Vizrt Adds Al Jazeera Satellite to Growing Number of Middle East Clients
Bergen, Norway, June 23, 2005. Vizrt Ltd. (Frankfurt Prime Standard, Oslo Main List: VIZ), announces today, that The Middle East is rapidly becoming one of Vizrt's top regions for growth this year. This follows the decision by Vizrt to open a fully-staffed office in Dubai in the autumn of 2004 and to focus on local representation and support.
In the second quarter of 2005, Vizrt will generate revenues of around three quarters of a million US Dollars from The Middle East region. The clients are some of the region's most dominant players like MBC, Al Jazeera and ART, as well as Sharjah TV, Dubai TV News, and Dubai TV Sports.
MBC, which is based in Dubai and has currently 5 stations, including the 24/7 news channel, Al Arabiya, signed up for a basic Vizrt installation a year and a half ago. Since then it has been expanding their usage of Vizrt software to include their new channels. A total of 5 MBC-owned channels (MBC 1 - 4 + Al Arabiya) are now generating their real-time graphics using Vizrt software.
The most recent add to the customer list is Al Jazeera Satellite Channel News, that made their first purchase from Vizrt. The deal included 2 Viz|Trio character generator systems, with possibilities for further upgrades. Al Jazeera is based in Doha, Qatar and was the first 24/7-news channel to broadcast in Arabic. Coming up Al Jazeera is to open a High-Definition 24/7-news channel in English within the first part of 2006.
ART Sports is located in Jordan Media City. The ART group has around fifteen channels, operating from it's headquarter in Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia. Their production facilities are spread across the entire Middle East. ART made an initial purchase of 4 Viz|Trio CG systems to be installed in facilities in Amman with further upgrades to be added in Cairo and Jeddah.
Dubai Media Incorporated invested in Viz|Trio real-time 3D CGs this quarter for its channel Dubai-TV Sports while its news channel, Dubai TV News, is already a user of Vizrt systems.
This quarter, Vizrt also signed up Sharjah TV, a local channel in the United Arab Emirates, with a Viz|Trio CG system.
Latest sale from the Middle East region this quarter is a Viz|Trio based system to Ten Sports, owned by Dubai based Taj Television. After its launch in 2002, Ten Sports is now established as one of the world's premier sports channels for South Asians.
Bjarne Berg, President and CEO of Vizrt commented: "Our decision to open an office in Dubai has generated considerable interest from existing and new channels alike, all of whom want to add the latest real-time 3D graphics capabilities to their on-screen look. Vizrt 3D graphics systems specialize in a user-friendly interface and highly efficient workflow. This means training is quick and easy, and high-quality 3D template graphics can be brought to air quickly."
About Vizrt:
Vizrt is a public company traded on the Frankfurt Prime Standard and Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154. Vizrt is the world's leading provider of 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, weather data integration, virtual sports analysis, information display and virtual effects.
In the second quarter of 2005, Vizrt will generate revenues of around three quarters of a million US Dollars from The Middle East region. The clients are some of the region's most dominant players like MBC, Al Jazeera and ART, as well as Sharjah TV, Dubai TV News, and Dubai TV Sports.
MBC, which is based in Dubai and has currently 5 stations, including the 24/7 news channel, Al Arabiya, signed up for a basic Vizrt installation a year and a half ago. Since then it has been expanding their usage of Vizrt software to include their new channels. A total of 5 MBC-owned channels (MBC 1 - 4 + Al Arabiya) are now generating their real-time graphics using Vizrt software.
The most recent add to the customer list is Al Jazeera Satellite Channel News, that made their first purchase from Vizrt. The deal included 2 Viz|Trio character generator systems, with possibilities for further upgrades. Al Jazeera is based in Doha, Qatar and was the first 24/7-news channel to broadcast in Arabic. Coming up Al Jazeera is to open a High-Definition 24/7-news channel in English within the first part of 2006.
ART Sports is located in Jordan Media City. The ART group has around fifteen channels, operating from it's headquarter in Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia. Their production facilities are spread across the entire Middle East. ART made an initial purchase of 4 Viz|Trio CG systems to be installed in facilities in Amman with further upgrades to be added in Cairo and Jeddah.
Dubai Media Incorporated invested in Viz|Trio real-time 3D CGs this quarter for its channel Dubai-TV Sports while its news channel, Dubai TV News, is already a user of Vizrt systems.
This quarter, Vizrt also signed up Sharjah TV, a local channel in the United Arab Emirates, with a Viz|Trio CG system.
Latest sale from the Middle East region this quarter is a Viz|Trio based system to Ten Sports, owned by Dubai based Taj Television. After its launch in 2002, Ten Sports is now established as one of the world's premier sports channels for South Asians.
Bjarne Berg, President and CEO of Vizrt commented: "Our decision to open an office in Dubai has generated considerable interest from existing and new channels alike, all of whom want to add the latest real-time 3D graphics capabilities to their on-screen look. Vizrt 3D graphics systems specialize in a user-friendly interface and highly efficient workflow. This means training is quick and easy, and high-quality 3D template graphics can be brought to air quickly."
About Vizrt:
Vizrt is a public company traded on the Frankfurt Prime Standard and Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154. Vizrt is the world's leading provider of 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, weather data integration, 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. 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, BBC, Sky, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, TV Today and NHK, use Vizrt's solutions in conventional digital and high definition content delivery. Production houses and corporate institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange, are Vizrt customers.
For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com
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 forwar-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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