Cross Conversion for Broadcasters at NAB 2004

An Affordable New Solution for HDTV

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, February 17, 2004 -- Snell & Wilcox, the global leader in television conversion technologies, will introduce at NAB 2004 (Booth #C6421) a new line of cost-effective, broadcaster-friendly conversion tools for the DTV transition. All are easily operated with RollCall, Snell & Wilcox's industry-leading infrastructure control and monitoring network. Priced at $15,000 list, the Snell & Wilcox HD5400 Upconverter sets new price/performance standards for the broadcast industry. It will upconvert 525/625 standard definition video to HD 1080i, 720p or 480p output formats and provides the standards conversion, aspect ratio and color space conversions required by broadcasters. The unit supports embedded, AES and compressed audio formats and closed captions. For an additional $10,000, the unit can be upgraded to an HD5400Plus with the addition of crossconversion (HD to HD) capability either singly or in any combination. Closed caption translation is performed during HD to HD conversion.

Snell & Wilcox will also introduce the HD2300 Downconverter, also priced for broadcasters at $15,000. This unit can convert SMPTE 292M and ITU 709 HD standards to standard definition serial digital video. Comprehensive audio processing is provided, supporting embedded and AES interfaces as well as compressed audio formats. Closed captions are extracted from the HD signal and embedded in the SD output.

Each of the new conversion products has full 'plug and play' capability with Snell & Wilcox's RollCall networked control and monitoring system. RollCall can address all infrastructure components in the Snell & Wilcox product line. All modules and devices are self-aware on the network and are instantly integrated into a broadcast stations infrastructure and reporting system. Thus these products can be controlled easily from a central control room.

Each of the new conversion products also features digital color space conversion, aspect ratio control, closed caption data support, dual redundant power supplies, eight machine memories, four user display memories and two genlock inputs with loop-through.

Each product will be available for delivery at NAB in April.

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SNELL & WILCOX is a world-leading 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 Inc. has offices throughout the United States and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Snell & Wilcox Ltd. is based in Hampshire, England with offices all over the world.

Snell & Wilcox Contact: John Shike, Snell & Wilcox Inc., 2225-I Martin Avenue, Santa Clara, California. Phone: 408-260-1000, Fax: 408-260-2800 or Email: john.shike@snellamerica.com, Web: www.snellwilcox.com.

Americas Press Contact: Robin Hoffman, Pipeline Communications, 277 Valley Way, Montclair, New Jersey. Phone: 973-746-6970, Fax: 973-746-6701 or E-mail: robinh@pipecomm.com.