96% Of Fall '99 Primetime Television Shows Edited On Avid Systems.

TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 13, 1999--

-- 101 of 105 Primetime Fall TV Shows Cut on Avid Media

Composer/Film Composer Systems; Several Shows Make the Leap to

Nonlinear Finishing with Avid Symphony --

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVID) announced today that 96% of primetime television shows this fall are being edited using the Avid(R) Media Composer(R) and Avid Film Composer(R) systems, and a number of shows have taken the next step in nonlinear television post production by finishing on the company's new high-end Avid Symphony(tm) system. 101 of 105(1) shows in the 1999-2000 fall primetime television lineup -- including David E. Kelly's `98-99 Emmy-winning Best Drama "The Practice" and Best Comedy "Ally McBeal," as well as `98-99 Emmy recipients in the editing category, "The Sopranos" and "Sports Night"-- are being cut on Avid's industry-leading Media Composer or Film Composer systems. Popular returning drama "Profiler" and `98-99 Emmy winner for animation "King of the Hill" are set to online their seasons using the Avid Symphony system.

"Profiler" & "King of the Hill" Give Nod To Nonlinear Finishing

Until this season, primetime shows have traditionally relied on Avid systems for offline, but have finished programs in linear tape suites. This fall, two shows of diverse genre -- NBC's "Profiler" and FOX's "King of the Hill" -- have made the leap to digital nonlinear finishing with the Avid Symphony uncompressed editorial finishing system to realize efficiencies and creative benefits by remaining in the digital realm from offline through online.

As co-producer of "Profiler," Bernie Laramie is seeing these advantages firsthand. "In the past we have been very frustrated by the amount of preparation it takes for a traditional tape-based online session -- where you spend an enormous amount of time re-creating work in online that you've already done in offline," he says. "With the Symphony system's Total Conform capability for an Avid offline and its high-end finishing features, we have been able to complete the same work in a record amount of time. We have literally shaved three hours off the production of the show, saving `Profiler' considerable money and time."

96% of Shows Now Offlining on Avid

Following several years of increasing prevalence in primetime, use of Avid systems approaches nearly 100% this season with a record number of premiering and returning shows relying on Avid Media Composer and Film Composer systems. One of the many high-profile shows premiering this fall being edited on an Avid

system is NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," a spin-off of the original "Law & Order." "A new show is faced with so many challenges, from winning the target audience to finding its own cutting rhythms and style," said Joe Lazarov, Co-Producer for "Special Victims Unit." "It's great to know we can rely on the power and flexibility of the Avid Film Composer system to help us meet primetime's demanding deadlines, while at the same time working in incredibly creative ways," adds Tim Deluca, Associate Producer.

"Profiler's" Laramie, a veteran television producer, reflects, "It's really amazing to see the impact Avid's nonlinear technology has had on the industry. Back in the early `90s just a few shows were being edited digitally. Now that technology has become ubiquitous. The fact that we're on the cusp of another major shift, with the first shows moving to Symphony and Avid's digital finishing technology, is equally exciting and is again changing the way television is made."

Premiering Shows Using Avid

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     Of the programs premiering this fall, 36 of 38 are using Avid's
digital editing systems for offline, including:

"Action"                "Ally" ("Ally McBeal"       "Angel"
                         spinoff)
"Cold Feet"             "Family Law"                "Freaks & Geeks"
"Get Real"              "Grown Ups"                 "Harsh Realm"
"Jack & Jill"           "Judging Amy"               "Ladies Man"
"Law & Order: Special                               "Malcolm In The
 Victims Unit"          "Love & Money"               Middle"
"Manchester Prep"       "Mike O'Malley"             "Mission Hill"
"Now & Again"           "Odd Man Out"               "Oh Grow Up"
"Once & Again"          "Popular"                   "Roswell"
"Safe Harbor"           "Shasta McNasty"            "Snoops"
"Stark Raving Mad"      "Ryan Caulfield: Year One"  "The Strip"
"The West Wing"         "Then Came You"             "The Third Watch"
"Time Of Your Life"     "Wasteland"                 "Work With Me"

Avid Technology, Inc. is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for information and entertainment applications. The company's products are used by a variety of customers worldwide including film, television and interactive content producers, TV news broadcasters, corporate communicators, and consumers. For more information, visit Avid's website at www.avid.com

(c)1999 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications contained herein are subject to change without notice. Avid, Film Composer and Media Composer are registered trademarks and Symphony is a trademark of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

(1) Show, lineup and production information taken from The Hollywood Reporter and the September 10, 1999, issue of Entertainment Weekly, as well as from Avid rental centers. Does not include mid-season replacements. Final fall schedule may vary.