n-tv Invests in Escenic’s Leading CMS to Power its Online News

March 19, 2009 - PRLog -- Bergen, Norway - n-tv, Germany’s 24-hour news channel and long-time Vizrt customer, has selected Escenic’s digital platform for innovation to drive the network’s online news. n-tv is using Escenic to streamline its workflows and to publish rich media content across all its online platforms. Established in 1992, n-tv was Germany’s first television news channel and is now part of the RTL Group - Europe's largest TV, radio and production company. The internet platform n-tv.de is one of the most successful news sites on the German web, focusing on experience, reliability and breaking news.

n-tv had been considering an upgrade to its current content management system. According to Paul Hering, n-tv Head of Broadcast and Production, several key features of the Escenic solution made it stand out from the competition. “We were in need of a robust system that could establish true media convergence between graphics, broadcast, internet, and mobile platforms,” said Hering. “The modular design, while extremely powerful, is immensely easy to use in that graphics are treated the same no matter the distribution method. Also of significant importance is our existing and positive relationship with Vizrt.”

“We are proud to have such a highly regarded TV broadcaster as our first broadcasting customer in Germany and look forward to possible future collaborations within the RTL group,” said Knut I. Skeid, Managing Director, Escenic.  “The merger with Vizrt has made it easier for us to approach TV broadcasters and demonstrate how Escenic can bridge the gap between the traditional broadcasting environment and broadcasters’ online efforts. With TV2 in Norway and Finland’s state broadcaster YLE already onboard, we expect to announce more TV customers in the coming months.”

“We are thrilled that n-tv will be implementing the Escenic Content Management system,” said Bjarne Berg, President of Vizrt. “It clearly illustrates how online presence is becoming a priority for broadcasters. n-tv shares the vision of media convergence that Vizrt offers.”

n-tv has already begun implementing Escenic Content Studio and expects to go live with the system for all its online publishing needs in May 2009.

Escenic Content Studio allows media houses to publish and maintain content-rich high volume websites. The integration with Vizrt’s product suite enables the use of high resolution graphics and videos directly within Escenic Content Studio. Escenic Content Studio provides a single interface for all video and graphic assets.

About n-tv:

n-tv was established in Berlin on the 30th of November, 1992 as the first German television news channel. In 1999 n-tv launched n-tv.de which became one of the most successful news sites in Germany. In 2004, a new digital broadcast center was set up in Cologne where the majority of editors relocated to. n-tv is an enterprise of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. Since 2006 it belongs a hundred percent to the RTL Group - Europe's largest TV, radio and production company with 45 television stations in 11 countries worldwide and production companies in the USA.

About Escenic (www.escenic.com):

Escenic is strategic content management software for digital media publishing. Escenic technologies drive over 600 of the most dynamic and exciting news media websites in the world. Escenic has been closely tied to the media industry since 1997. Today we are proud to be considered industry leaders in our sector.

With Escenic, competitive commercial enterprises gain access to the same robust technologies that professional publishers have preferred for years. In July 2008, Escenic was acquired by Vizrt.

About Vizrt:

Vizrt creates leading-edge content production tools for the digital media industry - from award-winning 3D graphics & maps through integrated video workflow solutions and online publishing tools.

We propose a new vision for content creation, management and delivery with an end-to-end solution from conception to multi-format distribution. Through constant innovation and a good measure of fun, we create software and services that push creative boundaries and develop new ways of telling stories.

Vizrt's product suite is used by the world's leading broadcasters and publishing houses, including: CNN, CBS, Fox, BBC, Sky, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, The Globe and Mail, The Telegraph, and Welt Online. Furthermore, many world-class production houses and corporate institutions, including both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, utilize Vizrt solutions.

Vizrt is a public company traded on the Frankfurt Prime Standard and on the Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154. For further information please refer to www.vizrt.com

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