MTV Networks has equipped its 53-foot Pegasus HD mobile unit with 16 Ikegami HDK-79E HDTV cameras. As the location production nerve center of MTV Networks' Remote Unit Division, Pegasus depends on these cameras to ensure superb imagery on the front end to capture content for multi-platform distribution ranging from HD broadcast to Web distribution.
Based in Nashville Tenn., the Pegasus HD mobile production unit represents an ambitious foray into HDTV, enabling MTVN to create high-profile original multi-format HD/SD programming for the "MTV Music Awards," CMT's "Crossroads," and other major events for channels under the MTV Networks umbrella. The Pegasus mobile unit is also equipped with Ikegami TA/CB-79HD fiber/triax systems and SE-79D System Expanders.
The HDK-79E cameras incorporate 2.2 million pixel 2/3-inch FIT CCDs, 12-bit A/D conversion/38-bit internal digital processing circuits, and multi-standard simultaneous broadcasting. With HD SDI output from the camera head, on-line diagnostics, and a low center of gravity, the Ikegami HDK-79E is easy and efficient to use, in the field or the studio, according to the company.
"The picture quality of Ikegami cameras is excellent and they have proven to be extremely reliable over the years," said Mike Bivona, vice president of engineering and production technologies at MTVN. "Their HD systems exhibit the great color imagery that you associate with Ikegami. The capabilities of the HDK-79E in low- light situations were also a big factor in our decision to purchase them for Pegasus. We are geared for producing mostly entertainment shows, which are typically shot in non-ideal lighting conditions. Camera sensitivity was critical for us and these cameras outperform everybody else in that area."
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