Al Jazeera Sports bolsters up with Viz|Arena
Bergen, Norway, November 17, 2005. Vizrt Ltd. (Frankfurt Prime Standard, Oslo Main List: VIZ), announces today, that Al Jazeera Sports, the popular Arabic-language sports channel, purchases a Viz|Arena system for virtual sports graphics at a cost of approximately USD 300,000. The channel is keen to develop its expertise in virtual graphics to extend across a broad spectrum of live sporting events. As well as purchasing the single Arena system, Al Jazeera Sports is renting two additional systems through Salam Media Cast with an option to buy them later, to cover local soccer matches in Doha, Qatar.
The new technology will enable the satellite channel to add sports data as real-time 3D graphics directly to the sporting venue itself, rather than a more conventional graphics overlay keyed over the coverage. Viz|Arena will enable Al Jazeera to enrich their sports coverage with virtual graphics such as results, distance lines, ball trajectories, team badges, team line-ups and offside lines as if the graphics were actually a real part of the pitch. As the camera moves
or zooms, the graphics remain locked in place and change perspective in harmony with the camera view to preserve the illusion of "virtual reality".
Al Jazeera Sports, which launched in November 2003, broadcasts live coverage of world sporting events around the clock. It has acquired exclusive Middle East rights to broadcast various renowned events, such as the Spanish Football Premier League. Al Jazeera Sports Channel also won the exclusive rights to broadcast the 2005 Australian Open Tennis Championship.
About Vizrt:
Vizrt is the world's leading provider of HD/SD real-time 2D and true 3D broadcast graphics. The company's software suite offers a complete graphics solution including: character generation, content management and newsroom integration, 3D tickers, virtual studio, 3D weather application with data integration, Curious Software map creation tools, virtual sports analysis, information display and virtual effects.
The new technology will enable the satellite channel to add sports data as real-time 3D graphics directly to the sporting venue itself, rather than a more conventional graphics overlay keyed over the coverage. Viz|Arena will enable Al Jazeera to enrich their sports coverage with virtual graphics such as results, distance lines, ball trajectories, team badges, team line-ups and offside lines as if the graphics were actually a real part of the pitch. As the camera moves
or zooms, the graphics remain locked in place and change perspective in harmony with the camera view to preserve the illusion of "virtual reality".
Al Jazeera Sports, which launched in November 2003, broadcasts live coverage of world sporting events around the clock. It has acquired exclusive Middle East rights to broadcast various renowned events, such as the Spanish Football Premier League. Al Jazeera Sports Channel also won the exclusive rights to broadcast the 2005 Australian Open Tennis Championship.
About Vizrt:
Vizrt is the world's leading provider of HD/SD real-time 2D and true 3D broadcast graphics. The company's software suite offers a complete graphics solution including: character generation, content management and newsroom integration, 3D tickers, virtual studio, 3D weather application with data integration, Curious Software map creation tools, virtual sports analysis, information display and virtual effects.
All Vizrt's graphics products are powered by a single core renderer, the unique and powerful Viz|Engine(TM). Vizrt's graphics solution goes beyond the visual aspect and includes highly customized user interfaces for the designer, operator, journalist and engineer.
The world's leading broadcasters, such as CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, Sky, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, TV Today, CCTV and NHK as well as Production houses and Corporate institutions, including both the New York and London Stock Exchange, use the Vizrt's software suite. Vizrt is a public company traded on the Frankfurt Prime Standard and on the Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154.
For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com
Press contacts:
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| President CEO | CFO | Frank Schwarz |
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This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the business, financial condition and results of operations of Vizrt and its affiliates. These statements are based on the current expectations or beliefs of Vizrt's management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties relate to changes in technology and market requirements, the company's concentration on one industry, decline in demand for the company's products and those of its affiliates, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications, and loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of the company to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Vizrt undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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