But Can the New Display Replace the BVM Series?

With more than 100 units backordered, Sony has begun shipments of its new BVM-L230 LCD high-definition “critical evaluation” monitor. Customers like Discovery Communications and Crosscreek Television Productions are said to be eager to get their hands on them. That’s because the new monitor comes close to (and maybe matches?) Sony’s workhorse BVM series CRT-based monitors-which is no longer being manufactured-in terms of color saturation and black-level reproduction.
Discovery Communications will use them as a key evaluation technology for its in-house post-production facility while Crosscreek Television will install three on board its new HD production trucks for live sports programming. The wide variety of users offers proof of its value to the HD production industry.

The 23-inch monitor (viewable area, measured diagonally) features a high-precision backlight system and a new TRIMASTER display engine that has been in development by Sony in Japan for the last five years. It includes a 10-bit driver that Sony says produces 1,024 levels of gray scale. Sony said the new LCD monitor will provide about twice the life of the discontinued BVM series CRT monitor (which offered about 20,000 hours).

Leveraging more than 40 patents that make up the TRIMASTER technology, the BVM-L230 also offers a newly developed wide-color-gamut panel, color-management system, full 1920 x 1080 resolution), high gray-scale gradation, motion picture response, precision signal processing, calibration and feedback system. There’s also a new color-space selection function, picture-in-picture display and a true interlace display mode, which helps to accurately reproduce interlaced signals.

“There are many people who feel that CRT monitors are the end-all and be-all,” said John Kaloukian, director of Sony's Professional Display group, noting that broadcasters, production companies, rental houses and mobile production companies have all pre-ordered the product. “I think we’re going to have trouble meeting the demand we’re seeing for this LCD monitor. The product has only been demonstrated in prototype form and we’re backordered. I think we’ve changed a few minds about the value of LCD as a critical evaluation monitor.”

Sony said it will offer larger screen sizes, including a 42-inch version that’s planned for next year’s NAB convention. The BVM-L230 LCD video monitor will be available this fall for about $25,000. The 24-inch BVM CRT model used to list for about $26,000.