MBC's 'The Apprentice' style series links up with FVC

FVC is the region's leading provider of rich media communications.

The reality TV series follows a major Arab investor who presents tasks to various teams in Dubai. Contestants are supervised via a video conferencing link-up, and each week a couple will be voted off, similar to US version of 'The Apprentice' featuring Donald Trump. Filming for the series is due to finish soon, with post production beginning this month.

"The program is all about communication and we needed a really high quality seamless link between participants and the Investor. We did a great deal of research and found FVC to be the only players in the Middle East who could meet our needs in terms of video and audio quality. We discovered that their Polycom solutions would be ideal for our purposes," commented Paul Hitti, Special Projects Manager for MBC.

"MBC installed the FVC's Polycom VSX 7000 to enable the investor and participants to communicate quickly and easily through a plasma screen on set," continued Mr. Hitti. "The system has been a great asset to the program. I find it very easy to use and it enables us to send footage in real time so contestant's progress can be monitored up to the minute."

The Polycom VSX 7000 from FVC comes as a single set-top system and provides the highest level of audio and video quality. FVC recently showcased the first ever Arabic User version of this technology at GITEX 2005 to tremendous response. Mr. Hitti explained that the television-like quality was a vital factor influencing their decision to purchase the system from FVC: "It is as close to broadcast quality as we can get, and the sound and video is excellent."

Mr KS Parag, Regional Director of FVC, commented: "FVC's products are used all over the region in various sectors, it is exciting that a media giant such as MBC has decided to employ our solutions and we look forward to seeing them being implemented on national television!"

With a rapidly expanding customer base totaling more than 1000 businesses worldwide, FVC has become synonymous with providing world class solutions in the area of 3G Technology, along with its flagship Multipoint Video and Audio conferencing, video streaming, video on demand and IP/ISDN Gateway Services.