ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

Avid Technology, Inc. (“Avid” or the “Company”) develops, markets, sells and supports a wide range of software and hardware for digital media content production, management and distribution. Digital media are video, audio or graphic elements in which the image, sound or picture is recorded and stored as digital values, as opposed to analog, or tape-based, signals. The Company's products are used worldwide in production and post-production facilities; film studios; network, affiliate, independent and cable television stations; recording studios; live-sound performance venues; advertising agencies; government and educational institutions; corporate communication departments; and by Internet professionals and consumers. Projects produced using Avid's products include major motion pictures, prime-time television programs, music, video and other recordings.

The Company's evaluation of the discrete financial information that is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision makers determined that beginning in 2010 the Company had only one reportable segment. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company began reporting based on a single reportable segment and reclassified its 2009 segment reporting to conform to the current presentation (see Note R).