LAS VEGAS (NAB2004, Booth # SU9649),
April 13, 2004 — The anticipated return
of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece
will have viewers from around the
world tuned in for each spectacular
moment. Whether the event is swimming
or pole-vaulting, lighting the torch
or awarding a gold medal, Canon broadcast
lenses will be used exclusively by
NBC Olympics to capture each moment,
as it unfolds. Canon U.S.A. will also
be providing on-site technical support
throughout the duration of the Games.
The 2004 Olympic Games represent the
fifth consecutive all-Canon Olympics
for NBC, a tradition of superb optics
and dependability that will continue
through 2008.
"We're relying very heavily on Canon
technology, which has always performed
flawlessly for us," said David Mazza,
senior vice president of engineering,
NBC Olympics. "NBC Olympics puts a
tremendous amount of effort into connecting
our viewers to the athletes through
storytelling, and much of it begins
in the front element of a Canon lens."
NBC's HDTV and SDTV coverage of the
XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, from August
13-29, will be its most ambitious
yet, more than tripling the total
amount of coverage from the 2000 Sydney
Games and providing 24-hour, around-the-clock
coverage for the first time in history.
The network will be using Canon HD
and SD-ready lenses such as the groundbreaking
DIGISUPER 100xs, DIGISUPER 86xs and
DIGISUPER 75xs long lenses, plus e-IFxs
ENG/EFP lenses including the Canon
HJ22ex7.6B model, and the wide-angle
J11ex4.5B model.
"We're very excited about breaking
the triple-digit barrier for the first
time with the Canon 100xs," added
Mazza. "It will bring the viewers
even closer to the athletes and competition.
Plus, where there is HD programming
from Athens, the optical quality the
Canon lenses will be that much more
critical."
Despite the daunting workload, which
will have NBC broadcasting more than
three times the amount of programming
as they did during the Sydney Olympic
Games, Canon's deep experience with
Olympic coverage gives Mazza an added
measure of confidence.
"We have the ease of knowing that
no matter what is being captured,
Canon's lenses will provide only the
highest quality optics required to
record each significant moment," noted
Mazza. "Canon knows what we need to
get our jobs done. They are very in
tune with how we work, and having
the support structure of a great technology
partner like Canon makes everything
easier for us."
"There's a tremendous amount of history
here, and being back in the birthplace
of the Games will result in some very
powerful images," concluded David
Mazza. "That's all the more reason
to know you have a reliable product
out there in the field. Canon broadcast
lenses have always come through."
See the full line of Canon products
throughout NAB2004 at Booth #SU9649,
Las Vegas Convention Center.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer,
business-to-business, and industrial
imaging solutions. The Company is
listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired
Companies in America, and is ranked
#39 on the BusinessWeek list of "Top
100 Brands." Its parent company Canon
Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder
of technology, ranking second overall
in the U.S. in 2003, with global revenues
of $29.9 billion. For more information,
visit www.usa.canon.com.
###
All referenced product names, and
other marks, are trademarks of their
respective owners.
EDITORS, please note corporate contact
information for this division:
For more information, please call
Canon Broadcast and Communications
Division at 1-800-321-4388 or visit
www.canonbroadcast.com.
