LONDON — Oct. 20, 2009 — Pilat Media, the leading global supplier of business management software solutions to the media industry, has announced that Scripps Networks has gone live using Pilat Media's IBMS broadcast management system for five major brands — HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network, and Great American Country.
The installation of IBMS is part of Scripps Networks' five-year program for transitioning to a file-based operation, and replaces the previous in-house developed management system. The IBMS installation provides robust standardized scheduling and management functions for the five Scripps Networks brands while allowing for differences in their operating procedures. IBMS was adapted to meet Scripps Networks' requirements in several key areas including reporting, validation, and user interface.
"By moving from an in-house developed system to IBMS, we can focus on our core strengths and enjoy the benefits of a unified system with streamlined workflow in areas like reporting — which is now much more efficient than before," said Chuck Hurst, vice president of systems development, Scripps Networks Interactive. "IBMS integrates the databases within our file-based structure, automates the sharing and updating of information on metadata and inventory management, and eliminates data-entry duplication. A centralized management system that helps us implement best practices across our domestic and global operations is an important asset in today's marketplace."
The five brands include both HD and SD channels, and the IBMS implementation included customization for procedures to ensure that assets are available in the correct format for the appropriate output.
"This marks an important stage in the infrastructure project at Scripps Networks, and we are delighted to have been able to work successfully with their team to implement the management system they envisioned," said Avi Engel, CEO, Pilat Media. "Many of our customers are using IBMS in their transitions to file-based operations since it was designed to be media agnostic. It can accommodate any type of media — whether it's tape, a server file or a graphic still — allowing our customers to move from tapes to files easily just by changing the IBMS configuration."
IBMS streamlines the entire content management workflow from content acquisition and rights management to scheduling, media management, log preparation, and analysis. Because the system leverages a single integrated database, it provides better visibility on inventory utilization and easily enables the user to generate "what if" programming and cost scenarios.
# # #
About Scripps Networks
Scripps Networks is comprised of the lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network (FLN), and country music network Great American Country (GAC). Scripps is the dominant media and marketing company in the home, food, and lifestyle categories, developing content for television and the Internet, where on-air programming complements an array of broadband video, social media areas, and e-commerce components on companion Web sites that attract more than 17 million unique visitors each month.
In addition, Scripps Networks has launched HGTV and Food Network in high-definition and is aggressively developing its emerging media platforms for broadband and video on demand. Scripps Networks also acquired popular recipe Web site Recipezaar.com and Incando Corp. to deepen its user-generated content capabilities. Scripps Networks' brands collectively are available in more than 170 countries and territories on all seven continents. They also are distributed to more than 1,000 outlets on U.S. military bases and U.S. embassies around the world via the American Forces Radio and Television Service.
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville, and San Francisco, Scripps Networks is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE:SNI), the leading developer of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet. The company's media portfolio includes: Lifestyle Media, with popular lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network (FLN), and country music network Great American Country (GAC); and Interactive Services, including leading online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch.
If you are a member of the media, please log on to the Scripps Networks' Online Media Center (http://newsroom.scrippsnetworks.com) for the latest brand news, useful photos and graphics, detailed programming information, contacts, and current research.
About Pilat Media
Pilat Media Global plc [AIM: PGB] develops, markets, and supports business management software solutions for content and service providers in the media industry. Designed with the direct involvement of top-tier broadcasters, Pilat Media's systems improve business performance; accelerate time to market; and enable diversification and growth of content programming, advertising sales, traffic, and media operations for multiplatform linear and on-demand services. More than 50 blue-chip media companies around the world use Pilat Media solutions, including SBS (Pro7) Group, FOX, AT&T, CTV, Virgin Media, Discovery, SABC, Chellomedia, the BBC, Media General, Sky Italia, ESPN Star Sports, Network Ten, TVNZ, and Foxtel. These and other deployments represent the management of billions of dollars in advertising revenue and programming that reaches hundreds of millions of viewers. More information is available at www.pilatmedia.com.
ENDS
