Sling Media Launches Powerful “TV Anywhere” Products for Canadian Customers

September 30, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Slingbox M1 and SlingTV are Available Today from Leading Retail Partners Including Best Buy, Future Shop and London Drugs FOSTER CITY, CALIF.—September 29, 2014—Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation...

Deluxe Toronto Sound Department Upgrades Include Launch of Canada’s 1st Dolby Atmos® Mixing Stage

September 25, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Important Additions Also Feature JBL M2 Monitors TORONTO—Sept. 25—Deluxe Toronto Ltd.—a division of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc., global supplier of a broad range of services and technologies to the entertainment industry—today announced a major upgrade of its mixing rooms. Improvements include the introduction of Dolby Atmos® technology to Mix 1—Canada’s largest film mixing stage. Among other upgrades to its mixing rooms, Deluxe has added JBL M2 Master Reference monitors. “The introduction of Dolby Atmos, complemented with speaker and amp upgrades from Harman’s®  JBL Professional and Crown Audio brands, makes our new mix theaters the most technically complete in Canada for film and TV sound re-recording,” said Nick Iannelli, vice president of post-production operations at Deluxe Toronto. The new additions “allow us to state unequivocally that you will hear a difference in fidelity and sound clarity when mixing at Deluxe,” Iannelli added. “Dolby recognizes the importance and value of having a strong presence in Canada’s vital post-production community,” said Curt Behlmer, senior vice president of content solutions and industry relations at Dolby Laboratories.   “We couldn’t be more pleased and know that this respected Dolby Atmos mixing stage—our first in Canada—will help filmmakers realize their creative visions going forward.” Said Peter Chaikin, director of recording and broadcast at JBL Professional: “Incorporating new patented JBL technologies, the innovative JBL M2 monitor was designed to deliver a level of sound clarity unmatched in the post-production industry. Deluxe’s customers are already realizing the benefits of these new speakers, and we are delighted Deluxe Toronto has become a flagship location for the M2 in Canada.” Deluxe is a key supplier to the Canadian post-production and media services industry. Its tech upgrades coincide with Deluxe’s recent relocation to a new, state-of-the-art facility in downtown Toronto. Recent projects at the facility include feature work on Atom Egoyan’s “The Captive” and David Cronenberg’s “Maps to the Stars,” and Deluxe soon will start post-production on Guillermo del Toro’s “Crimson Peak.” Recent TV projects include work on “Vikings,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Penny Dreadful.”  About Deluxe Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. is a global leader in media and entertainment services for film, video and online content, from capture to consumption. Since 1915, Deluxe has been the trusted partner for the world’s most successful Hollywood studios, independent film companies, TV networks, exhibitors, advertisers and others, offering best-in-class solutions in production, post production, distribution, asset and workflow management, and new digital solution-based technologies. With operations in Los Angeles, New York and around the globe, the company employs nearly 6,000 of the most talented, highly honored and recognized artists and industry veterans worldwide. Deluxe is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. For more information visit by http://www.bydeluxe.com and bydeluxetoronto.com About Dolby Atmos Dolby Atmos makes it easy for filmmakers to place or move specific sounds anywhere in the movie theatre, including overhead. As a result of this multidimensional sound, audiences feel as if they are inside the film, not merely watching it. Introduced in April 2012, Dolby Atmos has been embraced by all the major Hollywood studios, seven Academy Award® winning directors, and 16 Academy Award winning sound mixers, among others. Dolby Atmos has received technical achievement awards from both the Hollywood Post Alliance and the Cinema Audio Society. To learn more about Dolby Atmos, visit dolby.com/Atmos. About Harman Harman (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. ###

Successful PR Campaign Tactics

September 19, 2014 Chris Huppertz
For any business, crafting the right PR campaign can either be seen as a complete waste of money or a critical element of a company’s success. The reality is probably somewhere in-between, but for companies with restricted funds, it can be difficult to decide how much to invest in PR efforts. Additionally, being able to assess the success of a campaign measured by web traffic, story placements, social media conversion and how online interactions drive sales can help put a company’s PR efforts into perspective, but even knowing how to measure this doesn't guarantee the success of a campaign. Recently, an industry survey revealed some useful tips for PR pros - like the best time of day to send a release, the best days for distributing news and the ideal length of social media posts – all of which can greatly boost engagement. Here are the findings that the survey considered important for PR success: Set Your Embargoes for Early-Morning Hours Traffic on websites spikes at 5 a.m. EST and 8 a.m. EST, even though half as many articles get published during those times than at 4 p.m. EST. (Who are these freaks getting up to read the news that early?) People also, more predictably, read a lot during the 12 o'clock lunch hour. Instead of setting that embargo for 4 p.m. EST--not really sure the logic of that time-stamp anyway, data suggest publishing either at or before 8, or around noon. Forget About Fridays Big bumps in readership happen on Mondays and Wednesdays. People are too busy actually working on Tuesdays to read, it seems. And Fridays? Fridays basically don't exist on the Internet. (Which is one reason companies often release damaging news late on a Friday afternoon, like no one will notice.) Publishers treat Friday as if it is any other day of the week, but in reality Friday sees very little traffic to content. The most optimal time to pitch news stories is Mondays and Wednesdays, either first thing in the morning, or in time for lunch on the East Coast. The Ideal Post Length Is 1,500 Words It's a little difficult for a company to ask a journalist to pen an article of a certain length, but media professionals, take note: posts between 1,000 and 2,000 words drive the most traffic, and result in the social media attention. Engagement drops off at 4,000 words and picks back up at 5,000, which is interesting. Have any of these PR tactics worked for you? Leave a comment and let us know. To read the original story click here:

Deluxe Selected by LG Electronics to Process and Deliver Native & Re-Mastered 4k Hollywood and Local Content

September 17, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Deluxe to Prepare and Encode Content for Shipping with LG’s 4K ULTRA HD TVs Worldwide BURBANK, Calif.—Sept.  17, 2014—Deluxe announced today that it has been selected by LG Electronics to support the go-to-market strategy for its new 4K ULTRA HD TVs. The 4K UHD content will be prepared, processed and localized by Deluxe and then pre-loaded on a hard drive device that will be included with select LG 4K ULTRA HD TVs. Deluxe will provide the full range of capabilities necessary to ensure 4K content is delivered at the highest quality and optimal bitrate for bandwidth, transport and storage efficiencies.  Content preparation will span sources from major Hollywood studios and local titles that have either been 4K native shot and mastered or converted, restored and re-mastered from film or high definition. Content will undergo rigorous testing and quality analysis of frame rates, bitrates, color gamut and software decoding to ensure that the playback experience is optimized on the target devices for streaming or download. Deluxe is also providing the localization capabilities for LG ULTRA HD TVs launching in Asia, Europe, and North America.  This includes subtitles or captions, dubbing and audio operations.  Deluxe’s deep understanding of multi-language requirements ensures that visual and audio elements are conformed to ensure that the final product delivers the best consumer experience. “We’re pleased to be providing the end-to-end workflow for LG to deliver a superior 4K UHD experience that will scale as the market matures,” said Cyril Drabinsky, president and CEO of Deluxe Entertainment. “Deluxe has invested in the technologies and operational processes for the production of new transcoding/encoding formats such as 4K and HEVC to reduce the operational and capital investments and complexity that our customers will incur to advance 4K UHD in the marketplace.” Deluxe is a leader in 4K UHD mastering, encoding and distribution and is the only company to offer an end-to-end solution under one roof. “Color by Deluxe” is recognized for its technical leadership and innovation in working with original masters to create the optimal viewing experience across the multi-screen device landscape.  About Deluxe Digital Distribution Deluxe Digital Distribution (D3) is revolutionizing digital home entertainment with its advanced cloud-based content supply and turnkey VOD management solutions.  The Deluxe OnDemand™ products make it easier to offer premium content quickly and cost-effectively across popular multi-screen devices. Deluxe is a leader in new technologies and workflows for HEVC, 4K and UHD to power next-generation mobile devices and televisions. D3 is a business division of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. Please visit www.deluxeondemand.com for more information on D3. About Deluxe Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. is a global leader in media and entertainment services across film, video and online original content from capture to consumption. Since 1915, Deluxe Entertainment has been the trusted partner for the world’s most successful Hollywood studios, independent film companies, TV networks, exhibitors, advertisers and others, offering best-in-class solutions in production, post production, distribution, asset and workflow management and new digital solution-based technologies. The company employs nearly 6,000 of the most talented, highly honored and recognized artists and industry veterans worldwide. Deluxe Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.

Deluxe Acquires Mediapeers, Leading B2B Cloud Service for Movie and Television Assets

September 12, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Will Be Integrated with Deluxe’s DL3 Digital Supply Chain Platform BURBANK, Calif.—Sept. 11, 2014—Deluxe, a global innovator offering comprehensive creative, media, distribution and asset-management solutions for media and entertainment, has acquired mediapeers, a leading B2B cloud software provider that enables content owners to market and sell their movie and television assets more efficiently and effectively to the global market. Clients of mediapeers include major studios such as Lionsgate and MGM, as well as television producers and distributors such as FremantleMedia and Global Screen. "For some time, mediapeers has been a recognized segment leader and we are excited to integrate it into Deluxe’s array of media services," said Rob Seidel, executive vice president and general manager of Deluxe Media, a Burbank-based unit of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. "We look forward to integrating mediapeers within DL3 and offering its rich set of features to our customers." Key benefits of mediapeers include a rich set of features that enable an immersive content discovery and screening experience, fully customizable front-ends for each content owner, streamlined interface to view and download collateral assets, security features that protect content assets, increased opportunities for monetizing content, a deep set of transaction analytics, and lower overall administrative and distribution costs. Launched in 2007 and based in Berlin, mediapeers developed a robust cloud solution that is used by thousands of sales and acquisition executives on a daily basis. The diversified licensing company Telepool and the independent rights management company Fintage House, who backed mediapeers since 2010, sold their stake in this transaction. Deluxe will integrate the mediapeers platform into its end-to-end digital supply chain system, DL3, which is a shorthand reference to the tagline: Deluxe Library—Create, Manage and Market. DL3’s capabilities include the creation and management of a broad set of supply chain assets including closed captions, subtitles, foreign audio tracks, portal and broadcaster deliveries, Blu-ray and DVD product, and a range of support services. The mediapeers solution will be rebranded as the DL3 Media Store and integrated with the other components of the DL3 platform. Moritz Viehweger, co-founder and managing director of mediapeers GmbH, said he is excited to see the mediapeers platform come into the Deluxe fold. "Deluxe is clearly the technology leader in the industry with an incredible network, trusted brand and great team. We could not have hoped for a better home," Viehweger said. "This move makes sense for mediapeers, for Deluxe, and for existing and prospective customers of our unique cloud platform," mediapeers co-founder and managing director Holger Hendel said.                                                                               About Deluxe Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. is a global leader in media and entertainment services across film, video and online content from capture to consumption. Since 1915, Deluxe has been the trusted partner for the world’s most successful Hollywood studios, independent film companies, TV networks, exhibitors, advertisers and others, offering best-in-class solutions in production, post production, distribution, asset and workflow management and new digital solution-based technologies. With operations in Los Angeles, New York and around the globe, the company employs nearly 6,000 of the most talented, highly honored and recognized artists and industry veterans worldwide. Deluxe is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. For more information visit www.bydeluxe.com

Digital Media Sales Veteran Jay Chicoy Named Vice President-Head of Sales, Deluxe Mediarecall®

September 11, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Cutting-Edge Solution Taps into Customers’ Hidden Archives to Create New Revenue Streams LOS ANGELES—Sept. 11, 2014—Deluxe has appointed digital media sales veteran Jay Chicoy as vice president and head of sales for Deluxe MediaRecall, an enterprise solution for digitizing, organizing and monetizing content. Chicoy is a 20-year veteran of product sales and client management, with deep experience in product launches, building and managing sales teams, conceiving and executing marketing solutions, and working to build brand partnerships. Deluxe MediaRecall helps customers generate new revenue streams by curating hidden content in archives of studios and broadcasting businesses. “Jay is the ideal person to help spread the word about Deluxe MediaRecall,” said Peter Feigin, chief marketing and revenue officer for Deluxe. “This cutting-edge solution helps companies monetize their content archives, and Jay’s mandate will be to identify prospects and turn them into customers.” Prior to joining Deluxe in June 2014, Chicoy spent 12 years with Getty Images. He joined Getty Images in 2002 as a national account manager in corporate development and most recently served as the company’s director of sales for the U.S. and Canada. Chicoy previously held management positions at Rising Tiding Studios, DoubleClick and other digital media companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from New England College. About Deluxe Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. is a global leader in media and entertainment services for film, video and online content, from capture to consumption. Since 1915, Deluxe has been the trusted partner for the world’s most successful Hollywood studios, independent film companies, TV networks, exhibitors, advertisers and others, offering best-in-class solutions in production, post production, distribution, asset and workflow management and new digital solution-based technologies. With operations in Los Angeles, New York and around the globe, the company employs nearly 6,000 of the most talented, highly honored and recognized artists and industry veterans worldwide. Deluxe is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. For more information visit www.bydeluxe.com.

Five Ways PR Has Changed Over the Years

September 9, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Over the years, technological advancements have not only changed the way we go about our daily lives, but also how we implement our PR practices. For example, many PR agencies now offer social network platform management since online presence plays a key role in a business’s success - a practice unheard of only a few years ago. It’s vital to an agency’s success to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to changing trends in PR and to better recognize where our industry is going. With this in mind, here are a few of the changing practices that have forever influenced our industry: The speed of news: Information circulation is 10 times faster than what it was decades ago. Today, we depend on email and phone communication and don’t have time to rely on mail or FedEx. The media landscape: You would be hard pressed to find too many people these days who read the print edition of a newspaper every morning. However, most decision-makers still rely on print as their primary source of news, followed closely by Web and social media channels. Similarly, many clients still prefer print over online, and will consider it a bigger “win” to land a print placement. No matter our preference, we have to be open-minded and include all forms in our PR practices. The art of communication: Even though emailing has become increasingly popular, looking to email as the first form of communication is like eating a candy bar when you really need a full meal. Effective communication is, first and foremost, about establishing a human connection. Email makes this really hard. Face-to-face interaction is best, followed by a telephone call, then email and other electronic media. Personal vs. private time: We’re better and smarter than we were 30 years ago, but being more effective has come at the expense of our private and family time. Taking a call on vacation used to be a punishable offense. Now, no matter where you are, it’s mostly expected you can be reached. If you’re going to get into PR, the best thing you can have is an understanding family and spouse. Today we’re working at the speed of life, times two. Staying put: Societal trends tell us employees’ longevity has shortened to between 2-3 years versus 10-15 years we once saw. Workers have an “every man for themselves” mentality which comes at the expense of trust with the current employer. What are your thoughts on how technological advancements have affected the way we work today? To read the full story, click here

DELUXE CELEBRATES OPENING OF STATE-OF-THE-ART NEW POST-PRODUCTION STUDIO IN TORONTO

September 8, 2014 Chris Huppertz
World-Class Facility Celebrates its Grand Opening with Designation as Official Post Facility of Toronto International Film Festival TORONTO—Sept. 5, 2014 – Deluxe today announced the opening of a new post-production studio here—a state-of-the-art picture and sound facility built to continue the company’s role as the go-to provider of post services for film, TV, commercials and digital content. The elaborate three-story facility—which boasts stunning views of Toronto and Lake Ontario throughout—has been designated as the official post facility of the 39th annual Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to Sept. 14. The new 62,000-square-foot facility is located in the city’s Liberty Village neighborhood. “With this fabulous and sophisticated new facility, we are proud to extend Deluxe’s legacy of service to filmmakers throughout Canada and around the world,” said Cyril Drabinsky, president and CEO of Deluxe Entertainment Services. Deluxe’s new post facility features a large ADR stage, and four 5.1 and 7.1 mixing stages for feature film and TV. It boasts the largest feature mixing stage in Canada—with IMAX and Dolby Atmos—as well as a digital-intermediate suite with 4K projection. The facility also features an array of additional film, TV and commercial offerings, including a wide range of ad services, dailies solutions, on-set and near-set services, and innovative solutions for asset management, storage and archiving. Content creators in all entertainment segments already have begun to use the facility, as they continue to rely on Deluxe‘s unmatched menu of end-to-end solutions, while some 85% of the content handled by Canadian distributors uses Deluxe’s storage and management services. About Deluxe Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. is a global leader in media and entertainment services for film, video and online content, from capture to consumption. Since 1915, Deluxe has been the trusted partner for the world’s most successful Hollywood studios, independent film companies, TV networks, exhibitors, advertisers and others, offering best-in-class solutions in production, post-production, localization, distribution, asset and workflow management and new digital solution-based technologies. With operations in Los Angeles, New York and around the globe, the company employs nearly 6,000 of the most talented, highly honored and recognized artists and industry veterans worldwide. Deluxe is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc. For more information visit www.bydeluxe.com. ###

Solaris Mobile Will Use GMR-1 3G Air Interface Technology Developed by Hughes

September 4, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Technology Will Enable the Delivery of Advanced Mobile Satellite Services in the European Union Dublin, Ireland, Sept. 4, 2014—Solaris Mobile LLC, the pan-European S-band licensee for mobile satellite services with complimentary ground component, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp., today announced plans to move forward with the Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) designed and developed satellite-based platform utilizing the ETSI GMR-1 3G air interface standard to enable wireless mobile devices to communicate over the satellite portion of Solaris Mobile’s network. The GMR-1 3G industry-proven technology will enable a new generation of mobile satellite services that can operate over Solaris Mobile’s space segment, supporting advanced and all-IP services providing 3G/4G compatible user services, including multi-media and voice. Steven Schaver, president of Solaris Mobile said, “We are pleased to utilize Hughes for the design and deployment of the satellite ground system based on the advanced capabilities of the GMR-1 3G standard. Selection of the ETSI Standard open air interface, GMR-1 3G, which is operational in about a half-million mobile satellite handhelds, allows Solaris Mobile to work with a variety of terminal manufacturers to expand its family of products and services. This is an important step in further advancing Solaris Mobile’s plan to deliver the European Union’s first next-generation, all IP-enabled mobile communications network with an integrated mobile satellite and terrestrial system.” About Solaris Mobile LLC Solaris Mobile, a unit of EchoStar Corp., is a next-generation European mobile satellite service operator developing hybrid satellite and terrestrial network infrastructure to support enhanced mobile communications across Europe. Solaris Mobile’s technologies and infrastructure assets will enable the deployment of broadcast and broadband services for mobile devices in a harmonized way to meet the increasing consumption of rich media and data downloading. This hybrid network, combining the ubiquity of satellites with the deep coverage available with terrestrial mobile networks provides a powerful and efficient way of delivering mobile services to people on the move in Europe. About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the world’s leading provider of satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative network technologies, managed services, and solutions for enterprises and governments globally. HughesNet® is the #1 high-speed satellite Internet service in the marketplace, with offerings to suit every budget. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 4 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share. Its products employ global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1. Headquartered outside Washington, DC, in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations and digital TV solutions. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com.

ADDERLink Infinity in the Spotlight at IBC

September 4, 2014 Chris Huppertz
Adder Technology, the high performance keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) specialist, will be launching the latest version and firmware of its ADDERLink Infinity solution at IBC 2014. The ADDERLink Infinity range enables operators and computing resources to be separated by almost any distance, with no loss in capabilities and no reduction in video resolution or quality. The latest firmware upgrade brings further benefit to users with faster switching, presentation switching, security enhancements and a guaranteed 60 frames per second, full frame video performance. Adder will also be showcasing three new high performance products, including the IP-based ADDERLink Infinity 1002 which adds an additional fiber module that offers dual network redundancy and performance to the single head range. The presence of the additional fiber port ensures that signals can be extended over significant distances. “We will also be displaying the new Adder CCS-Pro4, a professional KM switch for the use and control of multiple systems and screens on a single desk, from a single mouse and keyboard,” says John Halksworth, senior product manager, Adder Technology. “The switch includes Free-Flow technology and allows users to seamlessly switch between multiple computers alongside an intuitive web interface.” The Adder CCS-Pro4 is ideal for use in the broadcast and post production environments, as is the ADDERLink X-DVI Pro DL, also on show at IBC. This dual link, point to point DVI extender features plug and play functionality incorporating full dual link resolution capability up to 2560x1600. It can transmit a dual link video stream along with audio over a single CATx cable, up to 50 meters. “In keeping with emerging trends in the broadcast industry, we will also be demonstrating our 4K capabilities in this arena with the ADDERLink XD522 DisplayPort extender,” says Halksworth. The Adder solutions will be available on stand 7.C30 and will demonstrate the many advantages IP-based high performance KVM brings to the broadcast and post production workflow. Visit Adder Technology at stand 7.C30 at IBC 2014 in Amsterdam from 12 September.
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