Polycom Gets ESPN Pact

Polycom Gets ESPN Pact

ESPN Using Polycom Video Communications Systems To Connect NFL Teams During 2002 NFL Draft Broadcast ESPN Will Leverage Polycom's ViewStation FX Systems To Broadcast Live Interviews From 31 NFL Team Headquarters During Its Coverage of the 2002 NFL Draft ESPN Also Using Video Over IP for First Time With Eight of 31 Locations

Polycom, Inc., a worldwide leader in the convergence of interactive voice, video, data and web communications, today announced that ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, will use Polycom's industry-leading ViewStation FX group video communications systems to conduct live interviews with coaches and key personnel from 31 NFL team sites during the live television broadcast of the 2002 NFL Draft, April 20-21 on ESPN and ESPN2.

The 2002 broadcast marks the second consecutive year ESPN has used Polycom's technology and it represents the broadest use ever of video communications technology during ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft. This year's broadcast will also be the first time ESPN will incorporate IP (H.323) video communications for the interviews, with eight of the team offices connecting over IP, and the remaining 23 connecting over ISDN (H.320) lines. ESPN will also debut the use of interactive video communications systems in the working "draft rooms" of a select number of teams, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what takes place during the draft from a team's perspective.

"While ESPN typically utilizes satellite technology to cover sporting events around the world, in the case of our live coverage of the NFL Draft it isn't sensible for us to do so -- technically, logistically or financially," said Ed Placey, senior producer for ESPN and ESPN's broadcast of the NFL Draft. "Video conferencing has allowed us to maintain a high quality of audio and video in order to expand our coverage to include live broadcast interviews with every team in the NFL. We used video conferencing systems in 27 locations last year, with a picture quality that intercut right alongside the video from our own broadcast cameras. More than anything, that validates the impressive broadcast quality of today's video conferencing technology."

Through the use of high-quality, interactive video communications, ESPN will be able to broadcast interviews with the head coaches, general managers and players of each team as they select players during this year's NFL Draft. Each of the 31 teams will be using a Polycom ViewStation FX, the industry's leading group video communications system, which will enable them to participate directly from their team headquarters, saving ESPN time and money. ESPN's coverage of the 2001 NFL Draft was recently nominated for an upcoming Sports Emmy Award in the category for "Technical Team Studio," with video conferencing being a key component of the entry.

"We're very excited to be working with ESPN again to enhance coverage of the NFL Draft," said Craig Malloy, senior vice president and general manager of video communications at Polycom. "It's extremely gratifying that ESPN was so impressed with the ViewStation FX video quality during last year's broadcast that it decided to increase its use to 31 team headquarters this year. It's also exciting to see ESPN expand into video over IP, which will leverage our leading-edge IP video technology to deliver broadcast-quality video feeds. The use of interactive video communications will not only save ESPN significant production costs, but it will also provide the most robust coverage possible of the 2002 draft for NFL fans everywhere."

2002 marks ESPN's 23rd year covering the NFL Draft. ESPN will broadcast live April 20-21 from The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York. The 17 hours of coverage on ESPN and ESPN2 will be complemented by comprehensive, day-long coverage by ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ESPN.com. Telecast information for ESPN and ESPN2 follows: Saturday, April 20th ESPN - 12 noon EDT to 7 p.m. EDT ESPN2 - 7 p.m. EDT to 10 p.m. EDT Sunday, April 21st ESPN - 11 a.m. EDT to 3 p.m. EDT ESPN2 - 3 p.m. EDT to conclusion (approx 6 p.m.) Polycom ViewStation

Polycom's ViewStation delivers the quality and performance of high-end videoconferencing systems at an affordable price. Available in a broad product range, including ViewStation FX, VS4000, ViewStation MP, ViewStation 128, ViewStation SP128 and SP384 and ViewStation H.323, the product sets the standard for high-performance, affordable and easy-to-use interactive video communications. Polycom ViewStation FX is the first interactive video communication systems to deliver TV-quality video implementing 60 fields per second interlaced video encoding for lifelike interaction and higher video resolution. In addition, Polycom has enhanced its market-leading audio technology for maximum clarity in large rooms.

For easy, on-demand multipoint conferencing, the ViewStation FX, and the VS4000 rack-mounted version, contain an embedded multipoint control unit to enable users to easily make multipoint video communication calls at the touch of a button. Another industry first for the systems is the ability to call up to four sites at 384 kbps or three sites at 512 kbps, in a full-motion business- quality video call. The systems also have the ability to cascade multipoint calls, adding up to ten video sites and four audio sites in one session, all through the built-in MCU. Voice-activated switching, continuous presence, chair control and one-button address book dialing make the ViewStation FX and VS4000 powerful yet simple-to-use video communications systems.

About Polycom

Polycom, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a full range of high- quality, easy-to-use and affordable voice and video communication endpoints, video management software, web collaboration software, multi-network gateways, and multi-point conferencing and network access solutions. Its fully integrated end-to-end solution, The Polycom Office, is supported by the Polycom Accelerated Communications Architecture, and enables business users to immediately realize the benefits of integrated video, voice data and web collaboration over rapidly growing converged networks. For additional information, call 1-800-POLYCOM (765-9266) or +1-408-526-9000, or visit the Polycom web site at www.polycom.com.

--Posted April 15, 2002
Source: Polycom, Inc. Press Release