News Releases

Jul 17, 2000 09:19 AM

Monitors To Display Network Broadcasts and NASDAQ Ads To Public

BRISBANE, Calif., and NEW YORK, NY, July 25, 2000 - Hitachi America, Ltd. and Hitachi Denshi America, Ltd.'s Broadcast & Professional Group, today announced that Nasdaq "Marketsite" is employing Hitachi's high-end 42-inch plasma displays for broadcast at Times Square. Hitachi's CMP402HDU high-definition plasma display monitors are currently being used by Nasdaq's "Marketsite," a 100-monitor video wall displaying real-time Nasdaq stock quotes in graphical (company logo) format. The screens will be situated in Nasdaq's New York City studio on 43rd Street and Broadway in Times Square and visible to the public. In addition to the first three monitors scheduled for installation in the coming weeks, Nasdaq plans to purchase up to six more of the HD monitors from Hitachi for "Marketsite" in the near future. "Marketsite" also currently uses four Hitachi Z-3000W portable, 4:3/16:9 switchable cameras, as well as an HVD-15 three-CCD color camera for shooting live and/or taped stock market reports and interviews.

According to Wayne Chmieleski, Nasdaq Manager of Broadcast Operations, while the public can currently view on-air talent from several networks in the studio, such as CNBC, CNN and CBS, it is not apparent which network is doing the live broadcast. "With these Hitachi monitors, people can actually look up and say 'There's CNBC up on the monitor, and the anchor is going live,' whereas before it was difficult to associate which network was actually broadcasting," said Chmieleski. "We can also display advertisements if we are hosting an IPO for one of our listed companies, and anyone on the street will be able to view that advertisement. These monitors are extremely versatile and will be used extensively for 'MarketSite'."

As to his preference for the Hitachi CMP402HDU HD monitors over competitive display screens, Chmielski points to the Hitachi unit's brightness, advanced technology, and a wide axis of viewing. In addition, the lightness of the monitors was important in selecting the Hitachi model.

"The Hitachi monitors weigh about 75 pounds, while the competition is at least double that, and in some cases, triple," he said. "I know of one brand that weighs approximately 240 pounds, while another has a cable coming out of the display, and all the processing is done in a separate box that needs to be hidden from view. The Hitachi monitors are also the only ones that can handle a variety of inputs from standard definition to computer inputs."

Currently, Nasdaq's "MarketSite" will display all broadcasts in standard definition, although the Hitachi CMP402HDU monitors were purchased with high definition in mind. "These monitors were selected for our long-term needs as well as our immediate needs," said Chmieleski. "We have a fully digital facility here, and are ready for HDTV. Since the rest of the world is not yet ready, we're still putting our product out in standard definition. When the rest of the world is ready, all we have to do is go through the menu, set it to 16:9 ratio, and away we go."

Chmieleski has been continually impressed with Hitachi's technical service. "Hitachi has been extremely supportive of our efforts here," he said. "Our salesman is always available to answer my questions. While I haven't really needed Hitachi's support often, they are always willing to help out when needed."