The latest industry briefing has been published by AIB, covering programming to distribution.
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To discuss advertising and other opportunities surrounding the briefing, talk to Edward Wilkinson at AIB headquarters.
Vizrt Inc. announced today that a world-wide agreement has been entered with Mosart to provide an optimized newsroom automation system for the broadcast industry.
Mosart is the number one newsroom automation system used by broadcasters inEurope. The software-based automation system offers an extremely efficient workflow for controlling complex, content-rich productions with only a single operator. Using off the shelf client/server hardware, Mosart requires little infrastructure for creating a fully automated news environment.
Combined with the Vizrt end-to-end graphics and video workflow, the Mosart automation system now is a complete package for the entire newsroom workflow from the news editorial process to live on-air production. With just a single Viz Engine added to the Mosart production, broadcasters can create a full show with advanced graphics and video playback in a light-weight and cost-effective solution.
“Vizrt is the global market leader in broadcast graphics. We are therefore grateful that Vizrt have chosen a close cooperation with Mosart for the future,” Mosart’s CEO John Kjellevold states in a comment. “Our aim has been that automation systems like Mosart shall be a natural part of gallery upgrades in the future. Soon, we will be able to make solutions taking care of an even greater part of the workflow starting with newsroom system tools. Broadcasters need to enhance quality, reduce costs and simplify news desk work. The Vizrt – Mosart partnership offers such solutions.”
“This agreement represents a major shift in how broadcasters will look at controlling their news broadcasts”, said Petter Ole Jakobsen, Chief Technology Officer, Vizrt. “When adding the Viz Engine real-time compositing capabilities to the Mosart automation system, any operator can drive the most complex transitions and studio effects from a single interface.”
Together Vizrt and Mosart lead the way bringing this powerful automation system to broadcasters as the most advanced news production platform on the market.
Petter Ole Jakobsen will present the Vizrt TV in a box solution at the Mosart Broadcast Summit in London May 23rd and 24th. At Broadcast Asia in Singapore, Mosart and Vizrt will display their automated integration, June 18th – 21st booth 5H3-01.
Intelsat S.A. [NYSE: I], the world’s leading provider of satellite services, today announced that its subsidiary, Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A. (“Intelsat Jackson”), intends to offer $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2023 (the “2023 notes”). Intelsat Jackson’s obligations under the notes will be guaranteed by certain of its parent and subsidiary companies.
In addition, Intelsat Jackson intends to offer $635,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 65/8% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 notes” and together with the 2023 notes, the “notes”). The 2022 notes will be issued under the same indenture as Intelsat Jackson’s existing 65/8% Senior Notes due 2022. Intelsat Jackson’s obligations under the 2022 notes will be guaranteed by certain of its parent companies. The 2022 notes will not be guaranteed by Intelsat Jackson’s subsidiaries.
The net proceeds from the sale of the notes, together with other available cash, are expected to be used by Intelsat Jackson to repay all amounts outstanding (approximately $868 million principal amount) under its two senior unsecured credit agreements.
In addition, Intelsat Jackson expects to make a dividend to Intelsat (Luxembourg) S.A., which will use such funds and other available cash to redeem all of its 11¼% Senior Notes due 2017 in its previously announced redemption on June 12, 2013. The remaining net proceeds are expected to be used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.
The notes referred to above will be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act and applicable exemptions from registration, prospectus or like requirements under the laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdictions outside the United States.
About Intelsat
Intelsat [NYSE: I] is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For almost 50 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far. www.intelsat.com
WRN Broadcast has today announced the appointment of Nick Thompson to the position of Non-Executive Director.
Thompson, who was Managing Director of Arqiva’s Broadcast & Media division until 2011, has a wealth of experience in creating and building international businesses, specifically in the broadcast and media sectors. The appointment will see Thompson work with WRN Broadcast’s board and executive management team to inform the company’s strategic development plan and further progress the rapid growth the company has experienced in the last few years in the ever-changing international broadcast marketplace.
Tim Ashburner, Chairman, WRN Broadcast, said: “We’re delighted to appoint Nick Thompson as a Non-Executive Director. With our recent investment into key emerging areas and with several significant customer wins Nick joins us at a very exciting time for the company. We welcome the wealth of experience Nick brings and we are excited to have his guidance and support. By continuing to strengthen our board, we are confident that we can continue to develop our provision of first-class international broadcast and media services.”
At Arqiva, Thompson was responsible for establishing one of the world’s largest satellite and broadcast services companies. Prior to this, he had significant success as President, EMEA division, at Loral CyberStar; Managing Director, Satellite division at Kingston Communications; and CEO of Inmedia Communications – before leading the sale of Inmedia to Arqiva in 2005.
Nick Thompson said: “I’m delighted to be joining WRN Broadcast as a Non-Executive Director. The company has made tremendous progress over the last few years and I’m confident my recent experience of creating and leading one of the world’s largest satellite and broadcast services companies will allow me to assist the senior management team in driving WRN Broadcast to become one of the pre-eminent providers of digital broadcast and media playout services, globally.”
Under the leadership of CEO, David Treadway, WRN Broadcast continues to provide multi-channel playout, content management and distribution services for some of the world’s greatest networks including Viacom, Top Up TV and Zuku.
arvato Systems is set to participate in the annual MFM & BCCA conference for the fourth time. Visitors to the well-established event in the U.S. media industry can learn more about arvato Systems’ advanced software solutions for broadcast and new media, all of which deliver the latest features such as cross-media marketing, integrated rights management, and ad slot optimization.
Media Finance Focus 2013 is an exclusive event established in theU.S.media industry many years ago. It is primarily geared toward business managers at media companies. Over 150 participants will gather at The Roosevelt Hotel inNew Orleansfrom 20 to 22 May 2013 to hear the latest on topics such as finance, accounting, taxes, human resources, and technologies as these relate to TV, radio, print, and the Internet.
arvato Systems will present IT solutions that support and simplify highly complex, cross-media advertising strategies at Booth 118. The sales software ensures optimal management and the perfect placement of commercials and banner advertisements, with maximum flexibility in terms of the type of customer, campaign, or media. This way, the solutions provide an integrated workflow that incorporates the latest media technologies to help unlock the full potential of advertising.
Eivind Sandstrand, Corporate Business Manager North America at arvato Systems S4M GmbH inCologne, will deliver a presentation focusing on the central web-based media sales platform AdStore and the S4AdOpt optimization tool, as well as the benefits of Avatega, the modular, all-in-one solution. “There are many benefits for users from the media industry such as optimized profits in cross-media sales,” says the long-time industry expert.
AP reports that a Vietnamese satellite TV platform has dropped BBC World News and CNN from its channel line-up on Thursday 16 May. K+, a joint venture between a Vietnamese company and Canal Overseas, part of the Canal+ Group, appears to be interpreting the “Decision 20” regulation – which places onerous conditions on foreign TV channels – in a particular way, in direct contrast to a majority of other Vietnam-based platforms.
AIB has been lobbying on the issue over the past few months and is now seeking further clarification both from K+ and the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communication.
“We are disappointed that Vietnamese audiences are having their choice of international TV channels restricted,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive. “There is still uncertainty around the proposed pay-TV regulations promulgated in Vietnam. K+ appears to be out of step with the Vietnamese market and the latest interpretation of Decision 20. We look forward to the channels that have been taken off air being restored very quickly.”
As of the European afternoon on 16 May, the K+ website was still showing BBC World News and CNN as channels available to the platform’s subscribers.