Reuters Purchases Avid Newsroom Systems for Key U.S. and European Operations: London, New York, Washington and Berlin Bureaux Updated With Avid Unity for News Systems
Amsterdam, The Netherlands (ots)
IBC, HALL 7 STAND 930 -- Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced that Reuters, the international multimedia news agency, has purchased and installed Avid® newsroom systems for three of its bureaux: London, Washington and New York. The new equipment, based around the revolutionary Avid Unity for News shared-storage solution, replaces existing tape-based and stand-alone nonlinear editing (NLE) systems, allowing the organisation to transfer its operations in these locations to digital file-based news production. Additionally, the Reuters Berlin bureau is scheduled to install an Avid Unity for News system later this year.
Reuters has replaced its existing newsroom systems to improve the delivery of content to its customers, and move content quickly and easily between its international bureaux. The use of Media Exchange Format (MXF) to future-proof solutions was also an important factor in the purchasing decision.
Rob Kernot, Global Technology Owner Visuals at Reuters, said, "After more than five years of appreciating the benefit and efficiency of a competitive NLE system in our London newsroom, we were looking to replace the existing system and bring the advantages of NLE technology into our other major production centres. We chose Avid's solutions because they best fit our operations; they provide us with a recognised world-class editing application, and have the advantage of an entirely on-line operation. Other key factors in our decision were Avid's track record for innovation, a commitment to MXF compliance, and the provision of all elements of the workflow from a single supplier."
Reuters' end-to-end news production environments consist of multiple Avid NewsCutter® editing systems, Avid AirSPACE and Xdeck ingest/playout servers, and Avid CountDown software for playout automation - all of which are connected in a tightly integrated workflow with the Avid Unity for News shared-storage system. The new equipment also integrates into Reuters' existing Avid iNEWS newsroom computer systems in each location, adding to the efficiency of the workflow. Avid's Professional Services Group provided consultancy, workflow analysis and training to the Reuters teams in each bureau to specify the right equipment and workflow needed to fulfil their requirements, underlining Avid's reputation for delivering a complete service to broadcast customers.
The Berlin installation will not only produce its own news content, but also act as a back-up system to ensure business continuity for London in case of technical issues.
About Reuters
Reuters (www.reuters.com), the global information group, provides indispensable information tailored for professionals in the financial services, media and corporate markets. Our information is trusted and drives decision making across the globe based on our reputation for speed, accuracy and independence. We have 14,700 staff in 92 countries, including some 2,300 editorial staff in 197 bureaux serving approximately 130 countries, making Reuters the world's largest international multimedia news agency. In 2003, the Reuters Group had revenues of £3.2 billion.
Reuters is a trademark or registered trademark of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid Technology, Inc. is the world leader in digital nonlinear media creation, management and distribution solutions, enabling film, video, audio, animation, games, and broadcast news professionals to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. For more information about the company's Oscar®, Grammy®, and Emmy® award-winning products and services, please visit: www.avid.com.
® 2004 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications, features and availability are subject to change without notice. Avid, Digidesign, Film Composer, Pro Tools, Avid Unity, NewsCutter, Xdeck AirSPACE, and CountDown are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. iNEWS is a trademark of iNews, LLC. Avid received an Oscar statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design and engineering of the Avid Film Composer® system for motion picture editing. Digidesign, Avid's audio division, received an Oscar statuette representing the 2003 Scientific and Technical Award for the design, development and implementation of its Pro Tools® digital audio workstation. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Press Contact: Wendy Mattock Avid Technology Europe Ltd +44 (0)1753 658428 wendy_mattock@avid.com
Investor Contact: Dean Ridlon Avid Technology, Inc. 978.640.5309 dean_ridlon@avid.com