Virtual Sets Powered by Silicon Graphics Onyx2 Visualization Systems
And vizrt's viz [virtual studio] Tapped for Live-To-Air Commentary
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SGI (NYSE: SGI)
and vizrt today announced that Wige Data delivered a virtual sets package
powered by two Silicon Graphics(R) Onyx2(R) visualization systems and vizrt's
viz [virtual studio](TM) software to German public television broadcasters ARD
and ZDF for production and live coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The
Games are being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 8 through Feb. 24.
Using four video feeds into vizrt's viz [virtual studio] set deployed on
the Silicon Graphics Onyx2 visualization systems with InfiniteReality2(TM)
graphics, ARD (Allgemeiner Rundfunk Deutschlands) and ZDF (Zweites Deutsches
Fernsehen) are showcasing four different locations simultaneously to introduce
viewers to event venues. The virtual sets are also being used to air
interviews with on-site commentators. Reaching all of Germany, ARD and ZDF are
each broadcasting on their main channels, and alternately airing eight hours
daily, delivering more than 300 hours of Olympics coverage. During the 2000
Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, the channels reported approximately
6.5 million viewers during the top events. Other sports events, such as soccer
championships, can draw more than 20 million viewers to the stations.
To provide their viewers with stunning graphics and realistic virtual sets
for their Olympics programming, ARD and ZDF looked to Wige Data, headquartered
in Leipzig, Germany (http://www.wige-data.de), a division of Wige Media AG
headquartered in Frechen, Germany. Wige Data is one of the world's leading
providers of sport data processing and result services including timing,
scoring, measurement, TV graphics and virtual technologies. Wige Data's scope
of services includes complex Internet services, live streaming services, live
results and interactive database services, as well as individually tailored
hardware and software solutions for sports events of almost any kind.
"We chose vizrt's software because it exactly meets Wige Data's
requirements for virtual-related basic technologies," said Dr. Uwe Greif,
marketing director of Wige Data. "However, hardware reliability is another
aspect that Wige Data has to take into account while implementing its service
at huge sports events all over the world. The extraordinarily precise
compatibility and fit of SGI hardware and vizrt software is one of the key
factors that made the decision easy for us. The successful combination of SGI
hardware, vizrt software and Wige Data sport-specific applications is becoming
more and more of a standard within the world of virtual support for nearly all
kinds of sporting events."
"We are very pleased that Wige Data is using our product, viz [virtual
studio], to deliver such an important event to German television audiences
nationwide," said Isaac Hersly, vice president of marketing, vizrt.
"viz[virtual studio] is the only scalable, open and complete family of
integrated solutions for virtual studio production in the market today.
Running on the powerful Onyx2, viz [virtual studio] will deliver the highest
quality visual images to the most challenging of productions, the Olympics."
"SGI is very gratified that Wige Data, on behalf of German public
television broadcasters, has chosen to rely on proven SGI technology," said
Jason Danielson, director of Media Industries, SGI. "The Silicon Graphics
Onyx2 visualization system, with its open, scalable and high-bandwidth SGI
NUMA architecture, combines supercomputing performance and superior
visualization technologies to process 3D graphics, 2D imaging and video data
in real time. This is a perfect fit with vizrt's open and scalable viz
[virtual studio], and the robust combination will deliver the powerful visual
impact Wige Data's customers expect."
About SGI
Celebrating its 20th year, SGI, also known as Silicon Graphics, is the
world's leading provider of high-performance computing, complex data
management and visualization products, services and solutions that enable its
technical and creative customers to gain strategic and competitive advantages
in their core businesses. Whether being used to design and build safer cars
and airplanes, discover new medications and oil reserves, predict the weather,
entertain us with thrilling movie special effects or provide mission-critical
support for government and defense, SGI(R) systems and expertise are
empowering a world of innovation and discovery. The company, located on the
Web at http://www.sgi.com, is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and has offices
worldwide.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010510/SFTH025LOGO )
About vizrt
vizrt is the world's leading provider of fully integrated broadcast and
Web-cast graphics solutions, including virtual studio systems, broadcast
graphics, character generators, content management, and scheduling and
creative design services. vizrt is the company formed following the
acquisition of Peak Broadcast Systems by RT-SET on July 4, 2000. Headquartered
in Bergen, Norway, vizrt is traded on the Neuer Markt (VIZ).
CONTACT: Lisa Pistacchio of SGI, +1-650-933-5683, or pistacchio@sgi.com;
or Isaac Hersly of vizrt, +1-212-560-0708, or ihersly@vizrt.com; or SGI PR
Hotline, +1-650-933-7777, or SGI PR Fax, +1-650-932-0737.
SOURCE SGI
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Company News On-Call:
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CONTACT:
Lisa Pistacchio of SGI, +1-650-933-5683, or
pistacchio@sgi.com; or Isaac Hersly of vizrt, +1-212-560-0708, or
ihersly@vizrt.com; or SGI PR Hotline, +1-650-933-7777, or SGI PR
Fax, +1-650-932-0737
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