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AJA Video Hits a Home Run for MLB Network

Grass Valley, CA (February 4, 2009)—AJA Video Systems, a leading
manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions,
announced today that its KONA 3 video capture and playback cards and
mini-converters are in use as part of a tapeless workflow at the newly
launched MLB Network. KONA 3 is AJA’s top-of-the-line uncompressed capture
card for SD, HD, and Dual Link 4:4:4 HD for Apple Mac Pro systems, and is
an integral part of the network facility’s editing environment.

MLB Network launched in approximately 50 million cable and satellite homes

on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history.

Broadcast in both standard definition and HD, the MLB Network line-up

includes live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and

coverage of baseball events. The network’s signature show is “MLB Tonight,”

which features live look-ins at games in progress, updates, highlights,

reporting and analysis. The network is housed in a 140,000 square foot

facility in Secaucus, N.J., operating two studios outfitted with

state-of-the-art broadcast equipment that includes 22 AJA KONA 3 cards and

up to 35 AJA HD/SDI and HDMI mini-converters.

Fourteen of the KONA 3 video capture and playback cards are connected to

Apple Final Cut Pro workstations set up for editing all of the non-live

long format programming at MLB Networks. Another six are in use at Adobe

Premiere and After Effects workstations for media rendering, and the final

two are hooked up to Autodesk Smoke and Flame systems.

“Designing AJA’s KONA cards into our creative areas and edit suites was an

easy decision,” said Mark Haden, Vice President of Engineering and IT at

MLB Network. “AJA products not only work well with Final Cut Pro and other

Apple equipment, but are literally plug-and-play. The KONA 3’s ability to

process uncompressed HD video in real time has definitely helped to boost

our creative services workflow. And the fact that it can provide

simultaneous outputs in standard-def and HD is a big plus right out of the

gate.”

To support a large state-of-the-art studio set and production space, AJA

mini-converters used for monitoring and playback have also been deployed

throughout the facility. “The majority of the on-set monitoring is fed live

via the converters,” Haden said. “They’ve been working perfectly. They make

the images in the studio as seen on camera crisp and clean keeping the true

720p HD/SDI quality intact. Another advantage is their reduced size and

heat output.”

About KONA

KONA 3 is the ultimate uncompressed capture card for seamless operation

with PCI Express (PCIe) Mac Pro systems and Apple Final Cut Pro. Supporting

any uncompressed SD or HD format, including Dual Link HD and 2K, KONA 3

captures and plays back uncompressed 10-bit and 8-bit digital video and

24-bit digital audio, providing unparalleled power and workflow efficiency.

KONA 3 also includes a variety of 10-bit broadcast-quality features, such

as hardware-based up-, down-, and cross-conversion to and from HD, and adds

a live hardware HD/SD keyer for compositing bugs, live clips, and other

elements over video.

About AJA Video Systems, Inc.

Since 1993, AJA Video has been a leading manufacturer of high-quality and

cost-effective digital video interface, conversion and Desktop solutions

supporting the professional broadcast and post- production markets. With

headquarters in Grass Valley, California, AJA maintains an extensive sales

channel of dealers and systems integrators around the world. For further

information, please see our website http://www.aja.com.

About MLB Network

MLB Network launched in approximately 50 million cable and satellite homes

on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history,

exceeding any other cable television launch by approximately 20 million.

With live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and

coverage of baseball events, MLB Network is the ultimate television

destination for baseball fans. For more information, go to mlbnetwork.com.

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