Manufacturer Snell and Wilcox claim their Kahuna switcher is the first machine capable of combining both HD and SD sources. Other combo switchers support only one format at a time, and usually require a reboot to move from standard to high def. Kahuna was designed for flexibility from the ground up, which makes it a great choice for stations like Thailand's iTV.

Independent TV of Thailand just installed the Kahuna, and will use it in a strictly SD capability for now. As they gradually gain HD equipment, the switcher can be upgraded via software to handle 'dual' definition. Once iTV makes the complete jump to High Def, they simply shut off the SD features, and use the Kahuna in HD.

Anyone who works in live TV can tell you the importance a good switcher. for those of you who haven't had a chance to experience the shear joy that is broadcast (wink, wink) a switcher is a machine that controls which of nearly a dozen sources is currently on the screen. With the push of a button, the tech director can switch (hence the name) from video tape, to a satellite feed, to a studio camera and back again.

Switchers are an absolute requirement for virtually all TV worldwide, including HDTV, which is not an easy pill for most stations to swallow. The prospect of having to replace all your equipment at once would simply be financially impossible. That's what makes the Kahuna so cool.

Click READ for a link to the Kahuna information page including a video presentation.