Editing Vizrt (section)

==History==
[[TV 2 Norway]], a terrestrial television channel in Bergen, Norway, needed software to produce newsroom graphics. A spin-off company called Pilot Broadcast Systems AS was established in 1997, where the first template-based graphics system was created.

In 1999, Norway-based Pilot Broadcast Systems AS merged with the Austrian company, Peak Software Technologies GmbH (founded by Christian Huber, Karl-Heinz Klotz and Hubert Oehm), to form Peak Broadcast Systems. Peak Software was a developer of software for real-time 3D graphics and animation, virtual sets and playback control systems. The business fusion Peak Broadcast Systems, could now offer software for real-time 3D graphics creation and [[Virtual studio|virtual sets]], together with playout control.

The following year marked the formation of Vizrt when Peak Broadcast Systems merged with RT-SET (Real Time Synthesized Entertainment Technology) Ltd, an Israeli virtual studio system developer.<ref>{{cite news|title=RT-SET, Peak to merge|url=http://www.digitalbroadcasting.com/article.mvc/RT-SET-Peak-to-merge-0001|newspaper=Digital Broadcasting.com|date=July 5, 2000}}</ref> RT-SET, founded in 1994, utilized Flight Simulator technology originally developed for the [[Israeli Air Force]], transforming it to a virtual set and on-air graphics systems that could benefit the television broadcast industry. In 1999, RT-SET had an [[initial public offering]] on the [[Frankfurt Stock Exchange]], raising $48 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=RT-SET Raises $48 Mln in Frankfurt|url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=379512|newspaper=Globes|date=November 7, 1999}}</ref> The combined company continued to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (under [[ticker symbol]] VIZ), until 2009 when it delisted its shares.<ref>{{cite news|title=Digital media co Vizrt to delist from Frankfurt Vizrt will continue to be listed on the Oslo Stock Market.|url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000450719|newspaper=Globes|date=May 17, 2009}}</ref>

In 2005, the company acquired London-based Curious Software, developers of [[2D computer graphics|2D]] and [[3D computer graphics|3D]] animated maps for broadcast television, corporate presentations and online applications.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vizrt to acquire Curious Software|url=http://broadcastengineering.com/infrastructure/Vizrt-curious-soft-20050620/|newspaper=Broadcast Engineering|date=Jun 20, 2005}}</ref> The same year Vizrt listed on the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Vizrt to list on Oslo Stock Exchange|url=http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=903287|newspaper=Globes|date=April 11, 2005}}</ref>

Later in 2005, Vizrt acquired 19 percent of Adactus AS, a Norwegian company specializing in the transportation of content to mobile phone platforms. Together, Vizrt and Adactus developed Viz 3G, a graphics engine for mobile telephones and other mobile devices. Based on Vizrt's Viz Engine renderer and Adactus' MPEG-21 standards-based multimedia delivery platform, it was the first integration of a graphics engine for mobile phone video viewing applications.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} Vizrt acquired the rest of the shares in the company in 2010.

In 2006, Vizrt acquired Ardendo, a digital asset management company serving the television broadcast industry, based in Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvbeurope.com/main-content/full/mam-developer-ardendo-goes-to-vizrt;jsessionid=9F969C9B695622BB250F00BF117DB74F |title=acquired Ardendo |access-date=2011-10-04 |archive-date=2012-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421035751/http://www.tvbeurope.com/main-content/full/mam-developer-ardendo-goes-to-vizrt;jsessionid=9F969C9B695622BB250F00BF117DB74F |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2008, Vizrt acquired Escenic, a Norwegian developer of content management software for digital media publishing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vizrt.com/online/About_Escenic/article5174.ece |title=2008 |access-date=2011-10-04 |archive-date=2011-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008120918/http://www.vizrt.com/online/About_Escenic/article5174.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> Escenic technologies are used by many news media websites, including ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', the [[The Times|Times Online]], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', and [[Welt Online]].

In October 2010, Vizrt formalized its strategic collaboration with Stergen Hi-Tech Ltd.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vizrt.com/news/article8766.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008120853/http://www.vizrt.com/news/article8766.ece |archive-date=2011-10-08 |title=Vizrt Formalizes Collaboration with 2D to 3D Conversion Developer Stergen - Vizrt.com}}</ref> Stergen develops 2D to 3D video conversion technologies for the TV sports market.

In November 2010, Vizrt entered into a terms sheet with Swiss company LiberoVision AG, a developer of virtual sports enhancements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vizrt.com/investors/investor_releases/article9022.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122090342/http://www.vizrt.com/investors/investor_releases/article9022.ece |archive-date=2010-11-22 |title=Vizrt Acquires LiberoVision AG - Vizrt.com}}</ref> Vizrt fully acquired LiberoVision in 2012. Liberovision was then rebranded to Viz Libero. The CEP of LiberoVision, Stephan Würmlin Stadler, was appointed EVP Sports, managing Vizrt's sports production tools.

On November 13, 2013, Vizrt announced plans to sell its online production tools,<ref>[http://digital.gxpress.net/news.php?viewStory=742 sell its online production tools]</ref> formerly Escenic, to [[CCI Europe|CCI]] of Denmark. As of January 7, 2014, Vizrt has completed sale of 75.5 percent of Escenic's outstanding share capital.<ref>http://news.silobreaker.com/vizrt-ltd-completes-sale-of-755-pct-of-escenics-outstanding-share-capital-5_2267648917317353473{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On the same day, November 13, 2013, Vizrt announced intentions to acquire Mosart Medialab from [[TV 2 Norway]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winslowpublished |first=George |date=2013-11-13 |title=Vizrt To Acquire Mosart Medialab |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/vizrt-acquire-mosart-medialab-125154 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Broadcasting Cable |language=en}}</ref> The acquisition brought the Mosart control room automation system into the Vizrt product line. The system was renamed Viz Mosart and facilitated the creation of the Viz Opus control room in a box system.

On 10 November 2014, the company entered into a merger agreement with [[Nordic Capital]]. The merger was approved by an extraordinary general meeting of the company on 18 December 2014. On 19 March 2015, it was announced that all pre-closing conditions set out in the merger agreement had been fulfilled, and the merger was subsequently consummated on 19 March 2015. The acquisition removed Vizrt from the Oslo stock exchange.

In May 2019, Vizrt acquired all shares of the company [[NewTek]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mediacitybergen.no/home/vizrt-acquires-newtek-and-releases-viz-engine-4/|title = Vizrt acquires NewTek and releases Viz Engine 4 - Media City Bergen}}</ref> for a sum of {{US$}}95.25 million, disclosed in their Q2 report.<ref>https://www.vizrt.com/dfsmedia/a593797820704dfa818698f3c1d479c4/4761-source/options/download/vizrt-group-financial-q2-h1-2019{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>