KSMQ, the PBS member station in Austin, MN‚ has outfitted its main studio with three new Hitachi SK-HD1000 HD cameras to produce public interest programming for viewers in its Southern Minnesota-Northern Iowa coverage area. The three cameras are equipped with Fujinon Has18x7.6BRD-S48 HD lenses.
The station has purchased three SK-HD1000’s with Hitachi CCU-3300 camera control units (with the 720p HD option) and RU-3400 systems for remote control of the camera menus. Together with new Vinten robotic camera heads, these systems enable the cameras to be remotely set up and operated from the master control room.
KSMQ’s chief engineer Stefan Olson said they chose the Hitachi cameras for their picture quality, camera setup features, affordability and capability to shoot in either SD or HD resolutions.
“Because of the multistandard capability, we’re able to buy cameras that serve our needs today, while we’re still 4:3 SD, as well as later on when we transition to 720p HDTV‚” he said.
KSMQ produces several local interest series including: “Cities on the Move,” the station’s local half-hour magazine show, which features interesting people, places and events. Quarterly, KSMQ also produces “Cities on the Move: Town Hall Edition,” a live one-hour program featuring five to eight guests discussing timely topics.