First announced at NAB 2019, Sony’s new UWP-D series wireless microphones have begun shipping. The UWP-D21 wireless microphones are now available, with the UWP-D22 and UWP-D26 expected to ship in December. In addition […]
At IBC 2019 (Sept. 13-17, RAI Amsterdam), Sony is unveiling its latest line-up of new products, solutions and services. These include: updated IP Live solutions, two IP extension adapters HDCE-TX30/HDCE-RX30, […]
With a new studio for its first broadcast TV and online shows, the broadcast production department of the NFL Denver Broncos needed additional cameras that would be worthy of the new […]
New Facilities Insider | Building A News Network From The Ground Up
Black News Channel is constructing a $26 million facility in Tallahassee, Fla., anchored by technology from Bitcentral, Vizrt and Sony. Its engineering chief, Kenny Elcock, explains how interoperability is key.
Exclusives
Automation technology is fast evolving to keep up with demand for content on multiple platforms. Vendors say it helps eliminate redundant tasks and integrates as many platforms as possible without posing a threat to jobs or creative control.
Sony’s Profit Dips, Sticks To Forecast For Year
The Japanese electronics and entertainment company’s April-June profit totaled 152 billion yen ($1.4 billion), down from 226 billion yen in the same period of the previous year. Quarterly sales inched down 1% to 1.93 trillion yen ($17.7 billion). Sony kept its profit forecast for the fiscal year through March 2020 unchanged at 500 billion yen ($4.6 billion).
The Diginet World Is Having A Moment
Broadcasters including Scripps, Tegna, CBS, Sinclair, Ion and Gray have been laying bigger bets in the multicasting business, acquiring some of the more popular diginets and partnering to develop new ones in a market showing signs of further expansion. CBS’s new diginet DABL, for instance, is bringing back the classic lifestyle programming of Martha Stewart and others in the fall.
A step up from past LCD video walls, the new LED technology is increasingly featuring in new news set designs, enabling crisper images and more flexibility.
CNN Rides The IP Train Into Hudson Yards
The global news giant has built the first major broadcast facility to be completely based on the SMPTE 2110 IP networking standard. “The idea behind going IP was to get everything across CNN’s facilities connected,” says Bob Hesskamp, EVP of broadcast engineering for Turner. “The other reason we did this was we wanted to build a facility that wasn’t out of date on Day One, that was software-configurable, expandable and easier to make changes to.”
A slew of major Hollywood studios with business in the state finally spoke up about how the “highly restrictive legislation” may require them to reevaluate taking productions there. Following similar announcements by Netflix, Disney and WarnerMedia were Viacom, CBS, Sony, AMC and NBCUniversal.
Sony Electronics, through its Intelligent Media Services business, and SnapStream announced direct integration between Sony’s Ci Media Cloud platform and SnapStream’s flagship TV recording, search, clipping, monitoring and compliance product. This new integration enables SnapStream users […]
Sony reported an 87.9 billion yen ($787 million) January-March profit Friday, a reversal from the 13.3 billion yen loss racked up the previous year. Quarterly sales totaled 2.1 trillion yen ($19 billion), up 9% from 1.9 trillion yen.
MAM: Removing Barriers To Creativity
Media asset management systems, some of which interact with the cloud and use artificial intelligence to personalize content, are growing in acceptance among TV broadcasters as they add scaled-down functionality, standardization and microservices.
Sony Corp. shares climbed more than 9% on Tuesday after a Reuters report saying Third Point LLC was again raising its stake in the Japanese conglomerate stoked speculation that fund owner Daniel Loeb was preparing to agitate for more change.
The entertainment company has sold a majority stake in the online video business to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, part of the Connecticut-based company behind the inspirational book series. Together, the two companies will operate a new joint venture, Crackle Plus, that will house the ad-supported streaming service.
While both HDR and 4K technologies have gotten much attention at past NAB Shows, this year’s gathering will see camera offerings that can handle dual SDR and HDR workflows, streaming capability, a smart studio and control solutions. At the same time, lenses continue to evolve to offer higher levels of zoom.
Sony Corp. on Thursday said chairman Kazuo Hirai, who helped engineer the electronics giant’s recent revival, will retire in June, bowing out as the Japanese company is on track for another record profit this year.
Sony Taps New Head Of Broadcast Business
Katsunori Yamanouchi, who has been president of Sony’s Professional Solutions Americas business since April 2016, will be succeeded by Theresa Alesso, its president of Imaging Products and Solutions and a 28-year Sony veteran.
Cox’s WFTV Orlando is at the cutting edge of field transmission, using streaming cameras on vehicles that can be remotely controlled by a tech back at the station and transmitting over a 4G link. As more stations want that kind of capability, vendors are responding with bonded cellular and other wireless gear to improve efficiencies and connectivity and are working to include high-speed 5G wireless technology.
Among the tech innovations on tap are Panasonic 8K cameras, which will be used to generate replays from each end zone, part of the 115 cameras the network will use, including a bevy of Sony 4K replay cameras. And for the first time, CBS will also use a live wireless handheld camera with AR graphics and camera-tracking capability designed to provide real-time virtual graphics from the players’ perspective on the field.
Kenichiro Yoshida says he considers Sony “a creative entertainment company” and sees the PlayStation Network as a way to bring Sony movies, shows and music to consumers.
PlayStation Game Sales Drive Sharp Rise In Sony Profits
TOKYO (AP) — Sony Corp. profits nearly tripled in the latest quarter, boosted by a jump in PlayStation 4 software sales, the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant said Tuesday. The […]
Sony and CenturyLink conducted a test for a large news customer of the long-distance Remote Integration (REMI) connection between New York and London via a fiber link. For the test, Sony simulated a live broadcast and switched live between cameras in New York and London.
Cloud services, virtualized workflows and IP networking technology grab the spotlight as the company prepares for the Las Vegas showcase. Its Media Solutions Division, a new organization it formed last December, is focusing on selling media workflow systems for applications like cloud-based master control and OTT video distribution. Above, Sony’s new XVS-9000 production switcher supports 4K, HD and HDR content.
Stations Eye Virtual Master Control, Playout
Everyone from smaller station groups to major playout centers are examining software- and cloud-based solutions as they look at consolidation, centralization and density of operations. But whether IP and virtualization can replace all SDI functionality today remains a “big question mark” for many broadcasters. Above, Grass Valley’s iTX channel control. Click here to access TVNewsCheck’s NAB 2018 Resource Guide listing of master control and playout vendors and products or here to download it as a PDF.
IP Delivering Video From Field To Screen
New streaming encoders in cameras are delivering HD picture quality good enough to go directly to air. That gives stations new options for IP contribution besides the common bonded cellular workflow. Above, KOAA Colorado Springs uses a JVCKenwood ProHD portable bridge in the field. Click here to access TVNewsCheck’s NAB 2018 Resource Guide listing of field operations vendors and products or here to download it as a PDF.
Sony Corp. named Chief Financial Officer Kenichiro Yoshida as its new president and CEO on Friday, replacing Kazuo Hirai, who led a turnaround at the Japanese electronics and entertainment company and will stay on as chairman.
Interoperability, Virtualization Power IP Workflow
Interoperability got a big boost in December 2017 with the publication of SMPTE’s 2110 suite of standards for handling professional media over managed IP networks. Equipment manufacturers and software developers are moving forward quickly to build ST 2110-compliant products. At April’s NAB Show, attendees are certain to see plenty of ST 2110 products introduced, and hear lots of discussions about how to migrate to IP and how best to work in hybrid SDI-IP environments in the meantime. Click here to access TVNewsCheck’s NAB 2018 Resource Guide listing of IP workflow vendors and products or here to download it as a PDF.
On Friday night, PlayStation Vue started to notify subscribers that Tribune’s Fox affiliates were being dropped from the OTT service after failing to “come to an agreement on terms” with the station group.
Poking its head out to fire a round in the superheated battle for virtual MVPD bundle supremacy, Sony has announced that its PlayStation Vue service has added nearly a dozen Fox and NBC affiliates as well as Hallmark channels.
Sony Hits Decade High On Blow-Out Quarter
Sony Corp. is prospering again. Shares climbed 11% to their highest since 2008, after the company increased its annual operating profit outlook to a record 630 billion yen ($5.6 billion). That exceeded the 591 billion yen average that analysts were projecting.
Why Apple Should Buy Sony
Access to superior image sensors, a giant entertainment library and the PlayStation ecosystem — by any measure, Apple acquiring Sony makes a lot of sense.
Sony will support two key standards for IP Live interoperability with one regarding SMPTE ST 2110 media transport over IP, and a second regarding AMWA NMOS Device Discovery and Registration, the company said at IBC.
Sony Reports Soft 4Q, Full-Year Earnings
Late Thursday night Los Angeles time, Sony reported revenue of $17 billion and earnings of 19 cents a share for the three months ended March 31, which the company classifies as its fiscal fourth quarter. For the full year, the Japanese conglomerate hauled in $67.9 billion in revenue — a 6% dip from last year — and reported earnings of 51 cents a share — a 52% slide.
Sony Acquires Crispin Corp.
The announcement comes after the successful completion of joint project by Sony and Crispin to create a cloud-based ingest operation for Tegna, called the Media Clearinghouse, and an earlier project, Public Media Management, which provides master control and cloud-based distribution service for PBS.
