The CEO presents a technological vision based on IP, software-defined networking, cloud computing, and cross-screen communication.
March 17, 2014, New York—As a member company of The Gores Group and a market leader in media software, networking, and transmission solutions serving the global media and entertainment industry, Harris Broadcast today announced at "Media Day" held at Madison Square Garden in New York City that the company has been split into two companies: Imagine Communications and GatesAir.
Imagine Communications is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with "Centers of Excellence" located in Denver and Los Angeles in the United States, Toronto in Canada, Tel Aviv in Israel, and Beijing in China. With over 50 years of experience in media software and networking technology innovation, the company has acquired more than 3,000 clients across 185 countries and regions globally, deploying over 3 million products that serve more than half of the television channels worldwide in their programming and broadcasting operations. The company has also secured a significant number of technology patents.
GatesAir's headquarters will be located in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, supply chain, and operations center in Quincy, Illinois. With nearly 100 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of broadcast and television transmission technology and equipment, GatesAir is truly a "century-old establishment" in the industry.
Reorganization Interpretation:
1. The HARRIS transmitter series has been incorporated into GatesAir.
2. The monitoring, matrix, surround, transmission, broadcasting, and new media series from HARRIS Broadcasting have been integrated into Imagine Communications.
The newly restructured Imagine Communications and Oneband Beijing Oneband jointly exhibited at CCBN 2014, showcasing the latest multi-screen transcoding solutions for users in mainland China.
Charlie Vogt, the co-CEO of Imagine Communications and GatesAir, stated, "With our vibrant identity, Imagine Communications and GatesAir will be better positioned to serve our industry and customers." He added, "Our vision, product focus, and strategy will align Imagine Communications and GatesAir with current transformation trends, future networks, and the needs of our customers and partners. We have established two highly focused companies dedicated to innovation and business development in two distinct technology areas. Imagine Communications will lead the media and entertainment market into a future driven by IP, software, cloud computing, and 'TV Everywhere,' with an architectural vision aimed at enabling cross-screen distribution of television programming to maximize the monetization of content assets. Similarly, GatesAir will continue to lead the development of the next generation of television and radio transmission markets, focusing on providing wireless technology innovations that reduce power consumption and carbon emissions while fully leveraging the growth opportunities in digital broadcasting and television transmission."
Imagine Communications Company
Due to various factors, including the evolving availability of broadband, the emergence of new reception terminals, non-traditional media content, and internet models that are significantly changing viewing habits, traditional industrial models are rapidly transforming. This creates opportunities for media companies to expand their customer base and break through traditional content distribution channels, fully leveraging their content assets and brand influence. These changes have also impacted advertising businesses and revenue models, forcing media companies worldwide to streamline and accelerate the construction of their next-generation workflows and virtualize their resources across various regions and markets.
Mr. Waters stated, "Our industry is rapidly moving in a new direction, and media companies no longer want to deploy and manage proprietary technology. For years, they have been burdened by high-cost legacy infrastructures that limit their scalability and flexibility to shift to new business models. Our global customers, channels, and business partners are enthusiastically embracing our new business-oriented paradigm, based on software-defined, 'commercially available' technology architecture and the virtualization of network functions."
In line with this vision, we are launching a new media platform. "Imagine Communications' MediaCentral is the industry's first fully integrated end-to-end advertising sales, traffic control, program scheduling, automation, and broadcasting platform. It virtualizes some key functions in the cloud computing domain that were previously only available distinctly, separately, and often targeted at enterprise office platforms," said Steve Reynolds, Chief Technology Officer of Imagine Communications. He added, "The launch of the MediaCentral media platform reflects our company's unique ability to combine our end-to-end product suite. It builds a modular, IP service-based infrastructure that comprehensively supports media and broadcasting functions—such as live log integration, streamlined operations, and providing operators with rapid service speed."
Imagine Communications also introduced the Software Defined Workflows (SDW) solution, which is supported by the company's MultiService SDN™ architecture. The current workflows of media companies are a mix of baseband and IP. SDW supports a fully software-defined workflow, placing all media at the IP layer and separating media content from control, significantly improving the way and efficiency of video management. Additionally, with the industry's rapid adoption of "cross-screen transmission" technology, media companies can leverage Imagine Communications' MediaCentral and Multiservice SDN architecture to further reduce infrastructure requirements to support various media formats in the evolving cross-screen domain—from the largest Ultra High Definition formats to small screen formats for smartphones and portable devices. By optimizing the highest quality video streams to distribute program content under various network bandwidth conditions, Imagine Communications' "cross-screen transmission" solution will dynamically adapt to available bandwidth across different networks.
Mr. Reynolds said, "The core idea behind the technology vision we showcased today is to support our customers in transitioning towards software-defined, IP-based, virtual networks in both on-premises and inter-network directions, without requiring massive overhauls of their existing networks or significant new capital investments." He added, "Imagine Communications is uniquely positioned to support this industry transformation due to its deep technical, solution, and intellectual property background."
GatesAir
GatesAir has a long history of innovation, leading the broadcast transmission industry towards low-cost and low-power solutions. The company is fully prepared to guide broadcasters in effectively planning their technology evolution paths, such as digital conversion, the use of new spectrum and licenses in many countries, as well as spectrum auctions and television band repacking. From breakthroughs in digital modulation technology to patented amplifier technologies, GatesAir offers users highly cost-effective, energy-efficient, and space-saving transmission solutions, committed to rebuilding transmission networks for the future to bring one technological innovation after another to broadcasters around the world.
Rich Redmond, Chief Product Officer of GatesAir, stated, "We are excited to associate our positive market legacy with the Gates name." He said, "By energizing our team of experts, technology, and customer base, we have achieved the best results in both areas while gaining unique focus and corporate autonomy to better serve the broadcast and television transmission market. We are now in a better position than at any time in the company's history, creating conditions for us to develop the best broadcast transmission solutions that utilize cutting-edge technological advancements while considering the evolving trends in global content transmission and distribution over the coming decades. With the impending domestic spectrum reallocation plan in the U.S. and similar market changes worldwide, our customers are highly focused on maintaining a technological edge, and we are their ideal choice—capable of meeting their new requirements and providing them with the most advanced transmission technology."
In the coming weeks leading up to the 2014 NAB Show, Imagine Communications will announce more information. We warmly invite you to visit our booth at NAB2014 (Booth No: N2503) to experience MediaCentral, TV Everywhere, and Multiservice SDN/SDW solutions up close.
GatesAir will also announce more information about its product line and future development roadmap in the coming weeks. We welcome you to visit our booth at NAB2014 (Booth No: N609) to learn more about our transmission solutions.
About Imagine Communications Company
Imagine Communications has a history of innovation spanning over 50 years and is a world-leading provider in the fields of media software and networked solutions. The company offers media software and networked solutions to over 3,000 media, broadcasting, service providers, government agencies, and enterprise users across 185 countries and regions worldwide. Today, nearly half of the television channels around the globe utilize our products, totaling over 3 million units. Imagine Communications has a grand vision, dedicated to designing and developing software-defined networks and workflows based on IP and cloud computing technologies for its users. Imagine Communications' solutions are helping users deliver tens of billions of exciting moments to any location in the world, at any time, to any receiving terminal.
GatesAir provides comprehensive broadcast television transmission solutions, maximizing the performance of multi-channel, high-importance broadcasting services through efficient utilization of the wireless spectrum. For nearly 100 years, GatesAir's solutions have served wireless transmission networks around the world with unparalleled reliability. GatesAir's turnkey solutions support broadcast television organizations in creating, transmitting, and broadcasting television and radio program content. GatesAir's users span over 150 countries and regions globally, and the company has consistently been a leader in the field of broadcast transmission, excelling in technological innovation, design improvement, efficiency enhancement, and reducing user acquisition costs.
About The Gores Group
The Gores Group, LLC is a global investment firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growth-oriented companies that can benefit from the company's operational expertise and flexible capital base. The firm combines the operational expertise of strategic investors with meticulous due diligence capabilities and the seasoned merger and acquisition teams of traditional financial investors. Founded by Alec E. Gores in 1987, The Gores Group has evolved into a leading investment firm with a proven track record of creating significant value for its management teams and portfolio companies. The Gores Group is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Boulder, Colorado, and London.