INDUSTRY

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Anticipating the global growth of centralcasting, SGI (NYSE: SGI) today launched the latest version of SGI Media Server(TM) for broadcast, which enables broadcasters to efficiently streamline their news production and transmission operations and reliably get their pictures to air. SGI Media Server allows broadcasters to simultaneously put more recent-breaking news on the air and distribute that news at faster than real time across several stations within their group or network using the latest digital networking technologies and open server systems. Centralcasting is an exploding trend for broadcasters that involves driving multiple broadcast facilities from a central location. News, graphics, entertainment and interstitials are examples of content that can be managed and distributed centrally. Key to centralcasting's success is the convergence of data-centric and video-centric technology. SGI Media Server for broadcast is the cornerstone of the SGI deliver data, view video broadcast strategy: When file-based video is managed as data, it can be distributed over data networks with ease and efficiency. SGI Media Server is quickly becoming successful around the world by helping broadcasters become more efficient as they consolidate and centralize three key areas: transmission operations, news and local program production, and business operations. ``SGI is aggressively targeting digital broadcasting with our new media server. We've had great success with customers, particularly in Europe, in building centralcasting systems leveraging both our technology and our professional services expertise. Now, we're bringing our latest advances in scalable media servers to market and combining multichannel playout with the ability to distribute video as data. This allows our customers to implement multi-site digital video infrastructures and leverage content in ways not possible with competing systems,'' said Greg Estes, vice president of Corporate Marketing, SGI. The new MPEG version of SGI Media Server for broadcast is based on the high-performance, compact SGI® Origin® 300 supercomputer with SGI® TP900, TP9100 and TP9400 data storage options. This latest generation of SGI® server and storage hardware greatly increases the stream-count density within the broadcaster's rack and reduces the price per stream for video serving. Perfectly suited for centralcasting, the new Media Server for broadcast system allows automation control over long distances, moves media and metadata over data networks, and integrates with central storage and archive systems. SGI Professional Services offers system integration services that include customer qualification, site planning assistance, hardware installation, configuration of network connectivity, connection of peripheral devices, and software configuration. For more information visit www.sgi.com/solutions/broadband/media.html