The National Football League is standardizing the video operations of the NFL's 32 teams on Sony's Betacam SX format, an MPEG-based digital video format. The transition should be completed by the start of the 2004 season.
The teams will use Betacam SX camcorders and videotape recorders to record practices and games for training and competitive analysis, scouting and exchanging game tapes with other teams. Betacam SX tools include the DNV-5 recorder/player, which mounts to docking cameras for real-time video production, the DNW-9WS camcorder, which offers digital recording in the 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, and the DNW-A25 laptop editor/reorder featuring an LCD video monitor.
"The adoption of this digital format is at the centerpiece of the league's transition from analog to digital video acquisition and game exchange programs," said Pat Whittingham, president of Sony Electronics' Business Solutions and Systems Company. "By standardizing on the Betacam SX format, the league will have high-picture quality, digital workflow and format compatibility -- as well as playback of legacy analog tapes -- among all its teams.
