The Weather Channel has put two Snell & Wilcox Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switchers at the heart of its $60 million HD upgrade.
The channel relied on the format flexibility of the switchers to support a smooth transition to HD broadcasting and a whole new look for 24/7 weather information programming.
Installed in two newly retrofitted production control rooms, the Kahuna systems simplify handling of SD and HD sources and graphics as the network moved toward completion of a new HD production studio, which went live June 2. The channel used a Kahuna to switch the first live content aired from the HD studio. That Kahuna will serve as the main HD production switcher for all of The Weather Channel's productions.
The project involved construction of the new HD studio adjoining The Weather Channel's existing building and also included upgrading equipment in the older facility. The network's two main production control rooms were alternately upgraded to HD with the deployment of a Kahuna system in each. In operation since January, the two Kahuna systems enabled the network to provide a high-quality SD feed and to get HD-capable control rooms to air prior to the network's HD studio launch.
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