Avid Introduces New Support Services for All Audio and Video Customers

Company streamlines access to offerings; users ranging from enthusiasts to large enterprises can now choose flexible packages that meet their unique needs

NAB (Booth #SU902), LAS VEGAS, April 20, 2009 – Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) today introduced a family of flexible support programs designed to address the needs of the company's full spectrum of audio and video customers – ranging from home enthusiasts, to large media enterprises. Support packages offer services that cover a vast range of Avid products – each tailored to address the specific business and technology needs of customers. Presenting one menu of support services is the latest in a series of steps that reflects Avid's ongoing transformation to integrate its five industry-leading businesses and better serve customers with a best-in-class support model.

Avid Standard Support
Avid Standard Support provides an economical option for casual and project-based customers working in environments where there is little complexity, and system availability is not mission-critical. With this package, customers will receive assisted phone support during standard business hours, 24x7 access to Avid's on-line self-help center and community forums (including the knowledge base), and regular software updates designed to help customers protect and extend their investments.

Avid Priority Support
Avid Priority Support is ideal for customers who require software investment protection and access to exchange hardware replacement materials, but do not work in mission critical, round-the-clock environments. In addition to receiving all the benefits of the Standard Support package, customers will also have access to expedited replacement materials and accelerated support response during standard business hours.

Avid Uptime Support
Avid Uptime Support is designed for small to mid-sized broadcasters and post production and audio facilities that require system availability beyond standard business hours. This package provides customers with all the benefits of the Priority Support package as well as priority queuing, around-the-clock access to assisted support and rapid response to critical issues.

Avid Enterprise Support
Avid Enterprise Support provides the highest level of coverage and is designed for the most complex media production environments such as large networked broadcast organizations and post production facilities, where even a few minutes of downtime can impact operations and revenue. In addition to receiving all the benefits of the Uptime Support package, these customers will have an Avid support team dedicated to their organization and be able to take advantage of benefits such as a periodic review of the support program, custom support alerts, virtual annual health checks, and workflow and third-party integration support.

"Avid's customer support staff delivers the most 'knock-your-socks-off' service I've ever experienced from any technology company. It's clear that they truly understand their customers' business and provide support offerings that fit the mission-critical needs of every customer, whether big or small," said Scott Putnam, President, Apex Technology Management, Inc., a mid-sized technology consulting organization that works with broadcasters and post facilities to design, implement and maintain production workflows. "When I was in a bind with one of my customers, Avid was there to take us step by step through the process of getting that customer back in business as soon as possible. You just don't get that level of service from most companies and it's a testament to how customer-focused Avid truly is."

In addition to its four new support packages, Avid will continue to offer economical "per incident" support access to customers of several of Avid's consumer products. These customers will be able to take advantage of rapid access to support as they need it.

"Avid realizes that our customers' success requires support services that mirror the standards of performance and value, to which we hold our products," said Beth Martinko, vice president of customer success at Avid. "We're confident that our new family of support offerings will provide our diverse customer community with a range of services that align with their specific needs and give them a level of reliability they can count on."