Avid has completed its acquisition of Orad Hi-Tec Systems, a developer of 3D real-time graphics, video servers and related workflow management solutions, the company said today.
An Avid press release on the deal’s closure calls Orad’s product lines “highly complementary to the Avid MediaCentral Platform.”
The press release sheds some light on the rationale for the acquisition. According to Avid, Orad has more than 600 customers throughout the world and an extensive channel, which Avid can leverage for distribution.
Orad also develops a variety of technologies for graphics, live events and sports broadcasts, including channel branding, sports production and enhancement, news, elections and special event, video wall, virtual ad products and virtual studios. Many complement Avid’s offerings.
In January, I interviewed Brian Kelly, VP and general manager of Orad’s North American operation, (“Grid Pattern Puts Virtual Sets Within Easier Grasp”) about where acceptance of virtual sets stands with stations. After rereading my interview with Kelly, it’s not hard to imagine how Avid could see Orad as desirable, particularly if Avid is looking for ways to offer new, but related, technologies to its customers.
The Avid press release says as much: “With this expanded capability, media organizations on the Avid MediaCentral Platform should be able to reduce the burden of piecing together disparate fragmented workflows in their production environments ….”
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