Vizrt
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2010) |
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| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcast |
| Genre | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Bergen , Norway |
| Products | Software |
| Revenue | 105.8M US$ (2010)  |
Number of employees | 600 (2011) |
| Website | www.vizrt.com |
Vizrt (OSE: VIZ) is a industry leading software company that creates content production tools for the digital media industry. The abbreviation is short for VisualiZation (in) Real Time. The product line includes applications for the creation of real-time 3D graphics and maps including stereoscopic playout, integrated video workflow solutions and online publishing tools. Vizrt software is used by many of the world's broadcasters and publishing houses, including: Television New Zealand, Aljazeera, CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, Sky, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, SVT, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, antena3, GMA, The Globe and Mail, The Telegraph, TN Todo Noticias Argentina, 24 horas TVN Chile, The Sun (newspaper), News of the World and Die Welt Online. Other customers include production houses and corporate institutions, such as the New York and London Stock Exchanges. The company is traded publicly at Oslo Stock Exchange. Its headquarter offices are in Bergen, Norway. As of September 2011, Vizrt has 36 offices and 600 employees worldwide.
History
In 1999, the Norway-based Pilot Broadcast Systems AS merged with the Austrian company, Peak Software Technologies GmbH, to form Peak Broadcast Systems. Pilot was a subsidiary of Norwegian TV channel TV 2. Peak Software was a developer of software for real-time 3D graphics and animation, virtual sets and playback control systems. The new Peak Broadcast Systems offered software for real-time 3D graphics creation and virtual sets, asset management, and playout control.
The following year marked the formation of Vizrt when Peak Broadcast Systems merged with RT-SET, an Israeli virtual studio system developer.
In 2005, Vizrt acquired the London-based Curious Software, software developers of 2D and 3D animated maps for broadcast television, corporate presentations and online applications.
Later that year, Vizrt acquired 19 percent of Adactus AS, a Norwegian company that specializes in the transport of content to mobile phone platforms. Vizrt and Adactus then developed Viz 3G, a graphics motor for mobile telephones and other mobile devices. Based on Vizrt’s Viz Engine renderer and Adactus’ MPEG-21 standards-based multimedia delivery platform, it was the first integration of a graphics engine for mobile phone video viewing applications.[citation needed] Vizrt acquired the rest of the shares in the company in 2010.
In 2006, Vizrt acquired Ardendo, a digital asset management company for the television broadcast industry based in Sweden.
In 2008, Vizrt acquired Escenic, a Norwegian developer of content management software for digital media publishing. Escenic technologies drive many of the world’s top news media websites, including [The Globe and Mail], [Times Online], [The Telegraph] and [Welt Online].
In October 2010, Vizrt announced that it has formalized its strategic collaboration with [Stergen Hi-Tech Ltd.], a developer of 2D to stereoscopic 3D video conversion software. Vizrt will hold approximately 20% of the company. Stergen develops 2D to 3D video conversion technologies for the TV sports market.
In November 2010, Vizrt announced that it has entered into a terms sheet with Swiss company [LiberoVision AG], a global leader in the field of virtual sports enhancements. According to the proposed terms sheet, Vizrt will purchase all of the issued and outstanding share capital of LiberoVision by the end of 2012.
Noteworthy events
When first introduced in 2006, Vizrt’s Viz Multi Platform Suite marked the first integration of a graphics engine for mobile phone video viewing applications. Viz Multi Platform Suite is based on Vizrt’s Viz Engine server and Adactus’ multimedia delivery platform. It is an end-to-end platform for delivering real-time graphics and video content to mobile devices. Vizrt’s Viz Virtual Studio software and Viz Engine renderer were an integral part of the success of the first remote “holographic” live interviews conducted by CNN during the 2008 U.S presidential election. Tracking data from the cameras in CNN’s Election Center was processed by Viz Virtual Studio software. From the images captured, a specially developed Viz Engine plug-in, created a full 3D representation of the person. Also in 2008, Vizrt technology powered a play-along version of “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire,” which aired on TV2 Norway. The show featured web-interactive elements. Viz Multi Platform Suite delivered real-time 3D graphics to the show’s online participants. PGA Tour Productions selected Viz Ardome media asset management software to manage its HD and SD content in 2009. Also in 2009, ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), one of two large public broadcasters in Germany began broadcasting from two virtual studios using Viz Virtual Studio and broadcast graphics solutions from Vizrt. ZDF now broadcasts from Europe’s largest and most advanced virtual studio.
References
http://gizmodo.com/5076663/how-the-cnn-holographic-interview-system-works
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/02/cnn-uses-augmented-reality-ipads-to-cover-midterm-election-resu/