Scripps Broadcasting Selects Fujinon/JVC Combo For HD News Production

Scripps Howard Broadcasting Company has purchased an extensive complement of Fujinon HTs18X4.2 BERM lenses with 2X extenders. More than 100 lenses are being used to outfit Scripps 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent. The lenses were designed for use with JVC GY-HD250 cameras.

According to Michael Doback, vice president, Engineering, The Scripps Station Group, the acquisition of such a large number of Fujinon lens began when the company sought out a new HD field format for ENG. “We approached several manufacturers around the time of NAB in 2006 asking them to consider creating a high-quality lens for the JVC camera,” says Doback. “By the fall of ’06 Fujinon provided us with a working prototype. We were so impressed by the speed with which they responded as well as with the quality of the lens, after testing we made the commitment to equip all our ENG cameras and some of the studio cameras with Fujinon glass.”

In addition to upgrading stations to HD, Doback says Scripps was looking to seamlessly integrate their tapeless workflow: “The combination of Fujinon’s HTs18X4.2 and JVC’s GY-HD250U offered an ideal fit. High quality glass is imperative for the smaller 1/3-inch imager to perform at its optimum and our pictures are superb.”

“We made no concessions in terms of image quality,” he explains. “In fact, in most cases it outperforms packages costing twice the amount. We managed to upgrade our workflow and be entirely digital – by storing video on Focus Enhancement FireStore disk drives and editing on Mac laptops running Apple Final Cut Pro software.”

Doback adds, “This camera and lens combination is an excellent next-generation solution for news field acquisition. During our initial rollout, we were viewed with some skepticism. Now, it’s proven to be the right product, at the right time, and at the right price.”