BBC Post Production Takes Delivery of First Alchemist Ph.C HD Frame Rate Standards Converter

Snell & Wilcox has announced that BBC Post Production, part of BBC Resources Ltd, has taken delivery of the first Alchemist Ph.C – HD, the company's new HDTV frame rate standards converter.
One of the world's leading content creators, the BBC is involved in multiple content co-production deals around the world. With much of this content now being created in HDTV, the BBC is now both a major originator and purchaser of HDTV content.
BBC Resources Ltd is one of the largest broadcast production facilities in the UK and a profitable wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, selling both to BBC customers and the rest of the market.
It comprises BBC Studios, BBC Outside Broadcasts and BBC Post Production. BBC Post Production purchased the Alchemist Ph.C – HD in order to convert a broad range of HDTV originated material to the appropriate HDTV broadcast standard for both internal use and for international distribution.
"As broadcasters worldwide transition their operations to HDTV, content owners are rapidly moving toward HDTV production to meet the demands of viewers and to guarantee greater archive value for their content," said Joe Zaller, Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Snell & Wilcox. "With the launch of Alchemist Ph.C – HD, HDTV content can now be exchanged internationally across standards boundaries at the highest possible quality level, and with virtually no conversion artifacts. For companies like BBC Post Production, the ability to achieve this level of HD picture quality in any format enables distribution of dazzling visual productions worldwide and strengthens the facility's leadership as a provider of engaging programs and services."
BBC Post Production is a long-time Snell & Wilcox standards conversion customer, which for many years has utilized the SDTV version of the Alchemist Ph.C for international program exchange. The newly installed HDTV conversion system will be used primarily to convert finished 1080i programs between 1080/25 and 1080/29.97 interlaced and progressive formats, with some conversion to 720/59.94p, as well. The unmatched picture quality provided by the Alchemist Ph.C – HD is made possible through Snell & Wilcox's award-winning Ph.C motion estimation technology.
"The sophistication and accuracy of motion portrayal is critical to the quality of HDTV programming and, in particular, to the vivid, lifelike impression given by the BBC's programs," added Zaller. "BBC Post Production has achieved stunning results in SD conversion and HD upconversion with our Alchemist Ph.C system, and we're confident that the results of HD cross conversion with the Alchemist Ph.C – HD will be equally impressive."
More information about the Alchemist Ph.C – HD and other Snell & Wilcox products is available at www.snellwilcox.com.
(SP/DS)