Portland Trailblazers upgrade to HD

By Andrew Lippe

The Portland Trail Blazers are now producing HD graphics on
their scoreboard. In October, the Blazers installed a Mitsubishi HD scoreboard
and when the time came to upgrade to HD graphics, the Blazers turned to Chyron. “The Chyron Duet is a standard in mobile trucks used by the NBA,” says
Mike Janes, Director of Engineering, Blazers Broadcasting. “We needed a system
that could pre-produce and test graphics in HD and SD and Chyron is a tested
proven interface.”

The Blazers hired Diversified Systems, Inc. to install
two Chyron systems; Chyron’s HD/SD-switchable HyperX2 graphics system and
XClyps. Chyron was the ideal choice not just for its HD capabilities
but its functionality and interoperability for employees. “We use part time
operators and it is easier to train them on Chyron,” says Janes.

The HyperX2 graphics engine is used to create dozens of 3D layers of
text, team logos, moving objects, happy birthday messages and sponsorship
logos. Chyron’s XClyps multi-format production clip server is being used to
create the TD replay move and fan motivational videos.

“We use XClips for our Spirit bumpers such as chants of
Defense, Defense and Go Blazers,” adds Janes. The Chyron systems
are also linked to the NBA DTVI (Digital Television Interface) for displaying
player statistics.

Inside the Blazers control room is a Ross Vision Synergy 2 MLE
switcher, a six channel EVS replay system and an additional graphics system
from Pinnacle. “Everything in room was antique,” adds Janes. “We retired our
inscriber and went to Chyron for its HD capabilities.”