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Tuesday February 22, 7:17 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
ESPN and Princeton Video Image Announce Expanded Use of Virtual Advertising in 2000 Major League Baseball Season
PVI to Create and Insert Virtual Ads in a Minimum of 20 Nationally Televised Sunday Night Games
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000-- ESPN (www.espn.com), the world leader in sports, and Princeton Video Image, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVII, www.pvi-inc.com), the global leader in virtual advertising and imaging solutions for television, have announced that PVI will create and insert virtual advertisements in a minimum of 20 ESPN Sunday Night Baseball games this year. This agreement covers the use of virtual advertising in more nationally televised baseball games than in any other previous season and will begin with the first week of the baseball season.
``This is a milestone agreement for the use of virtual advertising in baseball,' said Dennis Wilkinson, PVI president and CEO. ``Virtual ads will be seen in more nationally televised games than ever before. We are pleased that ESPN has once again selected PVI as their technology partner in virtual advertising'
In virtual advertising, broadcasters insert advertising messages into telecasts so that the ads appear as part of the live stadium scene. Its most common use in baseball is to place signs or animated images along the wall behind home plate. The ads can be combined with game statistics and effects such as a pitch speed indicator, to create a dynamic enhancement to the game's action.
Princeton Video Image, Inc., the global leader in virtual advertising solutions for television, has developed, and is marketing, a real-time video insertion system that, through patented pattern recognition technology, places computer-generated electronic images into television broadcasts of sporting events as well as other programming. These electronic images range from simple corporate names and logos to sophisticated 3-D images and animated effects. PVI has provided video insertion services for live telecasts worldwide, including broadcasts of Major League Baseball, National League Football, professional soccer, motor sports, and other live events. PVI is the exclusive virtual advertising provider for NFL International broadcasts. The Company is headquartered in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with offices in New York City and Brussels, as well as licensees' offices in Madrid, Mexico City and Johannesburg.
Any statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those relating to market acceptance, dependence on strategic partners and third party sales, contractual restraints on use of PVI's technology, a rapidly changing commercial and technological environment, competition, possible adverse regulations, need for additional financing, intellectual property rights and litigation, and other risks identified in PVI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. PVI undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Contact:
Media Contact:
Roher Public Relations
Christina Friedkin, 212/986-6668
or
Investor Contacts:
Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc.
Cheryl Schneider/John Blackwell
212/850-5600 |
