Gannett Broadcasting has made a multi-year commitment to Chyron's AXIS Web-based content creation services across all 23 of its TV stations, it was announced this morning.

"The AXIS approach promises to be a game-changer that potentially redefines the use of graphics," said Gannett Broadcasting President David Lougee.

"Their server-based model is designed to allow us to create more graphics, at a higher median quality, and at a lower cost," he said. "That would be a triple win."

According to Lougee, stations will use AXIS to create breaking news graphics, maps and charts, while the newly formed Gannett Graphics Group, or GS, handles more complex work.

"The combining of AXIS services with our G3 capability aims us straight toward significant quality and efficiency gains across the entire Broadcasting Group," he said.

Chyron CEO Michael Wellesley-Wesley said AXIS is superior to traditional graphics. "It removes the mundane, repetitive, factory-like aspects of everyday graphics creation from the shoulders of highly skilled graphics artists and designers thereby freeing them to concentrate on more creative aspects of design and branding."

By using image databases within the AXIS system, the time it takes to get create and put a graphic on air is "drastically reduced," he said.

"AXIS tools are so intuitive they can be used by anyone from production assistants to news directors."