"Tuesday February 20, 7:03 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Princeton Video Image Announces Deal With Canal +
PVI Europe To Provide Virtual Game Enhancements for Over 60 Belgian Premier Soccer League Games
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2001--Princeton Video Image, Inc. (Nasdaq:PVII - news), the Emmy Award winning, global leader in virtual advertising solutions for television announced today that PVI Europe will produce virtual game enhancements for live broadcasts of the Belgian Premier Soccer League.
The agreement, with Canal + Belgium, marks the first time a broadcaster in Belgium will utilize virtual imaging in its broadcasts to enhance the content. PVI Europe, a majority owned subsidiary of PVI, will produce club logos, scores in the center-circle, free-kick circle, virtual offside lines and distance to the goal. The enhancements will be seen in over 60 games starting now and continuing through June of 2002.
Canal + Belgium is a Pay-TV station and part of the French-based Canal+ Group which is owned by Vivendi Universal. Canal+ holds the broadcast rights for Belgium for all the live coverage of the Belgian Premier Soccer League.
``It has always been the ambition of Canal+ to offer our viewers these new elements and to make their viewing experience as exciting as possible,'' said Jose Bouquiaux, Head of Sports Production at Canal+. ``The use of PVI's virtual game enhancements directly delivers to this mission as it will make the content richer by adding valuable tools to the sport and its fans.''
``We are very pleased to see how well Canal+ understands the value virtual imaging has to offer to sports broadcasts,'' said Frank Aernout, Chief Operating Officer, of PVI Europe. ``We are confident this partnership will grow beyond its current applications to include the use of advertising. Canal+ is taking a key step in content enhancement in Belgium with this decision.''
About Princeton Video Image, Inc., (www.pvi-inc.com)
The global leader in virtual advertising solutions for television, PVI has developed and marketed a real-time video insertion system. This system, through patented computer vision 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 thousands of 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. Beyond sports venues, PVI's virtual imaging technology provides branding-oriented program enhancements for The Early Show on CBS. The Company is headquartered in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with offices in New York City, Brussels and Johannesburg, as well as licensees' offices in Madrid and Mexico City.
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:
FOR: Princeton Video Image, Inc
Sam McCleery, Vice President Business Development
609/912-9400 ext. 1114
or
Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc.
Investor Relations:
Cheryl Schneider/Hani Henein/Brian Schaffer
212/850-5600"
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