Vizrt Ltd. : World's Broadcasters Cover Elections with Vizrt Live Video and Graphics Tools
Bergen, Norway, October 30, 2012. Vizrt Ltd. (Oslo Main List: VIZ)
On November 6th when results from the United States Presidential election race come pouring in, nearly 90 percent of the world will be watching live video and graphic tabulations produced with Vizrt equipment as Vizrt continues to be the company the world is truly watching. Thousands of Viz Engines will be working overtime for this event, performing real-time video and graphic composites and rendering 2D and 3D animations in SD and HD.
In the United States alone, six national networks and more than 150 local channels will cover this election with Vizrt tools. Approximately 1,000 Viz Engine renderers will drive election results for U.S. broadcasters.
"With our installed base clearly the majority around the world, Vizrt customers will again produce graphics that most of the world will watch on November 6th," said Petter Ole Jakobsen, CTO of Vizrt. "We're proud of what our customers are creating with our technology and of the added excitement our tools enable on such mission-critical, high-profile, live events."
The way in which the equipment will be used for election coverage has expanded along with the number of installations. More U.S. broadcasters will use Viz Engine within the studio than ever before. Interactive screens, video walls, virtual studios and immersive graphics will be powered through both Viz Engines and Viz Media Engine server-based media asset management systems. Viz Anchor, an iPad control application, will be used with greater frequency by news anchors to manipulate video clips and graphics running on Viz Virtual Studio and Viz Video Wall. With Viz Virtual Studio, existing sets can be enhanced with immersive graphics, with which the anchor can interact.
The all important results map that breaks down voting results by US county and state is created with Viz World. Used by over 1500 broadcasters worldwide, Viz World has become the defacto standard in broadcast mapping. With live data feeds, the maps are updated in real-time on air, in touchscreens, virtual sets, and fullscreen.
Playlists are created and managed in Viz Content Pilot, a template-based graphics and video file management system which gives complete control of all graphic and video content from within the newsroom control system. Graphics can be edited via a plug-in for the Viz Trio CG software that enables all major non-linear editing systems to access Trio templates to change text, images, 3D objects and clips. And live election data will be continuously displayed with Viz Ticker3D. In the Control room, Viz Trio will display live graphics and video with content constantly being updated live from various data sources. Many broadcasters will be using Viz Trio operators in the control room but in the U.S. many of the local stations will be driving Vizrt graphics through control room automation systems.
The number of broadcasters throughout the world using multi-platform delivery has also increased as Viz Media Engine plays a larger role in controlling video and its distribution to different devices. With a single step Vizrt takes videos from a MAM to the web and mobile platforms faster than real-time. Combine this with device adapted graphics and a viewer can watch the coverage on television, online or through a mobile device with the highest possible quality.
Vizrt's hands-on support of its customers is apparent this election season, with over 20 Vizrt staffers providing on-site and creative services, data integration instruction, final set up of election show related devices, and equipment rental management to its U.S. broadcast clientele.
About Vizrt:
Vizrt provides real-time 3D graphics and asset management tools for the broadcast industry - from award-winning animations & maps to online publishing tools. Vizrt's products are used by the world's leading broadcasters and publishing houses, including: CNN, CBS, Fox, the BBC, BSkyB, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, The Globe and Mail, Times Online, The Telegraph, and Welt Online. Furthermore, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions such as the Stock Exchanges in New York and London use Vizrt systems.
Vizrt is a public company traded on the Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154. For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com
Investors and media contacts:
Martin Burkhalter / CEO / +41 22 365 75 01 / MBurkhalter@vizrt.com
Ofra Brown / CFO / +47 5351 8040 / OBrown@vizrt.com
Håvard Myklebust / EVP Products & Marketing / +47 9184 5602 / HMyklebust@vizrt.com