NAB Event News
Snell & Wilcox Kahuna finding success stateside; is sports far behind?
By
Apr 15, 2008 - 6:56:09 PM

By Ken Kerschbaumer

The Snell & Wilcox Kahuna production switcher continues to gain traction in the local TV market as station groups like Raycom Media and Sinclair Broadcast transition to the board for future HD operations. That growing popularity could lay the groundwork for a move into sports production trucks as it will give the U.S. market an important component in embracing the Kahuna: technical directors who are comfortable working with the system. At least a dozen of the systems will be used at the Beijing Olympics.

“Kahuna sales are up 35% year over year,” says Joe Zaller, Snell & Wilcox VP of communications. “Customers like Sinclair are looking to allow people to do more and Kahuna does that as it has no need for external upconverters and can integrate with every router, VTR, controller or automation systems.”

Without the need for an external upconverter timing issues can be eliminated as the switcher has a delay of one frame vs. up to 10 frames with upconverters. “It also has different levels of transparency that give different on-air looks that are very graphically intensive,” says Zaller.

Snell and Wilcox has also created a new company called AmberFin as it looks to take the iCR system into new markets like telcos. AmberFin is exhibiting at the Snell & Wilcox booth and has 45 employees. AmberFin will focus on file-based workflows and interoperability of S&W algorithms with products like Sony XDCAM, Panasonic P2, and Apple and Avid. “AmberFin will have a software-based business model,” says Zaller.



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