At the 2000 National Association of Broadcasters Conference (NAB), Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced new streaming media, networked encoding, news editing and web publishing products, new versions of current editing and finishing products, significant alliances to more quickly deliver interactive television and web encoding capabilities, and new programs to meet customer satisfaction demands.

    At NAB, Avid unveiled two new products: Avid ePublisher, the industry's first complete streaming media publishing tool for Web-enabled video production; and the Avid Newscutter(R) XP system, the low-cost version of Avid's industry-leading NewsCutter family of digital editing products for broadcast news production. Avid formally launched AvidProNet.com(TM), a business-to-business Web services portal for media professionals which includes plans for Digidesign, a division of Avid, to develop a full-featured audio component of AvidProNet.com. Avid is also showcasing new versions of current products: Version 1.2 of Avid Unity(TM) MediaNet, the revolutionary media network for professional media production and distribution; Avid Xpress(R) Version 4, the next generation of Avid's affordable, broadcast-quality video editing system; and a sneak-peek of Avid Xpress DV Version 1.5 software on the IBM(R) IntelliStation(R) workstation, which will feature significant collaboration and interoperability enhancements to enable efficient digital media production workgroups. Avid also unveiled new feature sets for the Media Composer(R) Version 10.0 system, a worldwide standard for editing, and Symphony(TM) Version 3.0 software, the most efficient finishing and 24P universal mastering solution for editorial productions. In addition, the much anticipated release of SOFTIMAGE(R)|XSI(TM), a revolutionary next-generation 3-D animation solution, will be showcased during the show.

    To demonstrate its commitment to customers, Avid unveiled two new customer service programs: Avid FlexSupport, which is designed to provide all Avid customers in the U.S. and Canada with the flexibility of choosing the technical support options that they need backed by a per-call money back guarantee; and the Avid Certified User program, which will allow editors to prove their proficiency on Avid Media Composer systems and earn official recognition from Avid. Avid's customer commitment is also demonstrated through its alliances with Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation to develop a new authoring tool for creating interactive digital television content compliant to the Advanced Television Enhanced Forum (ATVEF) specification. Additionally, Avid announced a feature protection program for the NewsCutter Version 15. and NewsCutter XP systems that will enable customers to upgrade to Version 2.0 at no additional cost.

    Avid Announces New Professional Post-Production Products

    Avid Unity Products Receive Major Enhancements Avid introduced Version 1.2 of Avid Unity(TM) MediaNet, the revolutionary media network for professional media production and distribution. With this release, the power and scope of MediaNet is expanded to include larger workgroups or several smaller workgroups, who can concurrently work with access to as much as 650 hours of broadcast-quality video. This new version includes support for up to 25 real-time clients each with four audio tracks (total of 50 video streams plus 100 audio tracks), with simultaneous access to as much as 5TB of media storage.

    New Feature Sets for Symphony Version 3 and Media Composer Version 10

    Avid unveiled the upcoming releases of Media Composer Version 10.0, a worldwide standard for editing; and Symphony Version 3.0, the most efficient finishing and 24P universal mastering solution for editorial productions. Both releases are planned for shipment in the third quarter of 2000. Symphony Version 3 builds on the capabilities of the Media Composer system, offering the full Media Composer Version 10 feature set, and adding the real-time performance and depth of control required for high-end editorial finishing. New features include: Real-time Ultimatte Keying, Real-time Secondary Color Correction, Motion Tracking and Image Stabilization. The milestone Media Composer Version 10 release raises the bar in terms of online capabilities for finishing mainstream programming, adds streaming capabilities so users can re-purpose video assets on the Web, and delivers real-time power, speed-of-operation enhancements and workflow efficiency features. Feature highlights include: Real-time moving mattes, Real-time hardware multicamera play, and Video Archive.

    Avid Launches Strategic Web Initiatives

    First All-In-One Streaming Media Publishing Tool for Web-enabled Video Production Avid unveiled Avid ePublisher, the industry's first complete streaming media publishing tool for Web-enabled video production. Developed for new media producers in the broadcast/"webcast", corporate, education and training markets, the Avid ePublisher solution will simplify how streaming media content is produced, encoded and distributed. This single application will enable content creators to capture, edit or re-purpose video content and combine it with information and graphical elements to create HTML-based interactive multimedia content that can be published to the Web as well as to CD and DVD for easy distribution. Avid ePublisher is schedule for release in North America in Q2 2000.

    B2B Web Services Portal for Media Creation Professionals

    Avid formally launched AvidProNet.com, a business-to-business Web services portal for media professionals. AvidProNet.com provides Web-based tools, information and services to enable the content creation community to take advantage of the power of the Internet in their business - to improve their workflow efficiency, stay informed, and reach and interact with fellow professionals. AvidProNet.com provides content, community, commerce, and services targeted at media creation professionals. Digidesign will develop a full-featured audio component of the Avid Production Network(TM) (AvidProNet.com). Digidesign's plans include creating a web community for Pro Tools(R) workstation users, featuring a variety of networked products and services for audio creation and production. Avid and Digidesign are committed to providing seamless integration between their industry-leading desktop audio and video tools and the Avid Production Network.

    20% Performance Increase for the Avid Xpress DV on IBM IntelliStation Digital Video Editing and Publishing System

    Avid announced that it is now shipping a new 733 MHz model of its Avid Xpress DV software on the IBM IntelliStation product, the company's professional editing and publishing solution for digital video (DV), Web streaming video, DVDs, and CDs. Avid's highly performance-scalable Avid Xpress DV software combined with the increased CPU performance of this new model enables demanding video processing functions such as rendering, effects, and encoding to execute up to 20% faster than the previous model. Avid also announced that it will preview the upcoming Version 1.5 of Avid Xpress DV on the IBM IntelliStation, which will feature significant collaboration and interoperability enhancements to enable efficient digital media production workgroups.

    Avid Xpress Version 4

    Avid introduced Avid Xpress Version 4 software, the next generation of Avid's affordable, broadcast-quality video editing system designed for video and multimedia professionals. Available in summer 2000 simultaneously on Macintosh and Windows NT platforms, the Avid Meridien(TM)-based Avid Xpress Version 4 system will offer powerful new features for creating digital media for the Web and DVD, enhancing workflow and increasing editing flexibility and efficiency. Avid also announced limited-time promotional upgrade pricing for current owners of Avid Meridien-based Avid Xpress Plus and Deluxe customers.

    Avid Announces New 3-D and Animation Solutions

    SOFTIMAGE|XSI

    Softimage Co, a subsidiary of Avid, announced the much anticipated release of SOFTIMAGE |XSI system, the company's next-generation 3-D animation solution. Expected to ship in May 2000, the SOFTIMAGE|XSI system will allow animators in the broadcast, feature film and games industries to take advantage of this truly non-linear animation system. The SOFTIMAGE|XSI system is revolutionary in its approach to 3-D animation by providing a powerful, sophisticated tool that is intuitive to use. This environment, which takes the idea of animated content to the next level, has been designed with the needs of animators in mind. The SOFTIMAGE|XSI system provides non-destructive, non-linear animation features that allow users to be far more productive and creative without having to extend deadlines.

    Digidesign Announces New Audio Tools

    AVoption|XL

    Digidesign is showing AVoption|XL, a hardware option for integrating Pro Tools digital audio workstations with Avid video editing systems. Both the AVoption|XL and AVoption hardware options allows capture, import and playback of Avid-compatible video from within the Pro Tools application. Together with the advanced editing and post-production features of Pro Tools Version 5 software, these options represent an unprecedented level of integration between audio and video, and an improved workflow for sound-for-picture professionals.

    Windows NT Compatible Version of DigiTranslator

    Digidesign announced the release of DigiTranslator 1.1, a Windows NT-compatible version of Digidesign's OMFI (Open Media Framework(R) Interchange) session interchange application. DigiTranslator accurately handles the conversion of Pro Tools session files to OMF(R) files, and of OMF files to Pro Tools session files. Dozens of manufacturers now support OMFI, and hundreds of Pro Tools customers rely on OMFI every day for file interchange with other workstations, such as Avid's Media Composer system. With DigiTranslator, the complex process of file interchange is made simple and dependable, allowing post-production professionals to spend more time on creative decisions and less time on file management.

    FilmFrame(TM) Delivers Avid Film Composer(R) Compatibility to Digidesign Pro Tools

    Digidesign announced FilmFrame, a software module that adds 24 frame Film Composer media support to AVoption- or AVoption|XL-equipped Pro Tools systems. FilmFrame software allows Pro Tools users to work natively at 24 frames per second in Pro Tools with picture elements that have been created by an Avid Film Composer video editing workstation.

    PostConform(R) Version 2.0

    Digidesign announced the release of PostConform Version 2.0, an update of its auto-conforming solution for Mac OS-based computers. With this release, the PostConform software is now fully compatible with Digidesign's Pro Tools|24 and Pro Tools |24 MIX systems. This new version of PostConform software plays a key role in integrating current Pro Tools systems into a post-production workflow. PostConform software automatically locates and captures EDL elements from external source decks, and conforms those elements to specified positions on the list, saving hours of extra work capturing and spotting elements to picture.

    Windows 98 Support with Pro Tools Version 5.0.1

    Digidesign announced the first upgrade to its Pro Tools Version 5 software. With Pro Tools Version 5.0.1, Windows 98 support will be available for Digidesign's home and project studio products, the Digi 001(TM) and Digi ToolBox(TM) XP. The recording, editing and mixing capabilities of Digi 001 and Digi ToolBox XP are powered by Pro Tools LE software. Pro Tools LE supports up to 24 tracks of 16- or 24- bit audio and introduces the newly developed Real-Time AudioSuite (RTAS) plug-in architecture, delivering real-time, host-based mixing and effects processing. With the Version 5.0.1 release, Digidesign also adds Windows 98 support for the SampleCell II(TM) Plus PCI sampling card, a low-latency monitoring feature for Digi 001 systems, and an MP3 export option for Windows-based Pro Tools systems.

    Avid Announces New Solutions for Broadcast News

    Low Cost Avid NewsCutter XP

    Avid unveiled the Avid NewsCutter XP system, a low-cost version of Avid's industry-leading NewsCutter family of digital editing products for broadcast news production, designed to deliver content both to air and to the Web. For less than $25,000 USMSRP, this new product will offer a high-performance alternative to traditional two-tape-deck suites, delivering a new price point for this functionality. Using industry standard DV25 compression, NewsCutter XP will connect the speed of the NewsCutter system to the workflow benefit of Avid Unity media network. In order to ensure a scaleable solution for its customers, Avid will provide a simple upgrade path from NewsCutter XP to upcoming releases of NewsCutter DV50 or MPEG-2 non-linear editors.

    Future-Proof Workgroup News Editing Solution

    Avid introduced a feature protection program for the NewsCutter Version 1.5 and NewsCutter XP systems that will enable customers to upgrade to NewsCutter Version 2.0 at no additional cost. Scheduled for availability in Q4 2000, the NewsCutter Version 2.0 system builds on Avid's industry-leading NewsCutter family of digital editing products for broadcast news production and is expected to include capabilities such as support for popular DV50 and MPEG2 formats. In addition, the NewsCutter Version 2.0 system will be capable of full support for Avid Unity for News, a broadcast-specific version of the Avid Unity MediaNet shared storage network. The Avid Unity for News system also adds the Avid Unity MediaManager asset management solution, as well as a new high-speed media transfer capability.

    Avid Announces New Service Initiatives and Alliance Announcements

    New Editor for Authoring Interactive Content for Enhanced Digital Television

    Avid unveils its development and licensing agreements with Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation to develop a new authoring tool for creating interactive digital television content compliant to the Advanced Television Enhanced Forum (ATVEF) specification. Avid is previewing an early version of the tool, code named "Avid ITVauthor", at the major industry tradeshow this week in Las Vegas and expects to ship a functional pre-release version to qualified customers in the fall of 2000.

    Avid Certified User Program

    Avid's Certified User Program is designed for Avid system editors that would like to have a program that certifies their considerable skills, the Avid Certified User program will allow editors to prove their proficiency on Avid Media Composer systems and earn official recognition from Avid. The Avid Certified User program is being developed by Avid Certified Instructors - most of whom are Avid system editors, Avid senior instructors, Avid product developers, and experienced Avid customers. The program will provide Avid system editors with a method to prove proficiency with all aspects of system operation, including media capture, media management, editing, effects and graphics, output options and basic troubleshooting.

    Avid Revamps Customer Service with Avid FlexSupport

    Designed to address needs expressed by customers, new Avid FlexSupport customer service offerings will provide all Avid customers in the U.S. and Canada, including non-contract customers, with the flexibility of choosing the technical support options that they need, backed-up by a per-call money back guarantee. In addition to the worldwide total solution provided by Avid Assurance annual support contracts, Avid FlexSupport options allow customers in North America to tailor their own support plans by purchasing only the individual support services that they require. For complete details on the above announcements, visit www.avid.com or www.softimage.com.

    About Avid Technology, Inc.:

    Avid Technology, Inc. is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for information and entertainment applications. The company's products are used by a variety of customers worldwide including film, television and interactive content producers, TV news broadcasters, corporate communicators and consumers. For more information, visit Avid's Web site at www.avid.com.

    (c) 2000 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, Avid Xpress, Digidesign, Media Composer, NewsCutter, OMF, Open Media Framework, PostConform, Pro Tools and Softimage are registered trademarks, and Avid Production Network, AvidProNet, AvidProNet.com, Avid Unity, Digi 001, Digi ToolBox, FilmFrame, Meridien, Sample Cell II, Symphony and XSI are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. IBM and IntelliStation are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

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