Panasonic Broadcast has signed a three-year agreement with the Fox Entertainment Group to supply P2 HD and P2 solid-state camcorders and recorders to all Fox owned-and-operated television stations. Fox Television Stations, Inc. part of the Fox Entertainment Group, is one of the largest owned-and-operated broadcast groups in the USA and comprises 35 stations in 26 markets, covering nearly 45% of US television homes, writes Fergal Ringrose.
This includes five duopolies in the top 10 markets, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Washington D.C., as well as duopolies in Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.
Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Panasonic will be the exclusive supplier of certain electronic news gathering (ENG) equipment for Fox’s owned-and-operated television stations. The agreement covers AJ-HPX2000 2/3″ P2 HD camcorders, AJ-HPM100 P2 HD mobile recorders, P2 Cards as well as P2 drives and other P2 products.
John Baisley, President, Panasonic Broadcast, said, “We are very pleased to be chosen by Fox, one of our original development partners for P2, to supply its television stations with P2 HD and P2 equipment. This substantial commitment reinforces Panasonic’s leadership in high definition.”
“P2 is a proven technology with extensive customer experience, and Panasonic is deeply committed to the continued development of innovative yet practical P2 HD solid state solutions that deliver substantial workflow improvements and overall operating efficiencies,” added Baisley
Currently, five Fox stations – WNYW-TV and WWOR-TV, New York City; WTXF-TV, Philadelphia, KRIV-TV, Houston; and KTVI-TV, St. Louis; are using Panasonic’s P2 standard definition equipment in their news production operations.
