Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman helps launch VegasHD, the first HD television facility on the Las Vegas Strip.

On April 21, 2008 Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman joined iconic television personality, Robin Leach and respected cable industry veteran, Jim Rutledge to mark the official launch of VegasHD, signifying that what happens in Vegas will now be broadcast the world over in High-Definition television. 

The Las Vegas Mayor performed a ribbon cutting and a ceremonial "Take One" with an oversized clapboard before taking a guided tour inside the VegasHD mobile production facilities with Mr. Leach.

VegasHD has created a full-scale, mobile, High-Definition television production facility based in Las Vegas, NV with long-term agreements to build permanent HD broadcast studios in key locations, allowing for television crews to shoot in the most picturesque locations in Las Vegas and deliver the signal anywhere in the world via the city’s first digital fiber network.  VegasHD production facilities are available to national and international production companies, network television productions and news programs. 

“Despite the fact that Las Vegas is an epicenter of entertainment, major networks still drive their satellite trucks in from Los Angeles to ensure they get quality broadcast signals that are up to their standards,” said Jim Rutledge, who along with Robin Leach are co-founders of VegasHD. “This signified that there was a great

opportunity for us to create a turn-key broadcast production facility at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip and elevate the standard of Las Vegas television production.”

Mr. Rutledge is a veteran of the television industry and a senior news executive who was integral in the early success of CNN and later, CourtTV.

VegasHD has secured long-term agreements to build and operate broadcast production venues that offer “plug and play” digital fiber capabilities in multiple Las Vegas locations.  The sites were selected to offer broadcast partners premium views of Las Vegas and a variety of exciting backdrop perspectives.  The first studio is located inside the new Trader Vic’s restaurant at the Planet Hollywood Resort Casino and features a 2,400 sq. ft. patio that faces onto the famed Las Vegas Strip. Slightly elevated, the patio allows for unobstructed views of the Bellagio fountains, Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas and the new MGM City Center.  For indoor production, Trader Vic’s also provides an additional 2,400 sq. ft. on the third-floor in a private suite that features seamless, floor-to-ceiling windows with a stunning 180o-view of the Las Vegas Strip. 

Sony Electronics’ HD Technology

VegasHD is taking its production capabilities to a new level with the High-Definition Mobile Vehicle Producer unit (MVP), developed by Sony Electronics. The VegasHD MVP was unveiled during the 2008 National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas last week.  The mobile production unit is smaller than standard production vehicles, and while it is designed to fit inside the close confines of a casino resort freight elevator, it packs a full HD production suite.

The VegasHD MVP features a complete HD production facility in a compact 24’ vehicle.  The MVP offers producers up to six Sony HDC-1500L Multi-format HD cameras, MVS-8000GSF 2 M/E production switcher with a 2Ch DME, three HDW-D1800 HDCAM™ decks, two HDW-M2000 HDCAM decks, two PDW-F70 XDCAM HD™ camcorders, Sony professional LCD monitors, 4-buss 24-channel audio mixer, 2-channel Chyron LEX2  with Clip Player, multi-format (HD, SD and analog) inputs and outputs, full HVAC with three one-tone roof mounted units, and many other features.

“The MVP unit was designed to deliver flexibility and innovation in live event production,” said Alec Shapiro, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Sony Electronics’ Broadcast and Production systems Division.  “That’s why it’s a great fit for what VegasHD is doing, as they work to change the model for HD television field production in Las Vegas.”