Fall 2003 TV Season Goes Hi-Def with Avid|DS HD

Tewksbury, Mass.––-Avid Technology, Inc. announced thatleading Hollywood postproduction facilities are using Avid|DS HDsystems to finish more than 20 fall-season TV programs in highdefinition. The large volume of shows being mastered on Avid|DS HDsystems in the 2003-2004 season points to an industry-wide embrace ofthe HD format and a clear preference for Avid nonlinear finishingsolutions. In fact, more debuting prime-time dramas this year are beingfinished on Avid|DS HD systems than on any other finishing solution,according to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Guide To The 2003-04Television Season.”

Among the facilities using Avid tools to online their fall programsare Matchframe Video (L.A. Dragnet, Lyon’s Den, Jake 2.0, Reno911, and Free For All), Modern VideoFilm (Hack,Smallville, The Handler, Threat Matrix, and episodes of Joan ofArcadia), and Level 3 Post (Third Watch, Las Vegas, Wanda atLarge, and Oliver Beene). The programs being finished atthose and other Hollywood post houses on Avid|DS HD systems span sixmajor broadcast networks–-ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN, and TheWB–-as well as such top cable TV outlets as Comedy Central,Showtime, and USA Network.

“With all this HD production in the pipeline, the timingcouldn’t be better for us to adopt Avid|DS HD as the primarysource for our HD finishing needs,” said Matchframe Videopresident Rand Gladden. “Whether we’re working inuncompressed HDTV or standard-definition formats, the Avid|DS HD systemdoes it all. It’s fast, it’s got realtime playback, and itgives us total conform compatibility with our other Avid editingsystems. Best of all, it delivers the uncompromising level of qualitythat our clients expect.”

Modern VideoFilm’s executive VP of operations, Bill Watt,commented, “We purchased two Avid|DS HD systems earlier this yearin response to our clients’ needs. We have always pridedourselves on being at the forefront both technologically andcreatively, and Avid|DS HD was a welcome addition to our editingfacilities that helps us maintain our competitive edge."

Dana Ruzicka, director of post solutions for Avid, said, “Theextensive use of Avid|DS HD finishing systems this year tells us thatnonlinear HD postproduction workflows are rapidly becoming efficient,reliable, and cost effective. We expect the growth in our HD line tocontinue this fall and beyond, especially as our latest and mostpowerful HD finishing solution, the Avid DS Nitris™ system,started shipping today.”

About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid Technology, Inc. is the world leader in digital nonlinear mediacreation, management and distribution solutions, enabling film, video,audio, animation, games, and broadcast news professionals to work moreefficiently, productively, and creatively. For more information aboutthe company’s Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy award-winning products andservices, please visit: www.avid.com.