The Briefing Room

With Viz Link, reporters and producers have MAM, graphics and video directly from their desktop

Bergen, Norway, August 12, 2008 Vizrt Ltd. (Frankfurt Prime Standard, Oslo Main List: VIZ)

Vizrt announces additional products in its line that now support the Viz Link workflow. Viz Link is an enabling feature that bridges graphics and video workflows so that one operator can create fully animated graphics with multiple video sources from a single desktop interface. The products now supporting the Viz Link work flow include: Viz Content Pilot content management, Viz Multichannel branding and Viz Trio CG software. The expanded Viz Link feature will be on display at IBC Stand Number (2.B31 / 2.C39) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands this September.

Viz Link was developed as an extension to Vizrt’s graphics solution to access Vizrt’s media asset management products. By integrating graphic workflow solutions such as Viz Content Pilot with video asset management solutions like Viz Video Hub, Viz Link extends the HD and SD channel branding with an intuitive solution for browsing and adding videos content on top of the current images and 3D elements.

Enhancements made to Viz Link since its NAB introduction in April will demonstrate how a variety of Vizrt products now benefit from upgrades to the Viz Link workflow. Viz Link can, for example, operate as an interface between the MAM-in-a-box solution Viz Video Hub and Viz Multichannel, a channel branding solution that manages the automated playout of high-quality Vizrt graphics used in commercial messages on single or multiple channels. In this scenario, Viz Multichannel will automate the creation of channel branding, combining graphics and video clips.

Viz Link allows video and graphics to be treated as part of the same workflow. Everything can be created using one system and one workflow: the graphics template system has access to video clips in the same way that is typically used to access images: search the clip, edit, and then drag and drop in the animation template.

“A station’s entire video database is now accessible with Viz Link from one desktop,” said Petter Ole Jakobsen, Chief Technology Officer of Vizrt. “Newsrooms – for example - can operate more efficiently becauseoperators no longer need to go to other work stations to perform the cutting and integrating of video clips and graphics together. Further simplifying operations, the integration with the full Vizrt solution and the newsroom systems, eliminates the need to re-train staff. The front-end remains the same, so they continue to operate from the same interface as they’re used to.”

An example of the workflow is as follows: Journalists create a story in the newsroom system. Pre-defined graphic templates are selected within Viz Content Pilot, which is integrated into the newsroom system. From the template, the journalist can search and select images or videos directly in the Viz Video Hub database. The filled-in template is then added directly to the newsroom system’s play list. Viz Content Pilot or Viz Multichannel trigger the created content to air, and the clip transfers to playout. Transfer management and the playlist is handled within Viz Video Hub. Viz Engine acts as the playout server, performing real-time video and graphics compositing.

About Vizrt:

Vizrt offers a new vision for content creation and delivery with an end-to-end solution from ingest to visualization. Our solution combines Vizrt’s true 2D/3D graphics tools with Curious Software’s World Maps and Ardendo’s Asset Management. Running on non proprietary software, the combination of these unique cutting edge products ensures a seamless workflow from conception to multi-format distribution. The latest addition to the Vizrt product suite is Viz|3G for hand held devices.

Vizrt’s product suite is used by the world’s leading broadcasters including: CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, Sky, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, TV Today, CCTV and NHK. Also, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions, including both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, utilize Vizrt solutions.

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