U Idaho Football Goes High-Def

The University of Idaho (UI) has amped up its video production services. The institution's Video Production Center (VPC) team is using new HDTV studio and field production cameras to shoot high-definition video of football games, commencement webcasts, and musical performances at the Moscow, ID campus.

UI replaced its aging SD cameras with six Hitachi Z-HD5000 cameras, said Dave Tong, manager and producer for the VPC, in a prepared statement released this week by Hitachi. The new cameras, which come with Fujinon XA20sX8.5 HD lenses, are part of a "fly pack that includes a NewTek TriCaster 855 integrated production switcher, NewTek 3Play 820 HD replay system, and Sony HVR1500A HDV/DVCAM VTR, along with six Hitachi CU-HD500 camera control units and six Hitachi RU-1000VR remote control units."

The university purchased the cameras in 2011 during the renovation of its 16,000-seat ASUI-Kibbie Dome stadium, which included new fiber cabling, HD cable TV systems, and 20x10-foot Daktroniks display. The new Hitachi cameras were part of the upgrade of the stadium's video control room.

"We chose the Hitachi Z-HD5000s because their three 2/3-inch CCDs produce superior native 1080i HD imaging and the fiber adapters take full advantage of the stadium's fiber cabling," Tong explained. The CU-HD500 CCU comes with "two tally lights, two return video sends, power, two intercom channels, and a dedicated teleprompter channel per camera."

The University of Idaho, founded in 1889 and offering 142 degree programs, serves more than 12,000 students and 3,000 faculty members across six campuses.

More information about Hitachi's broadcast cameras can be located at the company's Web site.

About the Author

Kanoe Namahoe is online editor for 1105 Media's Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].

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