Wednesday March 22, 8:06 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Princeton Video Image Named Exclusive Imaging Provider For Mexican National Soccer Teams
Virtual Ads from Coca-Cola and Tecate Expected to Reach Over 70% of Mexico's Television Viewers
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2000-- Publicidad Virtual (www.publicidadvirtual.com), a licensee of Princeton Video Image, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVII - news), the global leader in virtual advertising, today announced a multi-year agreement to insert virtual advertisements in broadcasts of Mexican National Soccer Teams' games, expected to reach over 70% of all of Mexico's television viewers.
In the first agreement of its type in Mexico, the country's two largest television networks, Televisa and TV Azteca, have agreed to air simultaneous telecasts of at least twenty games, resulting in enormous visibility for virtual advertisers such as Coca-Cola and Tecate. The broadcasts will include all of the same sponsorships, but each network will be using different commentators.
The agreement, which includes telecasts of World Cup 2002 qualifying games, was finalized between EPESA, hired by the two networks to handle advertising and other business affairs relating to the Mexican National Soccer Teams' telecasts, and Publicidad Virtual.
``This is a milestone agreement for the use of virtual advertising in professional soccer,' said David Sitt, President of Publicidad Virtual. ``We think this is something other teams and governing league bodies will look into as part of their future commercial deals.'
PVI's (www.pvi-inc.com) patented technology inserts virtual signage ranging from simple corporate names and logos to sophisticated 3-D images and animated effects. The images are inserted into the natural landscape, whether it is in the middle of the field or on the track. Viewers see the advertisements during the program, rather than at breaks or intermissions.
This advanced form of in-program advertising has created new advertising space that is now being used throughout the sports and television communities. Additionally, PVI can create animated images and virtual game enhancements such as the first-down line in football, the speed of the pitch in baseball and the virtual finish line in horse racing.
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 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 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 and Brussels, as well as licensees' offices in Madrid, Mexico City and Johannesburg.
Publicidad Virtual (www.publicidadvirtual.com) is the exclusive licensee in Latin America for Princeton Video Image, Inc. and has been in business since 1996. They have provided virtual insertions in over 1,000 broadcasts including World Cup programming and each of the last two Super Bowls. They are headquartered in 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:
Princeton Video Image, Inc.
by
The Garfield Group Public Relations
Media Contact:
Frank Wilkinson, 609/396-0946 x44
Fax: 609-396-2530
fwilkinson@garfieldgroup.com |
