DVCPRO HD Chronicling Search for Ancient Habitation Beneath Black Sea

The National Geographic Society has selected its compact DVCPRO HD format to acquire the National Geographic Special for PBS. The program will be about explorer Robert Ballard's search for evidence of human habitation below the Black Sea.

Before the selection of the DVCPRO HD high definition format for this project, National Geographic chose film as the capture medium for its specials, long the flagship programs of the Society's numerous television productions. Cinematographer Foster Wiley selected Panasonic's AJ-HDC20A DVCPRO HD camcorder to provide a spectacular wide-screen perspective of the three-month long expedition which is being lensed in Turkey and on the Black Sea.

Michael Rosenfeld, Executive Producer, National Geographic specials, said, "High-definition video delivers wonderful image quality, even in tough lighting conditions like Ballard's control room, and the longer record times allow a talented cinematographer like Foster Wiley to be at his artistic best."

The incredible discovery last week by Robert Ballard -- a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and famous for locating the Titanic in 1985 -- of the ancient ruins of a human habitation more than 300 feet under the Black Sea in Turkey has made major news internationally. The find represents the first concrete evidence that the ancient shore of the Black Sea was occupied prior to a cataclysmic flooding. Scientist believe this discovery may support a theory that a Black Sea flood gave rise to the Biblical story of Noah and other great flood legends. The Black Sea was previously a freshwater lake that was flooded by the Mediterranean Sea some 7,000 years ago when the European glaciers melted.

The complete story of the discovery will be told in a one-hour National Geographic special that has a tentative air date of May 2001.

Panasonic's DVCPRO HD format offers 1080i and 720p recording and eight channels of 16-bit 48KHz audio. DVCPRO HD is the natural extension of the DVCPRO format into high definition for studio, field production and post applications. DVCPRO HD is the new cost-effective format providing an effective path towards broadcasting of DTV and HDTV programming while remaining backwardly-compatible with all DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, DVCAM and DV formats.

The AJ-HDC20A 3-CCD camcorder offers high mobility, high-definition field acquisition. The 10-bit digital signal processing camcorder offers 46-minute recording in 1080i, two channels of 16-bit/48KHz digital audio, low power consumption of about 36 watts, uses standard 2/3-inch bayonet lenses, and comes equipped with an HD-SDI (SMPTE 292M) output for full-color live and tape playback, and a multi-media memory card for storing camera setups. Weighing 15 pounds in full operating condition, the AJ-HDC20A provides a wide range of field production functions including Super Gain to boost gain by a full +36dB for high-quality shooting in dim lighting, customized set-up buttons, and an electronic shutter (1/30 -1/2000 sec.) featuring Synchro Scan to reduce flicker when shooting CRT displays.

Los Angeles-based Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional digital video and audio products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a division company of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North America subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC,), one of the world's leading producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use.