Televisio de Catalunya (TV3) Commits to P2

Televisio de Catalunya, TV3, the leading Catalan broadcaster, based in Barcelona, with a TV audience of six million across the region, has committed to Panasonic’s P2 tapeless acquisition format. The commitment forms part of a major strategic decision by the broadcaster to move to IT networking and production, based round the Activa 3 DigitionSuite content management system.

Amadeu Gasso, Deputy Director of Television at TV3 said, “We are committed to develop one of the most technically advanced broadcast TV stations. Panasonic’s P2 means our efficiency and speed to air will be greater than our competitors. Our intention is to create ‘downloading docks’ where the cameramen will download everything via USB when he comes back from outside. Then he will be ready for recording again. Thanks to solid state memory, we will not worry again about maintenance” He added, “Panasonic has developed exactly what we were looking for – a real IT acquisition system. We started four years ago to develop our own content management system, and our programme archive was already digitised some time ago. For us IT-based systems are key for high speed operation. When we saw the P2 from Panasonic for the first time we said: ‘This is what we have been looking for’”. Dr Pere Vila, Technology Director of Corporacio Catalana de Radio i Televisio, the broadcast authority in Catalan, said, “Our last 8 years of experience with Panasonic and DVCPRO have been so good that we are pleased to keep working with them.” Jaume Rey, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast Europe said, “We are very happy that TV3 commits again to Panasonic. For us it is a clear demonstration of the trust and partnership between both companies. TV3 was the first broadcaster in Spain, to adopt DVCPRO 8 years ago, and only the second one in Europe. For us this new commitment shows the importance of the continued evolution of the DVCPRO family and with P2, Panasonic has the technology to make TV3 one of the most advanced TV stations in Europe.” The decision to commit to P2 was made by top technological management from Televisio de Catalunya, Corporacio Catalana de Radio i Televisio (the Government body which oversees TV3, together with senior management from Panasonic Espana and Panasonic Broadcast Europe.