Snell Alchemist Ph.C – HD Supports SIS LIVE Delivery of 3D Sports

Renowned Standards Converter From Snell Ensures Quality Conversion of Live 3D Content for Theater Screenings of RBS 6 Nations and Other High-Profile Sports Events

"Snell has developed a well-earned reputation for delivering superior-quality conversion with the Alchemist product line," said Julian Boden, head of engineering at SIS LIVE. "At the last minute, in order to deliver our 3D rugby feed into the U.K. cinema network, we needed signals formatted in 720p60. Past experience with Snell products led me to suggest to the engineering team that Alchemist would neatly solve the problem and deliver the required quality to the end customer. We were able to take our 1080i50 output directly through the Alchemist to fulfill this requirement. The Snell solution bolted straight into our workflow and worked right out of the box."

The Alchemist Ph.C – HD is among the many systems across Snell's award-winning product portfolio that are 3D-ready and already being used to support 3D production around the world. Equipped to support image processing, live production, automation, workflow control, and distribution within the 3D environment, Snell's 3D-capable systems allow broadcasters to leverage powerful, familiar tools in meeting the rising demand for 3D content.

SIS LIVE integrated the Alchemist Ph.C – HD into the 3D delivery workflow and provided both the satellite uplink and OB facilities for the RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament. Arqiva provided the downlink at Odeon and Cineworld cinemas. During the event, produced by 3D specialist Inition, seven 3D cameras (both mirror and side-by-side rigs), along with a number of 2D cameras, captured the action. The 1080i50 output from the switcher was converted to 720p50 and then the separate left and right streams were compressed by a SENSIO encoder into one 720p50 side-by-side stream at 1.5 Gbps. The resulting signal was converted to 720p60 by the Alchemist Ph.C – HD and distributed to cinemas. Dolby® D audio was successfully passed through the Alchemist Ph.C – HD in data mode and delivered along with video.

"Key Snell systems feature enhancements that are targeted to the requirements of 3D production and transmission," said Neil Maycock, chief marketing officer at Snell. "By integrating smoothly with other best-of-breed systems, meeting a high performance standard, and contributing valuable functionality to the 3D workflow, the Alchemist Ph.C – HD and other Snell products simplify delivery of quality 3D content."

International broadcasters will be working with the Alchemist Ph.C – HD for yet another high-profile sports broadcast as they deliver 3D coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

About Snell

Snell is a leading innovator in the digital media market. The company provides customers with a comprehensive range of solutions for the creation, management, and distribution of content, as well as the tools necessary to transition seamlessly and cost-effectively to digital, HDTV, and 3Gbp/s operations. Snell's Emmy® Award-winning image processing, live production, automation, and infrastructure technologies provide customers with the ultimate flexibility, operational efficiency, and ROI required in today's multi-screen world. Headquartered in the U.K., Snell serves more than 2,000 active customers in more than 100 countries through a worldwide team of sales and support personnel. More information is available at

About SIS

SIS is one of the world's leading companies in the television broadcasting industry. It is the foremost supplier of television programming and data services to the U.K. and Ireland betting industry. The company's broadcast business, SIS LIVE, has the largest satellite uplink fleet in Europe and is the largest outside broadcast provider in the U.K. It offers a complete broadcasting solution from onsite outside broadcast facilities through to global distribution and IP provision. The company covers 100,000 hours of live events worldwide each year, including Formula One, The Wimbledon Championships, UEFA Champions League football, and European Tour Golf, and delivers approximately 80 percent of live news feeds across the U.K.