Event Camp and Sonic Foundry's Mediasite Events Produce Successful Hybrid Event Series

MADISON, Wis., Dec. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonic Foundry, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFO), the trusted market leader for enterprise webcasting and lecture capture, closes 2011 having successfully partnered with Event Camp leadership to webcast several conferences to live and remote attendees via Mediasite Events.

The inspiration for the Event Camp conferences grew out of the popular #eventprofs Twitter community. The world's first industry gathering of its kind, Event Camp is modeled after BarCamp-style conferences, which means they feature user-generated content and alternative meeting formats. All of the Event Camps are volunteer-driven, and revenues generated are invested back into the innovations of the events. Event Camps have been held across the country and internationally, allowing remote and in-person attendees to explore new ways to use meeting technology, innovative meeting design, integrated gaming and social media.  

In 2011, Mediasite Events webcast live presentations from Event Camps in Vancouver, Minneapolis, Europe and Chicago, linking individuals at home and work, as well as groups participating in pods across the United States and around the world via Mediasite. The last Event Camp of 2011 took place at the Vancouver Convention Center with a pod in Montreal, a remote host in New York, and more than 55 remote participants.

"Mediasite is an incredibly user-friendly system that integrates easily with audiovisual providers," said Tahira Endean, host committee member and producer for Event Camp Vancouver. "The practical reality for associations and corporations is that due to either time or budget restrictions, travel to an event is not always possible. So being able to share the information virtually with Mediasite is an incredible benefit, and it also allows greater reach to potential participants."

"Mediasite is a megaphone for Event Camp Twin Cities. It helps us reach five times as many people as we could draw here in person," said Samuel J. Smith, co-founder of Event Camp Twin Cities. "Last year we had over 500 online and this year over 700. We draw around 120 people in person, so that amplification is huge. Plus we get over 1,000 viewers on-demand. Our partnership with Sonic Foundry has taken Event Camp to a whole new level."

Presentations from each Event Camp webcasted by Mediasite Events are publicly available for on-demand viewing:

• Event Camp Vancouver: November 4-6, 2011.
• Event Camp Europe: September 9, 2011, together with Digital Event Services from Saville Audio Visual.
• Event Camp Twin Cities 2011: August 25 presentations   August 26 presentations
• Event Camp National Conference, Chicago, February 11-13, 2011.
• Event Camp Twin Cities 2010: September 8-9, 2010.

"Mediasite Events is proud to be a partner of the Event Camp series and #eventprofs community. As a premier provider of webcasting services, our clients recognize the importance of innovation in the meetings industry, complementing their face-to-face event with viewing over the web, live or on-demand. The Event Camp series has sparked new ideas for both producers and planners alike, and we look forward to further innovation ahead," said Justin Jaeck, Vice President of Event Services.

Mediasite Events is a leading provider of webcasting for blended conferences and high-profile training meetings. The group supplies technical webcasting services and expertise to organizations who seek to complement their conference or event with viewing over the web. Since its launch in January 2007, the Mediasite Events group has provided live and on-demand webcasting for clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations and university associations to sporting events and charitable organizations.

About Sonic Foundry®, Inc.
Sonic Foundry (NASDAQ: SOFO, www.sonicfoundry.com) is the trusted market leader for enterprise webcasting and lecture capture, providing video communication solutions for education, business and government. Powered by the patented Mediasite webcasting platform and Mediasite Events group, the company empowers people to transform the way they communicate online, using video webcasts to bridge time and distance, accelerate research and improve performance. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.

Certain statements contained in this news release regarding matters that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Because such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainties pertaining to continued market acceptance for Sonic Foundry's products, its ability to succeed in capturing significant revenues from media services and/or systems, the effect of new competitors in its market, integration of acquired business and other risk factors identified from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Sonic Foundry, Inc.