Sony Electronics' theme for NAB2001 is "Anycast, Anywhere, Anytime." This kind of catchphrase, conjuring up notions of metadata, HD and integration, is definitely de rigueur among product exhibitors this year.

Sony, which was the talk of Vegas last year with its new 24p HDCAM, will introduce XPRI, a networked nonlinear editing system, as well as switchers and routers that are switchable between HD and standard-definition DTV format variations.

Sony will highlight the benefits of networking and metadata, along with the concept of asset management, including the acquisition, manipulation, storage, and distribution of content. Emphasis will be placed on integration, software development, and consulting services. Sony's operations and technical services unit will also demonstrate advances in remote diagnostics for its systems' equipment.

Sony's NAB exhibit will showcase its work with industry standards such as MPEG, DV, HD, metadata, i.LINK, SDI, and SDTI, and demonstrate how the company can support the Anycast infrastructure through SDI/SDTI, as well as file transferring with MXF and streaming.

In addition to its main floor exhibit, Sony will run a separate location where its entire product line will be displayed for hands-on demos. Sony will have on site its 24p HD cam, the HDW-F900, currently being used in features and TV series. *

-www.sony.com