NFL’S Buffalo Bills Invest in P2 HD for Game-Day Features, Web Video

To enrich the viewing experience of on-site and on-line Buffalo Bills fans, the
NFL franchise recently purchased Panasonic P2 HD production equipment
to shoot
game-day features that will be shown on the team’s 82’ by 35’ in-stadium HD
video display. The same programming will be carried on the team’s closed-circuit
cable network that airs in the facility’s suites and club
areas.
Bills
Television Network (BTN) purchased a Panasonic P2 HD production package that
includes the AG-HPX500
2/3″ shoulder-mount P2 HD camcorder, the AJ-HPM110 P2 Mobile Recorder/Player, AG-HPG10 P2
Gear Recorder and the AJ-PCD20 five-slot P2 drive. According to BTN Video
Production Director/Engineer Stephen Asposto, the team committed to HD
acquisition for the 2008-2009 season to maximize the capabilities of the HD
scoreboard it had installed last year.
BTN will
also utilize the tapeless HPX500 HD camcorder to shoot widescreen content for
the team’s website, www.buffalobills.com.
Ultimately, BTN will produce HD programming for its in-season television
shows.
“The HPX500
package, with its variety of recording and off-loading options, is tailor-made
for our production environment, with edit suites in three different buildings on
our campus,” Asposto said. “The ease of
the P2 workflow was a major reason for our decision.”
“Standardizing
on DVCPRO HD is a win-win for us, as we can purchase weekly footage from NFL
Films in that format,” Asposto added. “Moreover, BTN produces all the team’s
pre-season broadcasts in-house, and it’s a simple matter to rent trucks with
DVCPRO HD support.”
Asposto said
that the HPX500 would also be used to shoot half-time features during the
pre-season.
The P2 HD
material will be edited on Avid Media Composers, and then transferred via FTP to
a central Ross Video SMS server, which will feed the HD display and in-stadium
television service.