Sony-Vatican TV deal will put Pope in HD

(March 5, 2010) A new agreement between Sony and the Vatican Television Center will make high definition images of the Pope available by October, according to the director of the Vatican press office. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, who also directs Vatican TV, announced the development in a statement on Thursday. Vatican TV is purchasing a mobile unit from Sony that allows for television filming in high definition. Father Lombardi said the deal is part of Vatican TV's intention to stay abreast with technological developments, and that high definition is the new "frontier of television production." The Knights of Columbus will help finance the new mobile unit.