During 1999 and into 2000, NMGPR continued to expand its portfolio of unique sports/technology assignments through two unique global innovation partnerships of Lucent Technologies.

To help extend the Lucent brand name worldwide, as it has so successfully been in the U.S., Lucent secured innovation partnerships with two powerful international sports properties – the ATP Tour and the Jordan Grand Prix Formula One team. NMGPR has been retained by Lucent to publicize these two global innovation partnerships.

For the ATP Tour, Lucent developed LucentVision™, a real-time visual information system for sports broadcasters. LucentVision enhances the tennis broadcast through computer vision techniques to track the position, direction and speed of the players and balls. LucentVision was used throughout 1999 by both the ATP worldwide feed and ESPN.

During 1999 NMGPR worked within the tennis community to gain acceptance for the new tool and to secure feedback to help Lucent scientists continue to enhance the system. Media exposure was extensive including features in Time magazine, CNBC, the Montreal Gazette and tennis broadcasts worldwide.

Through Lucent’s technology partnership with the Jordan Grand Prix team, Bell Labs scientists will lend their technological expertise in several areas including pit to car communications. The expertise of the Bell Labs scientists will help extend the technological edge for one of the most dynamic teams on the Formula One circuit. The Lucent/Jordan relationship will expand in 2000, especially when Formula One makes its first-ever visit to the U.S. in Indianapolis in September.

"We are very excited to be part of Lucent’s innovative plans to impact the sports of tennis and Formula One racing with their technological innovations," said Doug Drotman, NMGPR VP. "We have a long history and successful track record of helping technology companies tell their sports story to diverse audiences."