• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Ascent Media Group Expands Global Distribution Network

Posted on: Tuesday, 25 March 2008, 09:00 CDT

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascent Media Group (AMG), a leader in transforming the media supply chain, today announced the expansion of a media-focused global distribution network that operates as an integrated component of its Viia(sm) suite of file-based services. The network, which connects Ascent locations and key customer sites, is specifically designed and operated to meet the professional media industry's demanding requirements for speed, security and reliability.

Through a combination of dedicated fiber links and open Internet bandwidth, the Ascent network allows studios, television networks, and other content owners to quickly and easily move media files around the world. This function has traditionally been accomplished by physically shipping tapes and film. Today's technology, however, allows for content to be converted into digital files and moved from place to place via high-speed electronic delivery. The resulting time-to-market and cost advantages are becoming increasingly critical to media companies as they strive to meet tight release schedules and expand into global markets.

The Ascent network can move files ranging from 30 second clips to full- length features films. It also carries live television signals for those applications where even file delivery is not fast enough, giving media companies access to a full complement of transport options. The network moves content between the company's four main digital distribution centers in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Singapore, and to more than 30 smaller facilities and customer sites around the world.

"With our years of experience and deep understanding of the media world, Ascent is in a unique position to create a network that is fine-tuned to our clients' needs," said Jose Royo, Chief Executive Officer, Ascent Media Group. "We have the expertise to manage a network that meets their demanding uptime and speed requirements, and we can fully integrate distribution services with the associated media management processes on either end. This level of workflow integration is particularly critical as our clients explore the new media space and share content with their international partners."

Sony Pictures was an early adopter of Ascent's Viia file-based service portfolio, including the integrated distribution capabilities. Ascent has converted thousands of the studio's titles and marketing assets to digital files, and manages these files on Sony's behalf. This arrangement allows Sony to quickly and cost-effectively have content prepared for various outlets, and to have the resulting files seamlessly transported to destinations around the world. Viia services are used to deliver Sony files for domestic mobile and broadband consumption, and to transport promo content to a growing number of international markets.

"Conventional methods of distributing broadcast trailers are not as effective for our international marketing purposes. Between manufacturing the media, international shipping, and customs, the lag time between shipping and receiving often comes to three to five days," said Tony Beswick, Senior Vice President of Operations & Technology, Sony Pictures Entertainment. "With Ascent's global network, we're now sending promo files in about 25 minutes to our post production partner facilities throughout the world. That gives us much more flexibility in the timing of marketing campaigns, and improves our ability to reach worldwide consumers quickly and efficiently."

Sony's focus on global content movement is echoed throughout the media industry, and is central to Ascent's distribution strategy. "As our clients extend their reach into far-flung international markets, we're keeping pace by building out our worldwide network footprint," notes Ascent's Royo. "Asia is a focus right now, with upcoming events in China and the presence of massive content-hungry audiences. The Ascent network is central to media activity in the region. We carry real-time feeds between the UK and Singapore for a major sports broadcaster, and our Sony spot distribution service was recently extended into China." Plans are underway to expand the range of Viia services offered from the company's Singapore facility, thereby providing Asian customers with local access to a complete cross-platform media fulfillment hub.

In addition to serving their clients, the Ascent distribution network provides internal efficiencies by enabling the company to virtualize its many locations and readily share work between them. Work-in-progress can be moved between facilities during post production, facilitating the creative processes that are at the heart of many of the services provided by the company.

About Ascent Media Group

Santa Monica, California-based Ascent Media Group, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Discovery Holding Company , which through its Creative Services and Networks Services groups, provides creative, digital, technical media services to the media and entertainment industries. Through more than 74 facilities in the regions of Southern California, New York, Atlanta, London and Singapore and at locations throughout the world, Ascent Media provides effective solutions for the creation, management and distribution of content to major motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies and other companies that produce, own and/or distribute entertainment, news, sports, corporate, educational, industrial and advertising content.

Ascent Media Group

CONTACT: Charlene Fitzgibbon of SutherlandGold PR, +1-310-403-5589,charlene@sutherlandgold.com, for Ascent Media Group

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category