The BIRTV 2009, which began on August 26th (Wed), has ended. The organizers have not announced the official visitor figures yet, but looking at the photographs we have received from onsite, it looks as though the BIRTV 2009 welcomed the same level of visitors as the previous year. New models just released this spring were also available for testing, so I am sure many of the visitors had the opportunity to check out models they were not used to using. Now, in this entry I would like to introduce some more corners I hadn't had the chance to introduce before.

The presentation held on the main stage introduced new products, and an interview of movie directors who have used the P2HD was also aired on stage. Many people seemed intrigued by the 'eco ideas' brought to life by the P2HD.

In this corner you can test out the differences in the current and new switcher models. You can try using many switch effects, including wipes, the multi-view function, and many other operations. Moreover, there are also models that allow you to remotely operate cameras if you directly connect the switcher to the camera's pan-tilt system. Please take a look at the switcher website. You can watch videos that introduce the functions of the switchers in a straightforward manner.

In China, digitalization of the broadcasting networks is steadily underway and more and more channels are becoming available. This movement in China began with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. High definition broadcasting has already begun to some extent, so we can expect the image quality of the broadcasting industry to continue to improve. We can understand why there is great focus on systems such as the P2HD, which records high resolution footage and lets you create content efficiently.
Now, in September, the IFA 2009 will take place in Berlin, Germany. IFA 2009 is often considered a German summer tradition, and hiroyuki-san will be reporting about this exhibition from onsite. He seems to be quite busy with the research right now. hiroyuki-san, good luck in Berlin!

The digitalization of the broadcasting environment is steadily underway. The recorded footage is processed as a digital file even at broadcasting stations in China. If you take a look at the press release uploaded on Panasonic China's website, you can read about how the P2HD series have been adopted by the broadcasting stations in China.

These broadcasting stations have mentioned 2 key benefits of the P2HD series that have successfully convinced them to make the change - stable recording and rapid editing. The new efficiency offered by the P2HD series allows broadcasting stations to input/output contents via their network and place a backup copy on their server. The release also highlights how with the P2HD series you can edit approximately 3 times faster in comparison to DVCPRO50. With respect to non-linear editing and servers, Panasonic has formed a partnership with a great many non-linear equipment manufacturers. As a result, there is greater freedom when building a system offering great benefits to broadcasting stations that are considering implementing a new system.

In the corner exhibiting products of non-linear equipment manufacturers within the booth, you will find many screens displaying various editing applications. So you can choose one that most resembles the application you are familiar with, or if you are intrigued by a new application you can ask the staff for more information. The exhibition offers a great opportunity for the non-linear equipment manufacturers to receive direct feedback from potential customers. I'm sure the feedback they receive will be useful to their future product development.

As digitalization continues and more and more channels are offered, what becomes a great concern for people making contents may be the production costs. Well, when you look at it from the long-term perspective, the P2HD series will help you reduce costs since it lets you write and rewrite onto the memory card as many times as you like. And by reducing waste like used tapes, the P2HD series also contributes to environmental conservation. There is also a P2 Asset Support System, which offers 5 years of free maintenance and repair, so you can also cut maintenance costs. It is imperative that you consider the total costs involved when thinking about providing a constant stream of contents. P2HD offers excellent advantages in this respect, so it may become more and more widespread not only in the broadcasting industry, but also in other areas such as education and advertising.

• P2 Partners

• P2 Asset Support Sytem

• P2 Concept and work flow

The second day of BIRTV 2009 has ended. And at this time, I would like to introduce the booth in more detail with the photographs I have received from onsite. The transparent materials used for the booth facade give the booth a very fresh look. You can see a crowd of visitors gathering at the right-hand end of the booth – this is the shooting corner. It must be a great attraction for visitors, since they can come and test the entire line-up of cameras for themselves.

This is the AVCWORLD corner where camera systems, memory card recorders, and players are displayed. As you can see, the cameras have been displayed in a vertically staggered manner, but there is a reason for this. The cameras are displayed according to recommended markets. On the very top are cameras for advertising and movie production. I have heard that some new movies have been filmed digitally, so it seems that digital technology is also being used more and more frequently in the movie industry.

The shooting corner has been designed to resemble a news studio. You can test the cameras out by shooting the woman who is acting as a newscaster. You can also check the image you shot on the LCD video monitor set up next to the camera. The camera also has a large LCD monitor that lets you check the colors and focus at ease.。

This is a shooting corner that resembles a studio for a cooking program. Two women are arranging the food on dishes while talking and going back and forth between the tables, letting you shoot subjects in motion. Since the set is very colorful, you can test the cameras' ability to reproduce true-to-life colors.

This corner, which resembles a set for movie or high definition program production, lets you test out high-end camera systems such as the P2 VARICAM AJ-HPX3700 (AJ-HPX3700G in Japan), AJ-HPX2700 (AJ-HPX2700G in Japan), and the P2 cam AJ-HPX3000 (AJ-HPX3000G in Japan). The use of lighting is moderate compared to the other sets, demonstrating that the cameras can shoot beautiful images even capturing the subtle shades and nuances.

The video images that have been shot often need to be edited as soon as possible. At the P2 Alliance corner within the booth, the non-linear equipment manufacturers have their own space. There, they conduct demonstrations of how footage may be edited and also respond to inquiries. If more applications become available, we may have more options when installing new systems.

This is the eco corner located right next to the entrance of the booth. This corner introduces environmental activities Panasonic is committed to around the world. You can look at the content - available in Chinese, English, and Japanese - by touching the panel display. A panel exhibited on the right of the display shows how you can reduce waste by replacing the tapes with P2 cards.

• "P2 HD" Series Memory Card Camera-Recorder

• "AVCCAM" Series Memory Card Camera-Recorder

• LCD Monitors

• P2 Partners

• P2 Concept and work flow

It has been nearly a year since the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games ended. And as I have mentioned, this year, BIRTV is taking place around the usual time of year. Once again, the Panasonic booth is located right next to the Hall 3 entrance. At the entrance of the booth, you will find a 103-inch plasma display introducing Panasonic’s environmental activities as well as sponsorship activities such as its long-lasting support of the Olympic Games. And since the "Panasonic China Environmental Forum 2009" was held in Beijing this May, a special corner dedicated to Panasonic’s 'eco ideas' zooming in on professional broadcasting equipment and peripheral equipment as well as ideas for reducing waste by using the P2HD series has been set up within the booth.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games last year and this year marks its 60th anniversary as a nation. And Panasonic will remain committed to providing full support to these historical milestones in China with its high definition video technology. Panasonic also intends to create a new video culture and high definition businesses hand in hand with broadcasters and the video production industry in China.

According to the dedicated website (in Chinese) set up by Panasonic Corporation of China for the BIRTV, the booth is divided into sections according to each product group. In the front portion of the booth you will find a corner introducing various ideas for optimizing workflow. On the right side, you will find a camcorder corner with the P2 VARICAM AJ-HPX3700MC; P2 series - AJ-HPX303MC, AJ-HMC173MC, and AJ-HMC153MC; the compact AG0HMC43C, a new compact AVCCAM model offering great mobility; and the POVCAM　AG-HMC10MC, which has a separate camera head and recorder connected by a cable, enabling you to record from a unique angle.

On the left side of the workflow corner, you will find a corner where you can try out various software provided by Panasonic’s partner companies. And, at back end of the booth you will find the shooting corner. Here you can have a go at using the entire line-up of products from handheld AVCCAM to studio cameras. According to the staff in charge of the exhibition, the shooting corner has been designed to resemble studios for news and cooking programs or talk shows. You can see what the booth looks like on the dedicated website, so please have a look. I will also be introducing the booth in more detail once I receive some photographs.

BIRTV 2009 is about to begin, and now you can check out the list of products that will be exhibited in Panasonic China's press release (Chinese). The press release introduces products such as the P2HD series as well as new models of products such as the compact AVCCAM offering great mobility. There are also new conceptual products, such as the camera system, which connects the lens and the recorder with a cable to allow you to shoot from an unconventional angle. BIRTV is mainly targeted towards broadcasting and film industry professionals, but many people known as "prosumers" who, although their passion for shooting video is more or less a hobby, not only shoot using video cameras commonly available in the marketplace but also have a great thirst for professional cameras, also come to the exhibition. The compact AVCCAM, which lets you record onto an SD Memory Card is very popular amongst such prosumers.

Although AVCCAM is a familiar face in the broadcasting industry, in order to broaden its reach into other industries that make frequent use of video, such as education, bridal, government, and advertising/production, Panasonic China has held the "AVCCAM Road Show" in 19 cities, 33 locations, around China. These all-day events were very experiential; participants were given an opportunity to test out the AVCCAM and palm-style P2 series (AJ-HVX203、AJ-HPX173、AJ-HMC153、AJ-HMC73). The typical day began with a seminar about the products and Q&A. Then the participants were able to actually operate the P2 cams and AVCCAMs themselves. By the end of the caravan, this road show, which began in December 2008, will have offered an opportunity to test these cameras out to more than 4,000 people. In addition to this, seminars for professionals and technical exchange forums were held to widen the circle of P2HD users. Perhaps many people who have taken part in these events will also be at the BIRTV 2009.

At the Panasonic booth at BIRTV 2009, you will find these products as well as LCD monitors, digital AV mixers, editing controllers, etc. Some of the new cameras on exhibit will include the AG-HPX303 (AG-HPX305 in Japan), a shoulder-type P2 camera with　a low center of gravity and an interchangeable lens system, the AG-HMC43 (AG-HMC45 in Japan) with a compact body and the ability to record full HD video, and AG-HMR10 and AG-HCK10, which allow you to shoot from a unique angle by connecting the recorder and the camera with a cable. In the shooting corner you will also be able to check out high-end camera systems such as the P2 VARICAM AJ-HPX3700 and the AJ-HPX2700, which have a great reputation for the film-like quality images they can shoot. If there is a specific model you want to try out, I suggest you make your way to the booth earlier rather than later.

• "P2 HD" Series Memory Card Camera-Recorder

• "AVCCAM" Series Memory Card Camera-Recorder

• LCD Monitors

BIRTV 2009 (Beijing International Radio and Television Broadcasting Device Exhibition), to be held in Beijing from August 26th (Wednesday), is China’s largest exhibition for the television and radio industry. Recently, it is said to have joined the ranks of other major broadcasting device exhibitions around the world such as the Inter BEE in Japan, NAB in the USA, IBC in Europe. The BIRTV exhibitors will include companies not only from China, but also from many other parts of the world including Japan. Last year, the exhibition was held in November due to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, but the 18th BIRTV will be held as usual in August.

As you know, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was the first time in Olympic history that the footage of the Games was produced and delivered in high definition. I'm sure many of you watched the dynamic, beautiful footage of the Games. In China, preparation is underway to make a complete transition from analog to digital broadcasting by year 2015, and it seems that digital terrestrial broadcasting will begin in 100 cities within the year. According to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, there will be 2 channels offered, one for high definition digital broadcasting and the other for standard definition digital broadcasting, but in some areas only standard definition will be made available. Although the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games helped promote the dissemination of "set top boxes," which are used to receive digital broadcasting signals, at the moment, many people associate them with the "great number of channels" they make available, rather than with "higher image quality." Nonetheless, in the hands of the state, they will be made available to areas with low reception and the digitalization of TV will certainly be promoted.

Since there is an urgent need to digitalize the environment in which people create content as well, I'm sure many people who are considering expanding or replacing their systems will also come to the exhibition. I will let you know what Panasonic will introduce at its booth at a later time.

BIRTV 2009

Exhibition: August 26 (Wed) ~ August 29 (Sat) 2009
Venue: China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, China
Sponsor: State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
Official Website (English): http://www.birtv.com/english/