Big upgrade for the Today show! A crew of 10 from systems integrator Ascent Media Services has been converting the studio and its control room to the 1080-line interlace (1080i) HD format. Some of the stuff they will be using is the Avid NewsCutter NLE, an Avid ISIS content server and Sony HDC-1500 cameras. Cool. One of their challenges will be handling different aspect ratios from the reams of footage contributed by bureaus and affiliates, most of which are 4:3 standard-definition. NBC is working to outfit bureaus and key stations with new cameras capable of 16:9 standard-definition pictures, which can be upconverted for HD broadcast.

I wish I could observe the setup of all these wonderful toys when an upgrade like this takes place. <drool>