20 February 2013
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd, a leading provider of comprehensive digital content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that it has successfully wrapped up distribution of the 2012-13 NFL regular season games and playoffs to Europe and Asia including a live broadcast of the memorable 2013 Super Bowl.
In November 2012, RRsat acquired SM2 Sports & Media Solutions, a premier provider of international sports distribution and syndication services, and took over the main responsibility for delivering the NFL’s regular season games, playoffs, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl throughout Asia and Europe via its satellite and fiber networks.
During the regular season, RRsat delivered up to eight simultaneous games every Sunday, as well as Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football. During the 2012-2013 playoffs, RRsat delivered all games to Europe and Asia followed by the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLVII. The advantage of the RRsat solution was providing the NFL with complete Dolby audio remapping and very high data rates on both satellite and fiber for all their HD games.
“RRsat’s end-to-end solution allowed the NFL to deliver high quality, HD transmissions of season and postseason games to millions of fans across the world in real time, with 28 audio versions tailored for each market,” said Jeff Lombardi, Director of International Production Operations, NFL Films.
“RRsat is proud to have provided a live sports delivery solution that enabled the NFL to transmit the complete season of its iconic games, as well as the Super Bowl, to viewers worldwide in real time,” said Avi Cohen, CEO of RRsat. “We look forward to helping the NFL expand the international reach of both its season and postseason games. Our flexible infrastructure and advanced solutions proved equal to the rigorous demands of broadcasting the most exciting US sports event of the year to fans throughout the world.” (Source: Press Release)
15 November 2012
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a leading provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, today announced that its U.S. subsidiary, RRsat America Global Communications Network Inc. (RRsat America) has acquired the assets and operations of SM2 Sports & Media Solutions, a U.S. based premier provider of occasional-use international sports distribution and syndication services. SM2 works with many of the major international sports agencies and broadcasters around the world, to deliver their content reliably
SM2’s clients include the U.S. National Football League (NFL), USGA, LPGA, ESPN International, IMG Media, B SKY B, Viasat and others. Among other major accomplishments, SM2 assisted the NFL in delivering its initial high definition (HD) broadcast of the Super Bowl to its European broadcast partners.
SM2’s operations will be integrated into RRsat America and Susanna Mandel-Mantello, the founder of SM2, will join RRsat America. Ms. Mantello has worked in the sports broadcasting industry for over sixteen years, including eight years at the National Hockey League as Director of International Broadcasting. Ms. Mantello will further develop RRsat’s sports and special events (Occasional Use – OU) as well as the 24/7 business in the United States, enhancing its reputation in launching and supporting new broadcasting technologies and ensuring that clients receive the highest transmission quality on all feeds, through access to RRsat’s global network. As a result, RRsat America will be able to more aggressively and effectively compete for new and larger contracts.
Avi Cohen, CEO of RRsat commented, “RRsat has taken a bold step and has entered into a lucrative new activity of Occasional Use broadcast and distribution of live sports in the United States. We see tremendous long-term potential in a fast growing market, and the acquisition of SM2 places us in a very strong position to actualize on that opportunity. In the past, we have worked closely with SM2 and we expect to benefit from strong synergies by bringing SM2 under the RRsat umbrella. We are very happy to welcome SM2 and Susanna to the RRsat family, and we look forward to expanding our U.S. activities and winning new clients for our global digital broadcasting services.”
Susanna Mandel-Mantello, Founder and President of SM2, commented, “I am truly excited to be joining the RRsat family and growing its US and OU business. As a person who has been involved in the industry, from both a client and vendor standpoint, I see the occasional use market not only growing, but also offering more challenges in regards to global transmission and the need for high quality and reliability. By joining RRsat, a global leader in digital content management and distribution, we will be in a much stronger position to provide a true global network, as well as improved customer service and advanced technical solutions, two major qualities that SM2 is renowned for.”
13 November 2012
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a leading provider of comprehensive digital content management and global content distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that it was selected by European Broadcasting Union Network (EBU) to provide digital media content delivery services and be their main hub between Asia andEurope for the coming years. Sports, news and special events, broadcast in both standard and high definition, will be delivered through RRsat’s teleports for the EBU Network.
The EBU Network is a world leading alliance of public service media organizations, with members in 56 countries inEuropeand beyond. The EBU Network operates Eurovision, the media industry’s premier distributor and producer of entertainment, culture and music content as well as top quality live sport and news events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, the UEFA cup, national elections and other major European events.
RRsat will establish bi-directional fiber connectivity between RRsat’s teleport inIsraeland EBU Network’s headquarters inGeneva,Switzerland, and will provide all broadcast services for EBU Network to and fromAsia. Furthermore, RRsat will be responsible for EBU Networks’ occasional use of satellite to satellite transmissions and traffic monitoring utilizing EBU capacity on three different satellites.
Avi Cohen, RRsat’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are honored to have been selected by EBU Network as the main partner for their Asia-Europe digital media content management and distribution. Over the past couple of years, we have invested in our infrastructure in order to provide broadcasting services for sports and other special events (OU services) and this selection is an important recognition of RRsat’s consistent high level of service. It positions RRsat among the leading OU service providers around the globe.”
Paolo Pusterla, Head of Procurement, EBU Network commented: “We have selected RRsat after carefully evaluating all their capabilities, including their teleport services, fiber network, master control room (MCR), engineering team and coordination/booking skills. Our recent visit to RRsat’s new state of the art teleport inIsrael, established our confidence that we have a partner that can address our needs for the long term.”
About the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Network
The EBU network is the world’s foremost alliance of public service media organizations, serving 85 national media organizations in 56 countries inEurope and beyond. Its mission is to defend the interests of public service media and to promote their indispensable contribution to modern society. It is the point of reference for industry knowledge and expertise. The EBU operates Eurovision, the media industry’s premier distributor and producer of top quality live sport and news, as well as entertainment, culture and music content. The Eurovision satellite and fibre network is the largest and most reliable in the world directly plugged in to public service media everywhere. Visit the website www.ebu.ch
About RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides global, end-to-end, content management and distribution services to the rapidly expanding television and radio broadcasting industries, covering more than 150 countries. Through its RRsat Global Network, composed of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic capacity and the public Internet, RRsat provides high-quality and flexible global distribution services 24/7 to more than 630 channels reaching multiplatform operators, Internet TV and direct-to-home viewers worldwide and also offers occasional use services for sports, news and events with a fleet of flyaways and over 10 transportable satellite news gathering services (SNG) units. More than 130 television and radio channels use RRsat’s advanced production and playout centers comprising comprehensive media asset management services.
www.rrsat.com
