TVUPack Mini SE integrates with Sony camcorders for portable production needs

TVU Networks introduced TVUPack Mini SE, a portable cellular 3G/4G uplink solution designed specifically to integrate with Sony XDCAM shoulder camcorders. With TVUPack Mini SE, broadcasters are able to deliver live HD video on the go from practically any location.

TVUPack Mini SE is intended for broadcasters, production crews, news agencies, and videographers using Sony cameras to capture and broadcast live professional-quality content on air or direct-to-Web. With the ability to transmit video over up to four 3G/4G wireless data cards, Wi-Fi, WiMax, or Ethernet, TVUPack Mini SE delivers a powerful untethered live newsgathering tool to camera crews on the go. TVUPack Mini SE mounts between the Sony XDCAM shoulder camcorders and the battery system via the standard V-mount adapter and does not require any additional cables to connect to the camera.

TVUPack Mini SE delivers tight integration with Sony products that gives broadcasters a flexible live ENG solution that fits within their existing Sony workflow. TVUPack Mini SE is fully integrated with Sony XMPilot metadata workflow solutions and is designed to be compatible with shoulder cameras featuring Sony’s proprietary 50-pin interface, including the PMW500/350/320, PDW700, and PDWF800 cameras.

“The combination of Sony XDCAM camcorders and TVUPack Mini SE is a powerful live broadcast solution which will give our customers a fully-integrated 3G/4G solution for delivering live professional content,” said Ryosuke Hayashi, general manager, Products Planning Dept. of Content Creation Solutions Business Div., Sony. “This is a perfect example of Sony continuing to bring the most innovative technology to the market so users can seamlessly transition to new broadcast technologies.”

TVUPack Mini SE offers a number of features including:

• Small and Portable – At 49mm (wide) x 112mm (high) x 184mm (deep) and weighing less than one kilogram, TVUPack Mini SE mounts directly to compatible Sony XDCAM shoulder camcorders, giving camera crews a portable video uplink solution.
• Simple to Use – TVUPack Mini SE gives camera crews the ability to go live with just the push of a button. As a result, camera operators can focus on capturing the shot without the need for complex configuration or managing the transmission. Additionally, TVUPack Mini SE delivers a tally signal to the viewfinder, enabling camera operators to monitor transmission status while filming.
• Superior Video Quality – TVUPack Mini SE integrates TVU’s proprietary transmission protocols to deliver the best possible video quality. TVU’s Inverse StatMux technology dynamically segments a live video signal and transmits the segments through multiple independent 3G/4G connections. Its intelligent control system monitors available bandwidth and performance in real time to ensure that each individual connection is fully utilized, resulting in professional-quality picture.

“TVU is happy to be working closely with Sony to deliver another powerful solution for our mutual customers. The TVUPack Mini SE will enable our customers using Sony cameras to broadcast live footage of breaking news and events from more locations with a solution that is fully integrated with their existing equipment,” said Paul Shen, CEO, TVU Networks. “Our collaboration with Sony is another example of TVU leading the way in delivering advanced technical innovations to our broadcast customers, and we look forward to continuing our relationship.”

Already in use by hundreds of leading broadcast organizations around the world, the TVUPack family of products gives broadcasters satellite and microwave TV truck functionality in a lightweight, portable and untethered form.

The TVUPack family of products has been used to deliver professional-quality live HD footage of a number of important events including the London Olympics, U.S. presidential election primaries, the World Cup, April’s Friends of Syria conference, the Japan tsunami, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent tour of the Middle East and North Africa.