Pinnacle Systems to launch PCTV in India by Q12007

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Pinnacle Systems Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of digital editing equipment maker Avid Technology Inc, today said it will launch its 'Pinnacle PCTV To Go' which enables time and place shifting with live TV by the first quarter of next year in India.

''This latest offering by the company integrates video time shifting that is the ability to record and watch live TV at a later time and place shifting which means the ability to watch live TV at a location other than where the TV is installed,'' Pinnacle Country Manager Ashish Bakshi told UNI here.

The company hopes to reap huge benefits with the coming Cricket World Cup in March next year and will launch the brand just before the cricket extravaganza.

''We are sure to get good returns but cannot give a specific sales target,'' Mr Bakshi said.

The Pinnacle PCTV already launched in the US and European markets is priced at 249 dollars apiece but its Indian price is yet to be finalised. The company will come to a fixed price by the first week of January. ''The price has not been decided yet but the it will tentatively remain around the same tag as in the US.'' With the Indian retail story getting stronger, the company has decided to source the product to all the major retail players in the country. The PCTV will be manufactured in Malaysia and will be available through the company's existing dealer network.

''We have one exclusive distributor in India by the name Aditya Infotech. All our products are distributed through their retail network which stands at about 1,500.'' The company is looking at gagdet stores and all digital electronic shops in the country.

The company has signed an exclusive agreement with Monsoon Multimedia India, an aspiring provider of digital video services, and will be Monsoon Multimedia's first global OEM partner.

''Monsoon Multimedia is the first Indian company to design build and sell a hi-tech computer product for the global consumers and aims to bring to consumers the ability to watch their home TV subscription from their offices, hotels, airports and even outside the country,'' said Monsoon Multimedia President Arvind Jha.

Pinnacle PCTV To Go brand augments its widely known PCTV product family. Consumers can purchase the product through the website www.pinnaclesys.com, from retailers such as Fry's Electronics or from portals such as Amazon.com, Buy.com and TigerDirect.com. ''Monsoon Multimedia's knowledge of the intricacies of wireless networks and of media streaming technologies made us choose them as our technology partner,'' Mr Bakshi added.

The one billion dollar Avid Technology acquired video editing software leader Pinnacle Systems in a deal valued at 462 million dollars in August 2005.

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