Snell & Wilcox will supply its Alchemist Ph.C HD motion-compensated frame rate standards converter to NBC Universal to enable the network to convert HD and SD feeds for its coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Coverage of the 2008 Olympics will be originated in the 1080i/50 broadcast standard for HDTV and the 625/50 PAL standard for SDTV. Before NBC can transmit this content to viewers in the United States, it must first be converted to the 1080i/60 broadcast standard for HDTV and/or the 525/60 NTSC standard for SDTV. As a result, NBC will convert virtually every SD and HD feed from the 2008 Olympics through the Snell & Wilcox frame rate converters prior to delivery to viewers in the United States.
High-quality frame rate standards conversion will play a vital role in the delivery of the Beijing Olympics to American viewers, according to David Mazza, senior vice president, engineering, NBC Olympics. He said most of the 2008 Olympic Games will be transmitted in HDTV, so it's critical that the network is able to convert this material transparently to the U.S. broadcast standard in order to deliver the highest possible viewing experience.
Snell & Wilcox motion-compensated frame rate standards converters have played a critical role in NBC’s Olympic broadcasts since the 2000 Games in Sydney. The company supplied NBC with motion-compensated converters at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
For more information, visit www.snellwilcox.com.
