Univision Selects SGI and Discreet to Design and Build World-Class Post Facility in Miami

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — To continue its migration to a high-bandwidth digital workflow, Univision Communications, Inc. has selected Silicon Graphics and Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc. to design, equip, and integrate its new world-class post-production facility, named “Post World.” Univision chose a combined SGI(R) and Discreet(R) solution for its Univision Network operations center in Miami, FL. The solution is based on SGI(R) InfiniteStorage products for post-production infrastructure, and centered around Discreet’s award-winning smoke(R) editing and finishing systems running on Silicon Graphics(R) Tezro(TM) visual workstations, as well as Discreet workflow applications.

Univision Network is the largest Spanish-speaking broadcast network in the United States, with 24 owned and operated stations and 53 affiliate stations reaching 98% of U.S. Hispanic households. The SGI and Discreet solution will be used to edit programs, generate program promotions and reformat programs. SGI Professional Services is currently building the solution which will be housed in a new facility and expected to be operational in the second half of this year.

To move from tape-based linear production systems to a tapeless, uncompressed nonlinear editing environment-as well as to attract top talent and provide viewers with state-of-the-art graphics and effects created with Discreet’s high-end editing system-Univision Network’s InfiniteStorage Storage Area Network (SAN) solution from SGI includes two 8-processor SGI(R) Origin(R) 350 systems acting as highly-available SGI and NAS gateways which share data instantly using SGI(R) Infinite Storage Shared Filesystem CXFS(TM). The solution features 300 hours (more than 80 TB) of uncompressed, standard-definition video storage on numerous SGI(R) InfiniteStorage TP9300 systems, numerous SAN-attached SGI(R) IRIX(R) OS-based Silicon Graphics Tezro workstations, an array of Discreet solutions including 10 Discreet smoke systems; backdraft(R) background processing seats; wire(R) networking; stone(R) storage; as well as SGI support and onsite training. SGI Professional Services is the prime integrator, working with Discreet, Maximum Throughput (uncompressed I/O edge devices) and Blue Order (asset management software). While the construction of Post World is occurring, SGI is staging the infrastructure at its manufacturing facility in Chippewa Falls, WI, allowing for integration testing before delivery and installation. As building construction is completed, the first stage of the installation will be Tezro workstations running Discreet software with the second phase being the completion of the data center infrastructure.

The company’s positive experience with existing SGI and Discreet products clearly impacted its decision to tap SGI to equip Post World. Univision was already familiar with the reliability of SGI systems running Discreet smoke systems. The fact that SGI and Discreet could jointly offer a total solution for Post World that was robust, heterogeneous, and that works in uncompressed video, were key factors in the choice made by the Univision team. The engineers were very attracted by the openness of Discreet’s smoke systems and the InfiniteStorage solution from SGI. Univision is the leader in the rapidly growing Spanish-language television business and they are committed to deliver a very high-quality product. The team that participated in the selection of this system wanted the best infrastructure system to hold the best graphics and the best effects in order to attract the best people in the business. SGI and Discreet was chosen simply because they offer the highest quality products on the market.

“Univision Network will have a phenomenal, world-class working environment for their editors and artists,” said Chris Golson, senior director, Market Strategy, Media Industries, SGI. “SGI Professional Services and Discreet partnered to provide and deliver a complete solution designed to address Univision’s unique workflow and specifications. SGI continues to win major broadcast and media contracts because our data-centric solutions are designed for the customer’s workflow, not generic workflow, and reflect our dedication to meeting our Media customers’ needs for creating, managing and delivering content. SGI InfiniteStorage solutions with CXFS shared filesystem are the industry’s future, allowing file sharing without copying, anywhere, anytime, with seamless connectivity to all popular operating systems in the broadcast and post-production environment.”

“We are honored that Univision has invested in Discreet’s smoke systems, recognizing the systems’ superior RGB editing capabilities,” said Martin Vann, vice president of sales and marketing at Discreet. “This sale is indicative of accelerating broadcast adoption of SGI-based Discreet smoke systems, which allow broadcasters to have multiple edit spots using the same materials. This is a great advantage for editors who may have to leave their work and then continue in a different edit suite. Discreet’s smoke system on the Silicon Graphics Tezro visual workstation gives editors unmatched RGB quality and continuity-they can pick up where they left off on a project.”

SGI InfiniteStorage solutions enable broadcasters and video/film companies to optimize their facility-wide workflows by leveraging IT advances. Enormous amounts of data may be shared by many without the need to make additional copies. InfiniteStorage solutions optimize dataflow through the facility by providing true file sharing at production speeds with a choice of both network attached storage (NAS) and SAN storage architectures. With more than 400 customers since its introduction in 1999, CXFS provides industry-leading heterogeneous shared file access over a storage area network and now supports Mac OS(R) X, Linux(R) and IBM(R) AIX(R) systems, in addition to IRIX(R), Solaris(TM) and Windows(R) platforms. Broadcast material can be shared at 25x real-time rates and film resolution material can move through the facility as data at real-time rates.

Silicon Graphics Tezro visual workstation is the world’s most advanced desktop system with quad-processor capability, industry-leading I/O and highest-quality high-definition and 2K playout. Tezro supports a full suite of DMediaPro(TM) options for multi-resolution and multi-format digital media requirements. The high-bandwidth architecture of Tezro based on SGI supercomputers, combined with DMediaPro options delivers playback support of two streams of uncompressed 10-bit 4:4:4 HD or a single stream of 8-bit and 10-bit 2K data or 8-bit 3K data. Due to their high-performance architecture, these workstations are designed to execute demanding applications for creative and technical users, while 48-bit RGBA provides the highest level of image precision available on any UNIX(R) OS-based desktop system today.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding financial and contractual commitments and the installation and performance of hardware and software that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include reliance on performance of third-party partners, timely delivery of the system, acceptance of the system by the customer, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company’s most recent SEC reports.

SILICON GRAPHICS | The Source of Innovation and Discovery(TM)

SGI, also known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is the world’s leader in high-performance computing, visualization and storage. SGI’s vision is to provide technology that enables the most significant scientific and creative breakthroughs of the 21st century. Whether it’s sharing images to aid in brain surgery, finding oil more efficiently, studying global climate or enabling the transition from analog to digital broadcasting, SGI is dedicated to addressing the next class of challenges for scientific, engineering and creative users. With offices worldwide, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and can be found on the Web at http://www.sgi.com/.

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 98% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 79% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 24 Univision Network television stations and 1 non-Univision television station; TeleFutura Television Group, which owns and operates 31 TeleFutura Network television stations; Galavision, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 68 radio stations in 17 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 4 stations in Puerto Rico; Univision Music Group, which includes Univision Records, Fonovisa Records, and a 50% interest in Mexico-based Disa Records labels as well as Fonomusic and America Musical Publishing companies; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at http://www.univision.com/. Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa’s pay television channels in the U.S., and a non-voting 27% interest in Entravision Communications Corporation, a public Spanish-language media company. Univision Communications is headquartered in Los Angeles with television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.

About Discreet

Discreet empowers media professionals to realize the visual experience and transform their most evocative and ambitious visions into reality. Discreet’s solutions are designed for digital media creation, management and delivery-across all disciplines from film and television visual effects, color grading and editing to animation, game development, web/interactive, and design visualization. Discreet is based in Montreal, Canada and is a division of Autodesk, Inc, the world’s leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. Product and corporate information: http://www.discreet.com/.

NOTE: Silicon Graphics, SGI, IRIX, Origin, the SGI cube and the SGI logo are registered trademarks and CXFS, DMediaPro, Tezro and The Source of Innovation and Discovery are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries worldwide. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries. Mac OS is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the U.S. and other countries Discreet is a division of Autodesk, Inc. Discreet, smoke, backdraft, wire and stone are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc./Autodesk Canada Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Lisa Pistacchio

SGI

pistacchio@sgi.com

650-933-5683

Roohi Saeed

Discreet

roohi.saeed@discreet.com

514-954-7296

514-961-7296 mobile

SGI PR HOTLINE

650-933-7777

SGI PR FACSIMILE

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CONTACT: Lisa Pistacchio of SGI, +1-650-933-5683, or pistacchio@sgi.com;or Roohi Saeed of Discreet, +1-514-954-7296, or mobile, +1-514-961-7296, orroohi.saeed@discreet.com; or SGI PR HOTLINE+1-650-933-7777, or SGI PRFACSIMILE, +1-650-933-0283

Web site: http://www.sgi.com/