System's Flexibility and Capacity to Manage Cross-Platforms Secures Deal

MADISON, WI February 29, 2000 - Avstar Systems LLC, the worldwide market leader in newsroom computing systems, announced today that the entire International Radio and Television News Bureaus of Emirates Media Inc. will install the Avstar Newsroom Computer System (NRCS) version 1.2 across its Abu Dhabi headquarters in Spring 2000.

Prior to a recent acquisition, Emirates Broadcast focused solely on its radio station, Emirates FM, and its newspaper, Al Ittihad. With the newly acquired Abu Dhabi television station, Emirates dramatically enlarged its broadcast scope. With the expansion came the decision to replace the previously running DOS-based version of AvidNews with a system that could handle the demands of a medium sized broadcast network.

"The Avstar system will provide us with much more flexibility," said Emirates Media Inc.'s chief engineer, Graham Day. "It will give us access to the Windows environment and enable us to manage cross platform workflow - from the newsroom system to the Internet, for example."

Upon completion of the installation, the system will seat 110 users, serving the station's radio, television, and promotions departments as well as its overseas news bureaus. Emirates Media Inc. broadcasts will air in the Arabic language to audiences across the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

The Avstar Newsroom Computer System (NRCS) is the heart of the newsroom, and is relied upon for all production, communication and administration. Built on a legacy of over 20 years broadcast experience, and now enhanced with new features, the NRCS provides a complete working environment for the broadcast journalist. It is a scalable system that supplies extensive management tools to assist with acquisition, processing, broadcasting and archiving news content. The NRCS is part of a family of Avstar products, which includes the Media Browse System (MBS) and Broadcast Control Systems (BCS). Working in concert, these systems provide a complete integrated newsroom solution for broadcasters.

About Avstar Systems

Avstar Systems LLC is dedicated to supporting the world community of radio and television journalists through technological innovation and to ensuring the continued independence of the news media by developing tools that are content-independent. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin with additional offices worldwide, Avstar's products are installed in the world's broadcast facilities and serve over 80,000 journalists. For more information, see the Avstar web site at http://www.avstarnews.com or call +1-608-274-8686.