Toronto-based CHUM Television, one of Canada’s leading broadcasters, has placed a significant order for Harris SD/HD conversion, processing, control and monitoring equipment to support its latest HD initiative.
Starting in September, CHUM Television’s Citytv plans to become the first daily newscast in Canada to air in high definition. The order from CHUM includes X75 HD M-Path multiple-path converter/synchronisers, NEO XHD broadcast-quality, modular HDTV converters and the 6800+ modular down-converters for utility applications. Also included in the order are CCS Pilot control and monitoring software and NUCLEUS user-configurable, network control panels, which support centralised operational control of all the conversion, processing and routing equipment.
“Since Citytv Toronto became the first over-the-air Canadian broadcaster to transmit an HD signal in 2003, choosing the best available technology has been fundamental to our success,” said Bruce Cowan, director, broadcast technology, CHUM Television. “The Harris HD conversion portfolio is proven technology that offers an unmatched range of options that enabled us to work with a single vendor to meet all the conversion requirements of this ambitious project.”
“CHUM has led the Canadian broadcast industry with HD initiatives, and we are pleased to support their latest venture,” said Tim Thorsteinson, president-elect of the Harris Broadcast Communications Division. “Our expanded conversion portfolio presents broadcasters with a unique level of flexibility as they transition to high definition – especially in terms of control. With the new NUCLEUS control panel, broadcasters benefit from having easier access to device control parameters, a higher level of user customisation and superior, centralised control over their operations.”
