Gannett B’casting Says Yes to Sony XDCAM EX

Gannett Broadcasting is standardizing its news field acquisition operations on Sony Electronics’ high-definition technology, choosing XDCAM EX solid-state memory camcorders as its primary ENG technology. The group will roll out Sony shoulder-mount EX camcorders across each of its stations – a combination of Sony’s PMW-350 2/3-inch and PMW-320 ½-inch shoulder-mount cameras, as well as the PMW-EX1R and HXR-NX5U handheld camcorders.

The first Gannett station to convert to the Sony technology was KUSA in Denver, with the next to convert include: Republic Media (Phoenix), WLTV/WJXX Jacksonville, FL; and KSDK St. Louis, MO.

According to Jeff Johnson, Vice President of Technology for Gannett Broadcasting, the new XDCAM technology will deliver greater production flexibility for the station’s news crews working in the field, higher image quality and a more efficient overall workflow. The group determined that the Sony solid-state camcorders delivered the most efficient workflow, from the field to the studio to air.

“The entire Sony product line addresses multiple applications and price points, and these camcorders are a perfect fit for our news operations,” Johnson said. “Our crews cover such a diverse range of shooting assignments from day to day, and our ENG gear needs to be equally flexible to keep pace. Using this technology, our crews are more flexible in the field in terms of the footage they are able to quickly capture, and when it gets back to the studio, the file-based content can be easily and quickly edited and made ready to use. This all translates into getting news on the air more quickly and more efficiently, which in the end, increases our competitive advantage.”