As it seeks to move beyond the computer world and into the entertainment space, Hewlett-Packard last week introduced its Digital Media Platform, an integrated, standards-based platform developed in conjunction with Warner Bros. and DreamWorks. Based on H-P’s technology, the platform will allow content creators to easily share and access content in production and post-production environments, said Shane Robinson, H-P’s chief technology officer.
As part of the new platform development, Warner Bros. plans to use H-P tools to digitize many of its classic movies and TV shows. The two companies also plan to create a post-production studio that will be used by Warner Bros.’ high-definition TV shows.
Station Groups Embrace P2
Several large television station groups have made significant investments in Panasonic’s new P2 next-generation tapeless camcorder system for use this year, including Sinclair, Liberty, Scripps-Howard, Media General and NY1 News, the company announced April 18 the National Association of Broadcasters convention.
Time Warner’s 24-hour news channel NY1 News in New York invested more than $1.2 million and plans to convert news operations completely to P2 technology this year. Media General will convert six of 19 stations this year, with the rest to follow by 2006.
Sony Electronics also offers a tapeless option. At a separate press conference April 18 at NAB, Sony said its XDCam equipment has been purchased by ABC-owned WLS-TV and Fox-owned WFLD-TV in Chicago, as well as Post-Newsweek-owned NBC station KPRC-TV in Houston.
Sinclair to Begin Fuel Cell Rollout
Sinclair Broadcast Group will introduce fuel cells to power news-gathering cameras at its Buffalo, N.Y., WB station WNYO-TV in May, when the station becomes the first in the group to use the new Panasonic tapeless camcorder, the P2. Since the P2 has no moving parts, it should consume less power than a regular camera. Coupled with the fuel cell from Jadoo Power Systems, stations should be able to save more time using the P2/Jadoo combo, said Del Parks, VP of engineering and operations at Sinclair.
GSN Fires Up First 1-Screen ITV
In a move that GSN alluded to earlier this month, the network introduced its first one-screen interactive programming last week.
GSN’s 85 hours per week of interactive TV is now accessible through a remote control in Time Warner’s Oceanic Cable Hawaii market serving 388,000 customers, said John Roberts, senior VP of interactive at GSN.
In Hawaii, Time Warner’s digital cable customers, using the remote control and a Scientific-Atlanta 2000 set-top box, can interact with about nine hours of programming a day, including “The Mole,” “World Series of Blackjack” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” GoldPocket Interactive is the technology provider powering the ITV applications.