Avid and OmniBus Announce Joint Development Project to Integrate Systems for News Production.

Business/Technology Editors

IBC 2000

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), a leading provider of digital solutions for information and entertainment, and OmniBus Systems, a market leader in automation and media management, have today announced a joint development project that is intended to provide tighter integration between their respective systems. This project was initiated in response to an increasing requirement for asset management and playout systems to more easily share information and media with content creation tools. Avid's shared storage system, Avid Unity(TM), will be a key component to the new solution.

"There is a growing requirement to redefine how information is managed and shared between the various processes of news production," said Peter Davies, Avid's Vice President, International. "Broadcasters are looking at ways of bringing together traditional stand-alone processes into a series of integrated workgroups. Avid and OmniBus intend to develop a system that would enable workgroups to share information and operate in a streamlined collaborative environment."

"This work will allow our customers to see the advantages of process management and automation carried through the post-production stages where previously they have been an isolated island," says Glyn Powell-Evans, Chairman, OmniBus.

"This will further enhance the advantages to be obtained from installing an OmniBus system to manage all aspects of the production and transmission process from ingest, through post production to transmission and archiving."

The first solution to be born out of the joint development project is being demonstrated at IBC 2000 with the integration of an Avid(R) NewsCutter(R) news editing system into an OmniBus browsing, asset management and playout system. This solution will be targeted at small regional news centers. It is also hoped that the Avid/OmniBus solution will prompt positive feedback from potential customers before the two companies begin to develop more complex solutions.

A white paper will also be presented at IBC 2000 discussing some of the possible techniques that could be employed for the integration of more complex environments where several different workstations may be sharing the same media.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. is an industry-leading provider of digital media creation and distribution solutions. From its industry revolutionizing nonlinear editing and finishing solutions, to its standard-setting audio and animation tools, and high performance technology for delivering TV-quality video over the Internet, Avid gives customers the power to communicate to multiple audiences with creativity and ease. Avid solutions, which span a wide range of markets and price points, are used for Web, special effects, video, audio, film, television, broadcast news, music, the Internet and games. Projects using Avid products have been honored with Oscar(R), Emmy(R) and Grammy(R) awards, as well as a host of other global awards. Avid markets and sells its products globally, and maintains corporate headquarters in Tewksbury, MA. For more information, visit Avid's web site at www.avid.com.

(c)2000 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product specifications subject to change without notice. Avid and NewsCutter are registered trademarks and Avid Unity is a trademark of Avid Technology, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

About OmniBus Systems

-- Since its formation in 1994, OmniBus Systems - based in Stanford-on-Soar, near Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK and Nevada City,California - has rapidly established a world-wide reputation as the premier system for television station automation, encompassing every aspect of operation from lines-in to transmission and from remote camera control to satellite positioning. The company announced a merger with Management Data A. G., Germany's leading media software specialist, in May, 2000.

-- OmniBus Systems has designed and installed automation at sites around the world including the BBC, ITN, and MTV Europe (UK), KGO-TV (San Francisco), KOMO-TV (Seattle), KVBC (Las Vegas), NOB and TMF (Netherlands) and TV4 in Sweden where the company helped create the world's first tape-less digital television station.

-- The company was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise (Innovation) in April 2000.

-- For further information about OmniBus Systems, contact company chairman Glyn Powell-Evans (tel: [phone]) or Becky Smith/Angela Butler at The WhiteOaks Consultancy ([phone]).

-- More information about the company is available at www.OmniBusSystems.com