NewTek Announces Flagship Technology Program for Public,
Education and Government (PEG) Access Television

AMP Workshop Showcases NewTek's VT[4]T running on the AMD OpteronT processor as Hub for Local Access

San Antonio, Texas – July 7, 2005 -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading video and 3D animation products, today announced a technology alliance with AMD and the Monterey County local access stations (AMP) to educate public access executive producers, operations directors and producers from around the world, how to leverage off the shelf technology to better communicate their messages.  In an industry where consolidation is common, Public Access television is one of the last true voices of the local community. 

NewTek understands the importance of supporting PEG facilities in their growth and in their pursuit of increased production quality for Public Access Television.  To accomplish this goal, NewTek along with AMD, makers of the world’s most powerful PC processors, will be sponsoring a hands-on workshop hosted by AMP.  During these free seminars, AMP staff will provide first-hand knowledge about designing and implementing an award-winning digital production pipeline.  NewTek’s VT[4]™ running on 64-bit capable AMD Opteron™ processors, and NewTek’s TriCaster™ are the hubs of AMP’s production-proven environment.

"AMD and our cutting-edge collaborators like NewTek are revolutionizing the creative process for digital artists around 64-bit computing," said Charlie Boswell, director of Digital Media and Entertainment, AMD. "AMD64 technology helps remove traditional technology bottlenecks that typically force professional content creators into making artistic compromises."

In addition to the free AMP workshop, NewTek is among the Bronze Sponsors of the Alliance for Community Media International Conference and Trade Show, taking place on July 7th and 8 th, 2005, at the Monterey Marriot and Conference Center, 350 Calle Principal, Monterey, CA  93940.  The Conference brings together executive directors, operations directors, staff members and volunteer producers of Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) access media centers from around the globe. 

VT[4], winner of the Alliance for Community Media Best Product 2004, will be exhibited at the 2005 Conference. The real time uncompressed integrated production suite delivers multi-camera live switching and post production capabilities including nonlinear editing, 2D and 3D animation, character generation and digital disk recorders for in-studio production. 

"We're very pleased to support AMP," said Michael Kornet, NewTek's Vice President of Business Development. "NewTek has supported and been a member of the Alliance for Community Media for years and we are extending our commitment to executives, staff and producers of community access television. The PEG community is picking VT[4] as its in-studio system of choice and are excited about TriCaster’s portability and functionality for their remote location mobile solutions."

TriCaster is an integrated, compact presentation switcher with simultaneous output to video, projector and Internet in a shoebox-sized case that weights 10 pounds. Designed to appeal to PEG facilities, corporate presenters, educators and media ministry users, TriCaster allows users to produce presentations that have the dynamics of live television.  TriCaster users can fashion compelling multi-camera productions, using real-time switching and editing, PowerPoint™ support, template driven titles and over 200 transitions.

"VT[4] and TriCaster are the most practical, user friendly video solutions on the market," said Paul Congo, director of Access Monterey Peninsula.  "The fact that a single operator can have such power at his fingertips continues to amaze me.  From multi-camera live switched events to one man productions, the flexibility is unbeatable. With budget cycles sometimes years apart, there affordability makes it possible to purchase multiple systems to use for training, remote locations, and in studio."

Pricing and Availability
TriCaster™ is available for a turnkey suggested retail price of $4995US. VT[4]™ is priced at $2995US.   As a special promotion, NewTek is offering PEG facilities and producers a "VT[4] Live Bundle" special which includes 100 custom PEG CG templates, an SX8 24 input switcher and an RS8 switcher control interface for $5495US, an $800 dollar savings. Registered VT[3]™ owners may purchase an upgrade to  VT[4] software for $595US. For information on VT[4], see http://www.newtek.com/vt/public.php

About AMP
AMP is a non-profit media production and distribution organization. We are funded by local communities including the City of Monterey, City of Marina, and the County of Monterey to provide television broadcast and production services to public, educational, and government organizations. We operate several channels on Comcast cable, on which we deliver community oriented programs, such as public access television, government affairs programming, and a community information channel. Website: http://www.ampmedia.org

About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, live production, presentation and visual effects tools including TriCaster™, VT[4]™ and LightWave 3D®. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary Emmy®-winning Video Toaster®. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film. Recent projects using NewTek production tools include Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, ManiaTV, Battlestar Galactica, Children of Dune and The Final Cut. Clients using NewTek's video production products include In-N-Out Burger, Cracker Barrel, NBC, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Zoic Studios, FEMA, SBC Center – San Antonio Spurs, U.S Navy Reserves, Yale University Medical School and McDonald's. Website: http://www.newtek.com

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• LightWave, LightWave 3D and Video Toaster are registered trademarks of NewTek.
• TriCaster and VT[4] are trademarks of NewTek, Inc.
• All other products or brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.