HBO creates hybrid edit suite

HBO’s ‘Hybrid C’ is a hybrid real-time editing room that combines linear HD editing with a nonlinear tapeless workflow to enable fast editing and delivery of day-of-air programming in HD. The room also supports editing of more complex long-form programming for HBO’s sports, family, and documentary departments.

HBO’s move to HD required that the company find a way to achieve an efficient HD workflow for post-production of original programming, and sports in particular, that would match the quick editing turnaround HBO had established for its SD content.

Equipped with the Kahuna SD/HD switcher, an editor with random-access visual editing, a six-channel server with removable drives, and multidefinition DDRs, HBO’s hybrid edit room relies on an edit system and switcher combination – rather than a conventional nonlinear system – to support rapid editing of programs such as ‘Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel’ in a tapeless environment.

The Kahuna-based editing workflow has allowed HBO to recut features for premier sports programming, such as selected HBO World Championship Boxing events, and air them the same day. The same work in post previously required two and a half days.