Snell Kahuna is Centerpiece of NBC Affiliate WAFF 48’s New HD Broadcast Operation
Huntsville, Ala., Station Is Among Latest in Raycom Media Group to Launch HD Broadcast
BURBANK, Calif. — Nov. 9, 2011 —Snell today announced that WAFF 48, an NBC affiliate serving the Huntsville, Ala., market (DMA #80), is among the latest members of the Raycom Media station group to launch its HD newscast using Snell's Kahuna multi-format HD/SD production switcher. The Kahuna switcher is the centerpiece in a major HD upgrade for the WAFF broadcasting facility, which includes a state-of-the-art news studio and set, control room, and edit bays.
"Since the installation of our Snell Kahuna last fall, our entire directing staff has been impressed with its reliability and usability. Thanks to Kahuna, we were able to make a quantum leap in technology, moving from full-analog standard definition to completely digital high definition," said J.T. Harriman, chief engineer at WAFF. "We needed equipment that was easy-to-learn, intuitive, and would stand up to the rigorous daily routine of very busy daily newscasts. Kahuna was a great choice for us, and it has performed exceedingly well."
WAFF produces more than seven hours of live, multi-element newscasts every weekday from its new production control room, in addition to weekend programs and pre- and post-production activities. With Kahuna ideally suited to the well-thought-out design of the control room, WAFF news directors take extensive advantage of the switcher's multiple-user capabilities and panel configurations, which they can easily navigate and modify on-the-fly to change users and configurations quickly. Different operators are able to save their own personal settings for each individual newscast, and they can load their preferences and presets without jeopardizing the next newscast.
Kahuna's multi-format capabilities are also very important to the WAFF operation, as the station is continuing to rely on SD sources for some aspects of its HD broadcasts, including all ENG and satellite live shots. The switcher can automatically convert these SD streams to 16:9 widescreen format to provide consistency with the HD content.
"The Kahuna allows us to do so much more than we could previously. Now, we can do with a single box what used to require a lot of outboard devices and processing gear, and Kahuna's director-friendly features, such as the graphical user interface and quick macro settings, have really boosted our news production processes," added Harriman.
"WAFF is the nineteenth Raycom station to select Kahuna and we're proud to have our switcher play such an important role in the group's transition to HD news production," said President of Snell Americas Jonathan Goldstein. "Through years of hard work, WAFF has built a stellar reputation for news in the Huntsville market. The move to HD with Kahuna will give the station an even greater competitive edge."
More information about the Snell product family is available online at www.snellgroup.com.
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About WAFF 48:
A Raycom Media station, WAFF 48 has a long, rich history of providing news, weather, and entertainment to viewers in North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. Severe weather coverage is a priority at WAFF 48. Chief Meteorologist Brad Travis and the WAFF 48 Storm Team track storms using the technology of WAFF 48 VIPIR and Live Doppler 48. WAFF's dedication to The Heart of the Valley continues with its news coverage. WAFF 48 has news bureaus in Sand Mountain, The Shoals, and Decatur. The WAFF 48 News Team is determined to bring viewers accurate, relevant stories. This philosophy has been rewarded with honors from Associated Press and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and WAFF 48 is a three-time winner of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award, as well as winner of the National Association of Broadcasters' Friend in Need Award. For more information, visit www.waff.com.
About Snell:
Snell is a leading innovator in digital media technology and provides broadcasters and global media companies with a comprehensive range of solutions to create, better manage, and streamline the distribution of content for today's multi-screen world. Snell provides the tools necessary to transition seamlessly and cost-effectively to HDTV, stereoscopic 3D, and 3Gbps operations. Headquartered in the U.K., Snell serves more than 2,000 broadcasters, post facilities, and global media companies in more than 100 countries through its worldwide team of sales and support personnel. More information is available at www.snellgroup.com.
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