NFL Preseason Kicks Off Shift to High-Definition Instant Replay; Harris Corporation System Gives Referees Sharpest View Ever
August 09 2007 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
HD Instant Replay Active at Pro Football Stadiums NEW YORK, and
MELBOURNE, Fla., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The National
Football League (NFL) is kicking off a new era in officiating as
preseason football gets underway this week - marking the first time
referees in any major sports league will use high-definition (HD)
instant replay systems to review close calls. Twenty-one years
after the NFL first began using instant replay, referees at
professional football stadiums will use new HD systems from Harris
Corporation that provide images five times sharper than previous
standard- definition systems. The new HD systems will enable
referees on the field and in replay booths to scan and freeze frame
the crystal clear video so they can more accurately rule on
sideline catches, goal line stands and other critical plays that
often are challenged by coaches. The new HD instant replay systems
have been installed in 28 NFL stadium replay booths, which are
staffed by replay officials, a video technician, a video operator
and a communicator. Booths at the three remaining NFL stadiums -
New York, Dallas and Indianapolis - will be activated after the
stadiums are renovated. Harris also supplied two other HD instant
replay systems for use by the NFL to train officials. "This is a
rare opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technology to improve the
integrity of the game," said Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president
of officiating. "Our referees will now be able to see images much
more clearly, giving reviews in critical situations the level of
scrutiny they truly deserve. It's really a win-win situation for
everyone - the coaches, players and the fans." Harris, a leading
provider of HDTV solutions for sports broadcasting, supplied the HD
playback systems, as well as all the software and services to
upgrade the instant replay systems. Each stadium will use Harris(R)
NEXIO(TM) HD servers, FORCE software (Football Officiating Replay
Challenge Expeditor), and routing and distribution equipment.
Broadcasters and other organizations are transitioning to HD and
NEXIO(TM) HD server technology on a global scale - with thousands
of channels currently operating at broadcast facilities worldwide.
Harris has a long-standing relationship with the NFL, and worked
closely with the league to develop the FORCE software that
customizes the control application for instant replay. The new HD
systems replace existing Harris standard-definition instant replay
systems that NFL referees have been using since 1999. NFL team
owners voted in March 2007 to make instant replay permanent.
"Sports programming is leading the conversion to high definition -
and within sports, I can think of no more exacting application than
NFL replays, where the outcome of a team's season may depend on the
referee's call," said Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris
Broadcast Communications. "The NFL has become the first
professional sports league to take advantage of the clarity that
high-definition video provides. Although fans have been able to
experience sports in HDTV at home for years, this marks the first
time that it will play an active role in helping determine the
proper outcome in a game. We are excited to be teaming with the NFL
on this unique project." Instant Replay Milestones -- 1963 - First
use of instant replay in a football game (Army/Navy game) -- 1985 -
The United States Football League begins using instant replay
systems for regular-season games -- 1986 - The NFL votes to adopt
the use of instant replay systems. The Cleveland Browns become the
first NFL team to have a call reviewed by instant replay. -- 1991 -
The NFL votes to abandon VHA tape-based instant replay. -- 1999 -
Instant replay is reinstated in the NFL. Harris system selected. --
2007 - NFL owners vote to make instant replay use by referees
permanent. First use of HD instant replay system in the NFL
preseason. About Harris Corporation Harris Corporation is an
international communications and information technology company
serving government and commercial markets in more than 150
countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
annual revenue of over $4 billion and more than 15,000 employees -
including more than 6,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is
dedicated to developing best- in-class assured communications(TM)
products, systems, and services for global markets, including
government communications, RF communications, broadcast
communications, and wireless transmission network solutions.
Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at
http://www.harris.com/ DATASOURCE: Harris Corporation CONTACT: Jim
Burke, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Harris
Corporation, +1-321-727-9131, or Web site: http://www.harris.com/
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