Sony Professional posts fifth consecutive year of sales growth

Announcing a fifth year of consecutive growth, Sony Professional will be demonstrating its latest innovations for the broadcast sector at this year’s NAB in Las Vegas. With exceptional sales across all broadcast and production categories, it has been another strong year for the company.

• Best ever year for XDCAM and XDCAM EX sales
• MVS switcher installed base hits 1800
• HDC Studio cameras now 9700
• New HDCAM SR models re-affirm its position as primary programme exchange standard

“Sony Professional’s position as a market leader means that we are the trusted partner to so many of Europe’s leading broadcasters, production companies, rental houses and film-makers. Our ability to offer bespoke solutions to specific problems enables us to provide the best combination of format, workflow and media to meet the needs of our customers. We know this breadth of choice resonates with the industry and is undoubtedly one of the reasons that independent research continues to highlight Sony as the number one choice for broadcast professionals producing in HD,” explained Naomi Climer, Vice President Sony Europe.

New XDCAM and HDCAM SR models

The PDW-F800 XDCAM HD422 Camcorder

 

Tighter integration of the XDCAM Professional Disc and XDCAM EX Memory-based family will also be a key theme at NAB. New tools for back-up and archiving of XDCAM EX material - in either its native form, or in the full range of XDCAM High Definition formats - onto Professional Disc will be highlighted, providing additional choice for the user.

With much talk centered on the continuing migration to tapeless workflow, it is easy to overlook that tape-based operation remains the key to success for many customers and applications. HDCAM SR is now firmly established as the worldwide format for highest quality programme exchange, and Sony will demonstrate its continuing evolution at NAB. The launch of the SRW-9000 camcorder will take location shooting to a whole new level of performance, convenience and programme security and is set to be one of the hottest new products at the show. For live applications, a new 3G option for the SRW-5800 recorder and SRW-5100 player will allow 1080/50P and RGB material to be exchanged via a single BNC connector, and will be a standard feature on the new SRW-5800/1 and SRW-5100/1 models.

New HSC-300 HD Studio Camera

 

Continued success and innovation in the live environment

Sony Professional’s success is also just as marked in Live Production where the strength and breadth of the range, including studio cameras, monitors and switchers means that we can offer an HD production solution at every level to suit any budget.

Continued product innovation means that whether it be an entry level camera from the BRC range or a high end multi-format HD camera such as the HDC 1500R, Sony’s customers gain tremendous value from the choice on offer. This choice is further enhanced by the launch of a number of new system cameras aimed at small to medium sized live studios at this year’s NAB, including the new HXC-100 and HSC-300 HD models as well as the re-vitalization of the HDC range.

Demonstrating how Sony continues to listen to its customers, its unique Focus Assist function, available on the new HDC-R series cameras, will enable operators to recognize which part of the image is in focus using markers and indicators in the viewfinder. This innovation will be of particular use to broadcasters specializing in shooting rapidly moving images such as sports coverage.

The MVS-6000 is aimed at mid-range studios

 

Following the continued worldwide success of the MVS-8000G production switcher Sony announces a new model in this line-up; the MVS-6000 is aimed at the mid range studio where customers are looking for a cost effective system which also benefits from the operational style of its bigger brother. Sony also reveals the entry level BRS-200 HD production switcher suitable for any small sized HD production.

Also on show at this year’s NAB is Sony’s new live control system, ELC-MVS01. This software addition for any MVS series production switcher provides an automated run-down with control of external devices suitable for a live production environment.

Developments in the monitors range mean that operatives are now able to see images which provide a true broadcast quality image. Sales continue to be strong with 230 000 units installed in the world since 2001, including over 1000 high end BVM-Series monitors.

Naomi Climer, Vice President, Sony Europe, said: “From entry level through to high end cinematography our customers trust us to provide the tools and expertise to enable them to create and deliver HD content. It is more important than ever that we continue to take their input to develop the right offerings to help them succeed in these challenging times.”