Vizrt adds to growing number of clients in Middle East

The Middle East is rapidly becoming one of Vizrt’s top regions for growth this year.
The most recent addition to the customer list is Al Jazeera Satellite Channel News, marking the broadcaster’s first purchase from Vizrt. The deal included two Viz|Trio character generator systems, with the potential for further upgrades. Al Jazeera is based in Doha, Qatar and was the first 24/7-news channel to broadcast in Arabic. Al Jazeera will start a high definition, 24/7 news channel in English within the first part of 2006.
This follows the decision by Vizrt to open a fully-staffed office in Dubai in the autumn of 2004 and to focus on local representation and support in the region.
In the second quarter of 2005, Vizrt will generate revenues of roughly three quarters of a million US dollars from the Middle East market. Vizrt’s clients are some of the region’s most dominant players such as MBC, Al Jazeera and ART, as well as Sharjah TV, Dubai TV News, and Dubai TV Sports.
MBC, based in Dubai with five stations currently, including the 24/7 news channel, Al Arabiya, signed up for a basic Vizrt installation a year and a half ago. Since then it has expanded usage of Vizrt software to include its new channels. A total of five MBC-owned channels (MBC 1 – 4 and Al Arabiya) are now generating real-time graphics using Vizrt software.
ART Sports, located in Jordan Media City, has approximately 15 channels, operating from headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia. ART Sports’ production facilities are spread across the entire Middle East. ART made an initial purchase of four Viz|Trio CG systems to be installed in facilities in Amman, with further upgrades to be added in Cairo and Jeddah.
Dubai Media Incorporated invested in Viz|Trio real-time 3D CGs this quarter for its channel Dubai-TV Sports while its news channel, Dubai TV News, is already a user of Vizrt systems.
This quarter, Sharjah TV, a local channel in the United Arab Emirates, also purchased a Viz|Trio CG system.
The latest sale from the Middle East region this quarter is a Viz|Trio-based system to Ten Sports, owned by Dubai-based Taj Television. Launched in 2002, Ten Sports is now one of the world’s premier sports channels for South Asians.
Vizrt, www.vizrt.com