Pilat Media's IBMS System To Centralise Data Management Operations For National Geographic Channels International

Press Release: 30 August 2002

London, 30 August 2002 - Pilat Media, the leading broadcast software specialist, today announced that National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has signed an agreement to implement its Integrated Broadcast Management System (IBMS) as NGCI's data management standard throughout its worldwide operations. The installation process is already underway and IBMS is expected to go live at National Geographic Channel's Washington headquarters in the fourth quarter of 2002.

NGCI, which operates full-time cable television networks distributed internationally via cable and satellite, brings the vast resources, unsurpassed quality and real heroes of National Geographic to over 115 million homes (including day-part households) in 141 countries and in 23 languages around the world.

IBMS will be used to manage and centralise NGCI's programme inventory and associated financial data throughout operations in its 21 regional offices worldwide. Offering increased reliability and a reduction in management time, IBMS will replace NGCI legacy systems currently experiencing ever-increasing demands. Commenting on the decision to implement the integrated IBMS system, Nick Wilkinson, Vice President, Network Development at NGCI said, "NGCI has experienced tremendous growth since its launch in September 1997, and the ability for our international offices to access and share a single system of data management is vital to a streamlined operation. IBMS will help us to improve efficiencies with programme inventory and related financial processes, as well as offer the flexibility that a fast-growing business like ours demands."

NGCI's selection of IBMS reflects the success of over 20 other Pilat Media clients already using IBMS as a centralised operational solution, including BSkyB (UK), UPC (Europe), Network Ten (Australia), and Fox Kids (Europe).

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About National Geographic Channels International

Building on the 35-year legacy of National Geographic Television & Film, which has won over 800 top television industry awards, National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) brings the vast resources, unsurpassed quality and real heroes of National Geographic to over 115 million homes (including day-part households) in 141 countries and in 23 languages around the world.

NGCI is a business enterprise owned by National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F), FOX Entertainment Group and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education.

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).