Playboy chooses Pilat Media's IBMS system to manage its content worldwide

Press Release: 3 March 2003

London, 3 March 2003 - Playboy Enterprise, Inc. (Playboy) has signed an agreement to implement the Integrated Broadcast Management System (IBMS) from leading broadcast software specialist, Pilat Media.

Playboy television networks and the company's Spice-branded portfolio of movie channels provides programming for 36 Networks worldwide, and broadcasts to more than 50 countries throughout Europe, Latin America and Asia.

IBMS will be used to manage and generate schedules for all international and domestic networks, replacing nine separate legacy systems. IBMS integrates all aspects of the broadcast value chain in a single Oracle database, removing multiple data entry and allowing easy access to operational and management information across the organization.

Commenting on the decision to implement the integrated IBMS system, Andre Abed, Director of Information Technology at Playboy said, "By replacing nine separate applications we will gain substantial efficiencies, eliminate multiple data entry and ensure that we maximize the value of our broadcast assets".

The new system will manage program rights, related financial reporting, planning and scheduling of Playboy channels, the production and management of promotions; and the management of Pay Per View (PPV) channels.

Playboy selected Pilat Media following a global search for a new system. "Pilat Media understands the content management business better than anyone else; said Andre Abed, "With IBMS they have a product ready to go, and we were able to install the system and produce a transmission-ready file in record time".

Looking to the future, Abed sees that "IBMS will allow us to quickly and easily configure the system to launch new channels and expand our VOD services, creating significant opportunities to grow Playboy revenues. Previously we had to modify existing applications which was slow and expensive".

Playboy's selection of IBMS reflects the success of over 20 other Pilat Media clients already using IBMS to create a centralised operational solution, including BSkyB (UK), UPCtv (Europe), Network Ten (Australia), Discovery Communications Inc (International) and Fox Kids (Europe).

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About Playboy Enterprise, Inc.

Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a brand-driven, international multimedia entertainment company that publishes editions of Playboy magazine around the world; operates Playboy and Spice television networks and distributes programming via home video and DVD globally; licenses the Playboy and Spice trademarks internationally for a range of consumer products; and operates Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment Web destination. The company's four business groups are Publishing, Entertainment, Licensing and Playboy Online.

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).