Sony Professional Solutions of America

Sony returns to IBC to present its latest innovations and launch its Intelligent Media Services offerings

At IBC 2018, Sony unveils its latest line-up of innovative solutions that will allow media companies to capture, edit and share engaging content in 4K and HDR with audiences around the world.

Visitors to stand 13.A10 will be able to discover Sony’s latest advancements, including a new generation of 4K/HD HDR live system cameras; HDC-P50, HDC-3500, HDC-3100, HDC-3170 and a new Camera Control Unit HDCU-3170, and a new 4K HDR reference monitor BVM-HX310, as well as updates to many existing solutions such as the state-of-the-art motion picture camera VENICE, Sony’s portfolio of IP live solutions and more. The centerpiece of the booth is Sony’s stunning 5K x 2K Crystal LED display system, showcasing breath-taking imagery with exceptional picture quality.

“Each year at IBC, we unveil innovative new solutions that give media companies the best possible tools to capture stunning content and share it with their audiences – and this year is no different,” says Stuart Almond, Head of Marketing, Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “At Sony, we listen and work collaboratively with our customers to create solutions that actively address the challenges media companies face today and provide them with the technologies they need to go and make tomorrow a reality.”

Limitless Potential

Modern audiences consume content across a multitude of devices whenever and wherever it best suits them. To support content creators in meeting these ever-changing audience expectations, Sony is launching Intelligent Media Services, a range of services and micro-services designed to transform traditional media supply chains, unlock more value from content for deeper audience engagement and provide OTT subscription services. Sony provides solutions according to customer’s needs, helping them to create, control, connect and deliver content anytime, anywhere, to an unprecedented range of distribution platforms. Sony’s Intelligent Media Services portfolio includes:

• New Media Solutions – A fully managed digital supply chain service, offering content distribution solutions in a variety of models depending on customer needs.
• Virtual Production – A subscription-based, on-demand solution hosted in the cloud that provides a complete production toolset for simultaneous, multi-platform professional streaming and requires no infrastructure or upfront investment. Red Bull has recently taken advantage of Virtual Production to capture and live stream its Alpenbrevet motorcycle race, which took place in a remote location in the Swiss Alps.
• Cloud-based Production Services – XDCAM air, an ENG subscription service, and Media Backbone Hive, a multi-platform news production system, are both cloud-based solutions that support content creators to ingest, edit and view footage before distributing it across various platforms and OTT services in file and by streaming it live.

Sony’s PXW-Z280 and PXW-Z190 XDCAM handheld camcorders will also receive a firmware update (version 2.0) based on the technology of XDCAM air. This update will expand the capabilities of both camcorders to include dual link QoS streaming, HEVC streaming, network intercom and remote control, when used with the optional CBKZ-SLNW1 license.

• Safe Asset Solution –Optical Disc Archive and Memnon ensure valuable assets safe and accessibility from anywhere in the world with flexible system set-up from advanced cloud storage to on-premise storage with ultra-rugged physical media maintaining a pristine, organized and secure online repository of assets.

Moreover, powerful and affordable content management and workflow solution, Media Backbone NavigatorX is also showcased at Sony booth.

The Art of Live

Sony has unveiled four new live production system cameras further expanding and evolving the Sony HDC family, which is in use at broadcast and media companies across the globe. HDC-P50, a 4K HDR Point of View (POV) system camera and HDC-3500 portable system camera boast the world’s first 2/3-inch 4K global shutter and three CMOS sensors. The new portable system cameras, HDC-3100 (Fiber) and HDC-3170 (Triax), also make their debut at IBC 2018. The next generation of system cameras will offer content creators unprecedented flexibility and mobility in addition to the premium 4K/HD HDR picture quality and IP capability they have come to expect from Sony solutions.  Additionally, Sony has also introduced a new Triax Camera Control Unit (CCU), the HDCU-3170, to work in conjunction with the new system cameras

Another major trend across the industry is the rapid adoption of IP live solutions to reduce infrastructure costs and streamline workflows. Broadening the SMPTE ST 2110 compatibility of its Live Production portfolio, Sony is introducing new option / interface boards for its XVS series of multi-format video switchers and for its camera control unit.

As the market gears up for an IP-driven future, Sony has seen rapid global customer adoption of its IP live solutions and continues to support media companies on their journey to IP, including private broadcaster SIC and France Galop in Europe, Mie Television Broadcasting Co Ltd and NARA TELEVISION Co Ltd in Japan, Topcool media and Zhejiang Broadcast & TV Group in China, as well as broadcasters in the US.

To overcome the common challenge of black reproducibility, provide accurate color reproduction and high-contrast performance, Sony is introducing its new 4K HDR reference monitor, the BVM-HX310. The monitor carries the Sony specified  LCD panel, which is fully capable of reproducing 4K and High Dynamic Range (HDR) content and supports industry standard brightness of up to 1,000 nits in full-screen and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for HDR productions. The launch of the new reference monitor marks the introduction of Sony’s technology brand TRIMASTER HX.