Flextech chooses Pilat Media's IBMS system to drive forward its multi-channel digital strategy

Information Release: 18 March 2002

London, 18 March 2002 - UK broadcaster, Flextech, has signed an agreement to implement the Integrated Broadcast Management System (IBMS) from leading software solutions provider, Pilat Media. The installation process is already under way and IBMS is expected to go live at Flextech's London headquarters in the 3rd quarter of 2002. Flextech is the content division of Telewest Communications and provides entertainment, information and interactive content and services to the multi-channel television and online environments.

IBMS will be used to manage and streamline the full broadcast value chain at Flextech, including content acquisition, rights utilisation, media tracking, programme scheduling and promotion planning down to transmission. The first year value of the contract is estimated at approximately £1 million.

"Our strategy is to create a single, central repository of all critical data, from which we expect to drive significant gains in efficiency", said Carol Watson, Director of Technology & Services at Flextech. "IBMS is a good fit for our multi-channel business but also has a flexible and open architecture that makes it possible to customise the system to meet our more specific needs. This means we are able to smoothly upgrade our existing business processes to the new system."

Based on an Oracle database, IBMS will allow Flextech to enhance the efficiency of its multi-channel content programming. For example, the IBMS solution will take over the manual processes and will automate the enforcing of acquired programming rights such as number of plays and hiatus periods, and will facilitate optimised utilisation of these rights.

IBMS will also enhance Flextech's internal and external communication, allowing on- line publishing of electronic programme guide listings information (EPGs) and the wider and more efficient sharing of all programme related metadata across all of its channels and users. These include Bravo, Living, Trouble and Challenge TV.

"We're delighted Flextech has chosen Pilat to play a pivotal role in driving forward its digital multi-channel strategy", said Avi Engel, CEO of Pilat Media. "With over 1000 digital channels worldwide now powered by IBMS, Pilat is at the vanguard of the growth of multi-channel digital television".

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About Flextech

Flextech is the content division of Telewest Broadband. Its core business is to provide entertainment, information and interactive content and services to the multi-channel television and on-line markets. Flextech's portfolio includes wholly-owned channels Bravo, Living, Trouble and Challenge TV. Flextech is also BBC Worldwide's 50:50 partner in the joint venture UKTV, which currently has six channels in its portfolio including UK Gold, UK Gold 2, UK Style, UK Horizons, UK Drama and PLAY. In addition, Flextech partly owns the transactional channel TV Travel Shop (37%), and Sit-Up TV (38%) whose group includes Screenshop and bid-up.tv.

Notes to editors:

Pilat Media is a UK company, currently 150 strong, operating from headquarters in London and offices in the USA, Australia and Israel.

Pilat Media's IBMS (Integrated Broadcast Management System) is a new generation software system for managing the business of broadcasting. It is the world's most comprehensive solution, designed to maximize revenues and reduce costs by integrating airtime sales, content programming and media trafficking across an unlimited number of different channels or stations, regions or even countries, all under a single centralized, scalable and digital ready system. Al these have been historically serviced by several, typically dispersed systems. IBMS' functional breadth, depth and flexibility to suit all types of broadcasters are unrivalled, making it the first truly global system of its kind.

IBMS' first version was originally developed by Pilat for BSkyB, to support their fast growing multi-channel programming needs. Pilat Media was established in 1999 to further develop and market the system as a generic product. IBMS's scope was subsequently more than doubled by adding the advertising sales functionality in partnership with Network Ten of Australia. Since then Pilat Media has rapidly established itself as a rising force in the market for business management software for broadcasters. Today, Pilat Media's software solutions have been selected by 35 broadcasters in Europe, North America and Australasia, representing a wide spectrum of business models, organizational size and transmission technologies - digital and analogue, on terrestrial, cable and satellite platforms. Additional clients include CTV (Canada), Discovery (International), five (UK), TV New Zealand, Playboy (US), Sky Italia and TV4 (Sweden).