AIRPORT CITY BUSINESS PARK, Israel, November 14,
2012 /PRNewswire/ --
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST),
a leading provider of comprehensive content management and global
distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting
industries, today announced that its U.S. subsidiary, RRsat America
Global Communications Network Inc. (RRsat America) has acquired the
assets and operations of SM2 Sports & Media Solutions, a U.S.
based premier provider of occasional-use international sports
distribution and syndication services. SM2 works with many of the
major international sports agencies and broadcasters around the
world, to deliver their content reliably and cost effectively.
SM2's clients include the U.S. National Football League (NFL),
USGA, LPGA, ESPN International, IMG Media, B SKY B, Viasat and
others. Among other major accomplishments, SM2 assisted the NFL in
delivering its initial high definition (HD) broadcast of the Super
Bowl to its European broadcast partners.
SM2's operations will be integrated into RRsat America and
Susanna Mandel-Mantello, the founder
of SM2, will join RRsat America. Ms. Mantello has worked in the
sports broadcasting industry for over sixteen years, including
eight years at the National Hockey League as Director of
International Broadcasting. Ms. Mantello will further develop
RRsat's sports and special events (Occasional Use - OU) as well as
the 24/7 business in the United
States, enhancing its reputation in launching and supporting
new broadcasting technologies and ensuring that clients receive the
highest transmission quality on all feeds, through access to
RRsat's global network. As a result, RRsat America will be able to
more aggressively and effectively compete for new and larger
contracts.
Avi Cohen, CEO of RRsat,
commented, "RRsat has taken a bold step and has entered into a
lucrative new activity of Occasional Use broadcast and distribution
of live sports in the United
States. We see tremendous long-term potential in a
fast growing market, and the acquisition of SM2 places us in a very
strong position to actualize on that opportunity. In the past, we
have worked closely with SM2 and we expect to benefit from strong
synergies by bringing SM2 under the RRsat umbrella. We are very
happy to welcome SM2 and Susanna to the RRsat family, and we look
forward to expanding our U.S. activities and winning new clients
for our global digital broadcasting services."
Susanna Mandel-Mantello, Founder
and President of SM2, commented, "I am truly excited to be joining
the RRsat family and growing its US and OU business. As a person
who has been involved in the industry, from both a client and
vendor standpoint, I see the occasional use market not only
growing, but also offering more challenges in regards to global
transmission and the need for high quality and reliability. By
joining RRsat, a global leader in digital content management and
distribution, we will be in a much stronger position to provide a
true global network, as well as improved customer service and
advanced technical solutions, two major qualities that SM2 is
renowned for."
About RRsat Global
Communications Network Ltd.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides
global, end-to-end, content management and distribution services to
the rapidly expanding television and radio broadcasting industries,
covering more than 150 countries. Through its RRsat Global Network,
composed of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic capacity and the
public Internet, RRsat provides high-quality and flexible global
distribution services 24/7 to more than 630 channels reaching
multiplatform operators, Internet TV and direct-to-home
viewers worldwide and also offers occasional use services
for sports, news and events with a fleet of flyaways and over
10 transportable satellite news gathering services (SNG)
units. More than 130 television and radio channels use
RRsat's advanced production and playout centers comprising
comprehensive media asset management services. Visit the company's
website http://www.rrsat.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, including statements regarding (i) our ability to
consummate the transaction in a timely manner, or at all, (ii) our
ability to successfully integrate the acquired assets,
(iii) the growth of our business in the United States and elsewhere,(iv) the
growth of our OU business, (v),our ability to build a
stronger local presence in the North American
region (vi) our expectation to expand our client base
and sell additional services to our existing client
base, and (vii) our ability to report future
successes. These forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current
expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the
companies and the industry as of the date of this press release. We
undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to
reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes
in our expectations, except as may be required by law.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including the risks
indicated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). For more details, please refer to our SEC filings
and the amendments thereto, including our Annual Report on Form
20-F for the year ended December 31,
2011 and our Current Reports on Form 6-K.
Company Contact Information:
Itzhak Zion, CFO
Tel: +972-3-928-0777
Email: investors@rrsat.com
Investor Relations Contacts:
Ehud Helft & Kenny Green at CCG Israel
Tel: +1-646-201-9246
rrsat@ccgisrael.com
SOURCE RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd