Pineapplehead eyes NZ sports market

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Monday 9th July 2001

Aussie tech company, Pineapplehead, says it is looking to market newly licensed virtual video technology for sports broadcasts on both sides of the Tasman.

The company has announced a deal with its fourth largest shareholder, Princeton Video Image (PVI), to develop and sell the virtual product in Australia and New Zealand.

Pineapplehead says the technology, which enables a television broadcaster to insert advertising, player information and graphics or animation in live video or replay sports broadcasts, has greatly advanced over the past few years and was used in this year's Super Bowl coverage.

MD Evan Kourambas says the applications go beyond advertising.

"This technology is so advanced that we can paint statistics or a virtual advertisement on the grass of a sports arena. Even with players running over, it will give the appearance of an actual grass painting.

"In future broadcasts of competitions like the British and Irish Lions Rugby Tests, we could broadcast separate virtual advertisements for each market. For example we could show a Bundaberg Rum ad in Australia while showing the ad as Tesco or British Telecom in Britain."

PVI is the fourth largest shareholder in Pineapplehead after founding partners Evan Kourambas and Peter Lamb, and the Nine Network.

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