NBC And Sony Make Television History With The First HDTV Broadcast Of ""The Tonight Show With Jay Leno""Top-Rated Late-Night Series To Unveil New Look On April 26

NBC, the first network to broadcast in color and the first network to feature stereo sound, will be the first network to present a nightly television series with a high-definition digital signal when its top-rated and Emmy Award-winning Tonight Show WJay Leno"" begins regular Monday-Friday HDTV broadcasts on April 26, 1999 (11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET). The announcement was made by Scott Sassa, President, NBC Entertainment.""Not only is The Tonight Show the late night ratings leader, it is now the digital leader as it becomes the first television series broadcast in high-definition. This historical endeavor puts NBC, `The Tonight Showí and Sony at the forefront of the digital age of television. I hope the fans are as thrilled as we are,"" said Sassa.NBC and Sony are completing construction of a 1080-line interlace HDTV broadcast facility on the networkís Burbank, Calif. lot. This arrangement is an extension of a previously announced agreement, where NBC and Sony have teamed up to develop broadcast products and applications for the next five Olympic Games.The Tonight Show With Jay Leno will be broadcast in the digital 1920x1080 format using Sonyís digital high definition (HDVSÆ ) equipment. Although the set remains virtually the same except for a ""pop up"" 34-inch Sony FD TrinitronÆ WegaÆ high-definition television behind Lenoís desk, Sonyís Systems Integration totally revamped NBCís Burbank facility behind the scenes to accommodate the new state-of-the-art, HD equipment. According to Jim Powell, Vice President of Entertainment Production Operations for NBC, Sony was the only logical choice to turn to for a production of this magnitude.""When NBC was looking at different manufacturers and formats to help bring this project to life, Sony was ready,"" said Powell. ""We were not looking for a partial solution. NBC chose Sony because the company is the only manufacturer who can deliver the total package from acquisition to post. Sonyís HDVS equipment also offers us exceptional picture quality. Its integration team has been brilliant in their design and implementation, and their service is unsurpassed. These attributes and more have helped NBC to deliver the first regularly scheduled program to originate in high definition, and to prepare for future DTV ventures with Sony, including the broadcast of the next five winter and summer Olympic games.""Since March ë98, Sony Systems Integration has been working with the NBC production staff to tear out the old equipment and install new HD equipment into the infrastructure. Existing camera controls and graphics were stationed in a remote truck allowing NBC to continue broadcasting while Sony Systems Integration continued reconstruction.""Of course, our goal was to make a seamless transition to the HD equipment for the viewers, but we also had to make the transition as painless as possible for the crew,"" said Chris Summey, Vice President of Systems Integration for Sony Electronicsí Broadcast and Professional Company. ""We built the control and edit room with the same switcher and DVE equipment to give NBC redundancy and enable the crew to perform operator training. The control and edit rooms featured Sonyís HDS-7000 HD switcher with an HDME-7000 two-channel DVE, and a DVS-2000 SDI switcher with two channels of a DME-3000 SDI DVE that can be upconverted to HD and fed into the switcher."" Sonyís multi-purpose HDC-700 HD 1080i studio cameras, HDC-750 HD cameras and HDW-700 HDCAMÆ camcorders enable NBC to shoot the The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in both HDTV and then downconvert to SDTV using on-board downconverters in the cameraís CCU. The transmission room will receive both a 525 signal and a 1080i signal via dual transmitters from the control room simultaneously, providing a high-quality picture without conducting two separate broadcasts. ""This broadcast has been a long time in the making,"" added Summey. ""We began with a concept about a year ago and now weíre ready to go to air. Our preliminary design consisted of single line drawings, and rack and console elevations. Later, NBC production staff were positioned in a full-size, foam core mock-up of the control room and monitor wall. Because we had the unique opportunity to rebuild the facility, we wanted to make sure the staff would be comfortable and productive without any last minute surprises.""""Sony is proud to be a part of television history,"" said Michael Vitelli, Executive Vice President of Sony Electronicsí Broadcast and Professional Company. ""Teaming with forward-thinkers like NBC has been a win-win situation. This latest step once again demonstrates Sonyís strength as a digital solutions provider and enables NBC to deliver its top-rated show at the highest resolution format for HDTV program origination. NBCís commitment to the highest resolution 1920 by 1080 format for HDTV program origination gives the two companies an outstanding framework from which we will both help to shape the DTV era.""Beginning Wednesday, April 21, ""The Tonight Show"" got a new look online - at Jayís official Website, NBC.com/leno. In addition to an all-new design, the popular site offers information on HDTV as well as a new lineup of exclusive interactive features, including a completely rebuilt ""Jayís Garage,"" the extensive automotive feature sponsored by Lincoln. Visitors to the Garage can submit their questions about cars directly to Jay Leno himself, who regularly responds online with his expert advice. They can also access photos and facts about Jayís classic collection, read Jayís new monthly car column from Popular Mechanics, and visit ""Lenotown"" to sample video clips and other online treats.The Tonight Show guests for the show on April 26 are actress Salma Hayek, actor David Arquette and singer Jewel.NBCís popular late-night series Friday Night, which also originates from The Tonight Show studio, will also be shot and broadcast in high-definition 52 weeks a year, beginning, April 30, 1999.NBCís Burbank facility, which houses The Tonight Show With Jay Leno studio as well as other control and edit rooms, includes four HDC-700 and four HDC-750 studio cameras; one HDW-700 HDCAM camcorder; three DXC-H10 POV cameras; four HDM-2830, three HDM-20E1U, one HDC-E700A and three HDM-14E5U HD high definition monitors; 15 HDW-500 HDCAM VTRs; two HDS-7000 switchers; two HDME-7000 multi effects; and two HDS-V3232 video routers.