INDUSTRY

LAS VEGAS, NV -- SGI (NYSE: SGI) today announced that it has nearly completed the installation of a digital newsroom system for Sudwestrundfunk (SWR), the second-largest station of Germany's public broadcasting network, ARD, in its location in Mainz for producing and transmitting news programs. The digital newsroom-based on SGI Media Server(TM) for broadcast systems-enables the 50-person Mainz news team to streamline its operations for distributed news production, spot insertion and play to air. In its role as system integrator, SGI Professional Services Organization (PSO) has been working with Dalet A.N.N. and Pinnacle Systems/Fast Multimedia to set up a complete new digital workflow. Central to the digital newsroom are two SGI Media Server for broadcast systems, equipped with sufficient storage and guaranteed I/O bandwidth to satisfy all of SWR's broadcast requirements. The SGI Media Server systems store high-resolution video and play the transmission-ready content to air. The media servers give the news team direct access to video assets and automatic execution of the transmission schedule which includes teleprompter control and fail-safe program playout via a mirrored playout server. The systems also enable ``blue'' non-linear editors (NLE) from Fast Multimedia (acquired by Pinnacle Systems in October 2001) to achieve quick access to content via ``in-server'' server-based editing. Dalet A.N.N. provided its OpenMedia Newsroom editing system as well as the DBOS automatic transmission system from SGT. ``SGI is a relatively new player in our field, but has a great understanding of the needs of broadcasters and offers highly innovative concepts,'' said Bertram Bittel, director of technology and production at SWR. ``Our expectations for the contract were high and we are convinced that SGI is doing an excellent job in fulfilling them.'' ``SGI is very pleased to be chosen by Sudwestrundfunk to implement this innovative solution based on open IT system architecture and standards that are becoming increasingly recognized in the broadcast field,'' said Fabio Gallo, director of marketing, EMEA, SGI. ``SGI's revolutionary 'distribute data, view video' approach to broadcast systems architecture, opens up new workflow production possibilities and shortens the time for preparing and transmitting news bulletins at SWR. ``This installation in Germany will serve as a model for broadcasters worldwide, showing how SGI and our partners can meet customer requirements regarding functionality, performance, capacity and integration in existing infrastructures, and how different components can be flexibly and seamlessly linked to create a comprehensive, cost-effective solution,'' added Dirk Zachau-Redmann, sales manager, Media Industries, SGI Germany. For more information visit www.sgi.com