TV2GO taps For-A for Cup frame rate conversion needs

By Andrew Lippe

TV2GO, a satellite transmission and video production company based in Toronto, Canada recently is using For- A’s FRC-7000 HD rate converter to covert foreign-based sports programming to the correct transmission rate. It most recently used the unit to convert World Cup programming.

“This product was ideal for the rate conversion we needed,” said Lawrence Partington, TV2GO Partner. Its official launch was during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes which was sent over to Sweden. The HD-rebroadcast marked the first North America to Europe HD transmission.

The FRC-7000 uses motion compensation processing by motion vectors to convert field frequencies. It allows the conversion between different HD frame rates. The FRC-7000 can convert frame rates between 1080/59.94i and 50i, and between 720/59.94p and 50p. Other formats will also be available soon, including 23.98sF. It cost TV2GO an estimated $100,000.

Converting frame rate is necessary for international sporting events especially one as grand as the World Cup. “For the World Cup we needed to convert 60 frames per second to 50 frames per second and that just wouldn’t be possible without the converter,” said Partington. For-A also has a Scene Cut Detection system that detects scene cuts automatically.

“We have already sent off this technology to the PGA, NFL and many others,” said Partington. “We found the converter to be quite impressive.”