NEW YORK, NY--(February 23, 2000) -- Peak Broadcast Systems, (Sands Convention Center Booth #S6569), a leading developer of real-time 2D, 3D rendering and virtual set software, as well as sophisticated control systems for the composition and playback of graphics, will introduce a suite of new software products at The National Association of Broadcasters Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas, April 10-13. Peak Broadcast Systems offers a complete turnkey solution for real-time 3D graphics creation and virtual sets, asset management and playout control.

Among Peak's new product offerings are PilotTicker, which provides direct display of financial, sports and other data to multi-line crawl video displays; Everest NT, the NT-version of its real-time 3D rendering software - available as a full playback or render-only system; and GeoNews, a high-resolution global database for map generation that supports multiple data resolutions and 3D file export to Everest software.

PilotTicker-- PilotTicker is based on Everest real-time graphic software - available for the SGI NT, O2, and Onyx platforms, in combination with Pilot's robust database. PilotTicker provides the facilities to read electronically delivered financial data, such as Reuters and other types of data for instant display in a combination of formats that include multiple crawls and non-moving graphic displays. Each crawl can be independently controlled, including parameters such as speed, color, font size, font type, and background colors.

Everest NT-- Everest NT is a real-time graphics animation and rendering software for the Silicon Graphics Windows NT platform. Everest NT offers the identical feature set available when using Everest on the Silicon Graphics' Onyx and O2 platforms, and files are forward- and backward-compatible. Everest NT is best suited for use as a graphics design system, live-to-air graphics production, and for authoring of 2D/3D graphics and virtual sets. The latest software release, Everest 3.0, features three-layer live compositing, support of 3D beveled fonts, immersive graphics, and particles as a plug-in. All graphics created on Everest NT may be displayed and or modified on SGI Onyx 2 or O2 systems. Everest NT is available for immediate delivery, starting at $20,000.

GeoNews-- GeoNews is a high-resolution map of the world that operates on the Silicon Graphics Onyx and O2 platform and will be available shortly for the NT platform. This software allows the user to quickly create a detailed map simply by entering a country name or its coordinates. In addition, GeoNews is available as a 3D plug-in to the Everest software, allowing the user to quickly create a three dimensional fly-through map for any area of the world. This is ideal for weather presentations and for news stories where geographical information must be presented in a unique graphical display.

Also on display:

Everest for SGI Onyx -- Everest is real-time graphics animation and rendering software for the Silicon Graphics Onyx platform. Everest was created as a tool that enables the production of complex graphics and animation quickly. It is a true real-time system, in which there is no time-consuming rendering. During animation, users can switch between virtual cameras in real-time. Everest is a versatile system that can be used for a variety of tasks, ranging from simple two-dimensional character generation to virtual-set creation. Everest is resolution-independent and can produce graphics for existing TV formats, HDTV, print, web and CD-ROM. The Everest system is a revolution in the way in which information can be integrated by combining stills, animation, and video in one system, and in its reduction of production time.

Pilot News - Pilot News allows the graphic artist to create a design in 2D or 3D space. The artist's "look" may include a selection of fonts, still or video window sizes, position, reveal effects, video clip playback, digital video effects of live camera or recorded material, and audio under selections, if desired. This created look is stored as a template within the Pilot system. Any number of templates may be stored and grouped for different programs such as News, Sports or Information. The journalist or any other designated person, without specific artistic or technical knowledge, may select the proper template for the preparation, storage and sequencing playback of the graphic modules. The Pilot asset management software and Oracle database make selection of the proper information a simple process. Pilot then assembles the final product for real-time 2D and 3D display at the touch of a button, thereby simplifying the creation and play-out of news graphics and asset management. Pilot controls real-time renderers such as the Peak Everest system that operates on Silicon Graphics Onyx, O2, and Silicon Graphics NT platforms.

Pilot LiveEvent-- Live Event is software specially designed to handle fast-changing live events; typically sporting events, financial market information, elections, and other programs that rely on external data feeds that change rapidly. Data from external sources may be automatically entered into templates and ready for display immediately upon request.

Pilot Object Store-- More than just a still store, ObjectStore is a user-friendly, streamlined way of managing all stills and graphics. The Oracle database provides for quick key word search and library functions. It eliminates the need to manage multiple sizes and position of stills for archiving. Still images are entered once and then automatically sized and positioned according to the template's graphical requirements. The object library is independent from the on-air look.

Peak Broadcast Systems, an entity created by the merging of Pilot Broadcast Systems and Peak Software Technologies, develops, markets and supports complete on-air graphics systems and virtual sets to broadcasters and other video professionals on a global basis. The company's products deliver improved productivity with a consistent on-air look, and feature user-friendly template graphics, asset management and automation for News, Sports and other programs that utilize real-time 2D/3D graphics and or virtual sets. Peak Broadcast Systems offers its customers complete support services including the development of custom requirements.

The address for Peak's web site is www.peak-tv.com.