RAVISENT to Work with Intel, Conexant, Philips and Other Industry Leaders on Digital TV at Comdex Fall '99
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999--
Technology Leader Also Unveils All-Software Digital Video Recorder
and Internet Appliance for TV/DVD
RAVISENT Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: RVST), a world leader in the development, licensing and management of digital video/audio technology solutions, announced it is working with Intel, Conexant, Philips, Nvidia, ATI Technologies, SkyTune and other industry leaders to provide high-quality, low-cost digital TV (DTV) solutions to PC OEMs at this year's Fall Comdex, Las Vegas, November 15-19. These cooperative efforts are based on RAVISENT's Software CineMaster(R) HDTV decoder, the industry's first all-software HDTV decoder, that provides full quality playback of all formats of HDTV on commercially available PCs. RAVISENT will demonstrate its CineMaster(R) HDTV technology in its suite at the MGM Grand Hotel.
RAVISENT is formally introducing its first-ever PC Digital Video Recorder (DVR) offering simultaneous encode/decode capabilities. DVR technology is expected to become an integral part of PC and consumer electronics devices as the convergence of electronics and computer devices continues over the next several years.
The company will also introduce a new upgradeable Internet TV appliance device incorporating DVD technology and will provide its first public showing of CineMaster 2000(R), the all-software DVD solution that is expected to become the default DVD MPEG-2 decoder software in video playback of DVD to PC.
"Since its founding, RAVISENT has been a leader in developing and bringing to market software and hardware solutions for PC and CE OEMs to enable them to offer consumer digital audio and video streaming content at significantly lower cost," said Mike Harris, co-founder and chief technology officer. "We continue our leadership position by demonstrating our new digital hardware and software solutions at COMDEX, especially our HDTV-to-PC and PC DVR software. With current decoder technology prohibitively expensive and half of all U.S. households owning a PC, our HDTV-to-PC software solution will stimulate consumer acceptance of HDTV and greatly expand corresponding content offerings, by enabling PC OEMs to bring these products to market faster, and at far less cost."
CineMaster(R) HDTV
Based on RAVISENT's award-winning CineMaster MPEG-2 decoder technology, CineMaster HDTV is the only software that incorporates newly developed, advanced proprietary algorithms enabling the decoding and playback of all 18 digital television formats specified by the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC), including all the so-called high definition television (HDTV) formats. CineMaster HDTV also incorporates proprietary software technology for full transport de-multiplexing with enhanced stream management for audio/video pacing and buffers management.
CineMaster(R) Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
Identifying one of the most important developments for video technology, RAVISENT has created a PC Digital Video Recorder software architecture offering simultaneous encoding/decoding. The easily integrated technology will allow PC and consumer electronics manufacturers to quickly and inexpensively incorporate an MPEG-2 hard drive-based DVR capability into virtually any PC and CE device, enabling the ability to time-shift, pause, rewind and replay live television broadcasts. With this technology, mainstream computer users will now have all the benefits of a traditional VCR on their computer, as well as the new hard-drive based digital video recorders now becoming popular.
Internet Appliance
At Comdex, RAVISENT will also introduce its first Internet TV DVD solution, solidifying its commitment to combining Internet connectivity with entertainment devices. The web-enabled DVD player transforms ordinary television into both a home theater system and a true Internet appliance. Based on CineMaster(R) CE(R), RAVISENT's industry-leading modular DVD software for consumer electronics manufacturers, the Internet TV DVD solution will incorporate an easy-to-navigate web browser and e-mail capabilities. Distribution in Q1 2000 is anticipated.
RAVISENT plans to enable its customers to incorporate this Internet TV technology into a variety of consumer electronics appliances including TV's, DVD Players, Digital Video Recorders and broadband set-top devices.
About RAVISENT Technologies Inc.
RAVISENT is driving the digital entertainment revolution with an integrated suite of innovative digital video and audio products for PC and consumer electronics manufacturers. RAVISENT enables the convergence of personal computer and consumer electronics devices through software and hardware products designed around a unique, modular software architecture that provides a consistent look and feel across technology platforms. Combining outstanding on-screen quality with high overall system performance and integration, RAVISENT provides flexible and cost-effective solutions to a spectrum of partners in the PC-OEM, CE-OEM and semiconductor markets, including Acer, Compaq, Dell Computer, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Micron, Fujitsu, Packard Bell/NEC, Quantex, Sony, Tottori-Sanyo, Vestel, Yamaha, ATI Technologies, C-Cube, and ST Microelectronics. Founded in 1994, RAVISENT is headquartered in Pennsylvania and has offices in the Silicon Valley, Seattle, Germany and Japan. Information about RAVISENT can be found on the World Wide Web at www.ravisent.com.
All companies and product names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that relate to RAVISENT's future business and financial performance. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual events of future results to differ from those discussed herein. Such factors include, among others: RAVISENT's recent change in its business model, its limited operating history, fluctuating quarterly operating results, expectation of future losses, anticipated price declines in products, dependence on its CineMaster products, dependence on a small number of customers, lack of long-term commitments with customers, dependence on manufacturers and strategic relationships, product delays, the difficulty of protecting proprietary rights, the ability to manage growth and attract and retain additional personnel, the potential for defects in its products, risks from international operations, its ability to raise capital in the future, its dependence on the personal computer and consumer electronics industries, competition, its ability to manage technological change and respond to evolving industry standards, government regulation and Year 2000 software issues.
CONTACT:
RAVISENT Technologies Inc.
Lori Crenny
610/408-7494
lcrenny@ravisent.com
or
Shandwick International
Norman Iannarelli
212/591-9796
normani@shandwick.com
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