IMG Media Leverages Nine Systems' Stream OS Tools and Services to Accelerate Deployment of Broadband Video Applications

IMG Media Leverages Nine Systems' Stream OS Tools and Services to Accelerate Deployment of Broadband Video Applications

SAN DIEGO, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine Systems, the intelligent choice for rich media management and delivery, today announced an agreement with IMG Media, a global leader in the creation and distribution of traditional and new media content and services, in sports and entertainment, to provide its customers with an extended range of online video solutions and broadband capabilities.

The partnership with IMG Media builds on a multi-year successful collaboration in delivering broadband video and audio for major sports and lifestyle events such as The Open Championship, The Olympus Fashion Week and Miss World. It leverages Nine Systems' unique competitive strengths in providing streaming media tools and services. Combining IMG Media's expertise in sports, factual and entertainment production, rights management and distribution with Nine Systems' rich media publishing toolsets and delivery model, this agreement strengthens both companies' leadership position by allowing IMG Media and Nine Systems to provide a complete broadband video solution for customers in the European sports, entertainment and lifestyle market.

"We've developed a working partnership with Nine Systems over the last several years in which they have supported the delivery of a number of our major events and all of our experiences have been very positive," said Richard FitzGerald, Senior Vice President, New Media, at IMG Media. "One of the key drivers for selecting Nine Systems was their comprehensive solution that combines content management applications, world beating reporting, content protection solutions, flexible alternatives for monetization, as well as content delivery. By joining forces together with Nine Systems, we will be able to provide a turn-key content publishing and delivery solution that provides scale and reliable performance for our premier customer base."

"This scale of engagement demonstrates Nine Systems leadership in the specialized market for streaming media management and delivery services," said Gerry Kaufhold, Principal Analyst, In-Stat. "In a rapidly growing market, they are repeatedly demonstrating an ability to work with the leaders in broadband content and provide a key set of solutions that are focused on driving successful business results."

"Nine Systems is excited to deepen its relationship with IMG Media in offering them an end to end rich media publishing and delivery solution that adds value to their business and customers worldwide," said Troy Snyder, President and CEO, Nine Systems. "Through this relationship with IMG Media, Nine Systems will be able to develop its presence and penetration within the European sports and entertainment markets."

About IMG and IMG Media

IMG is the world's premier Sports, Entertainment and Media Company. IMG is a diversified global business with two major business segments: IMG Sports & Entertainment, and IMG Media. IMG employs over 2,300 people in 30 countries. Forstmann Little & Co. purchased IMG in 2004.

IMG Sports & Entertainment includes: consulting services; event ownership and management; fashion events and models representation; licensing; golf course design; client representation in golf, tennis, baseball, broadcasting, hockey, football, European football, rugby, cricket, motorsports, coaching, Olympic sports and action sports. In addition, IMG Academies are the world's largest and most advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport training and educational facility, delivering world-class sports training experiences to over 12,000 junior, collegiate, adult and professional athletes each year.

IMG Media, which includes content production subsidiaries TWI and Darlow Smithson Productions, is recognized as a global leader in the delivery of traditional and new media content and services, with Internet, broadband and mobile expertise, transforming how audiences access and interact with content. IMG Media produces and distributes over 9,000 hours of sports, documentary, docu-drama, entertainment, and popular factual content annually, over multiple platforms across 200 countries, including award-winning television and radio programming. It also represents the broadcast rights to many of the world's premier sporting events and has the world's biggest sports archive with more than 200,000 hours of footage.

More information about IMG is available at www.imgworld.com and www.darlowsmithson.com.

About Nine Systems

Nine Systems is the intelligent choice for companies that want to raise the bar on effective use of online rich media content. Through precision management tools, smart reliable delivery and fully engaged customer service, Nine Systems ensures maximum impact wherever, whenever and however rich content is delivered, empowering content owners to rapidly refine and optimize the return on their investment. Nine Systems powers the online media experience for more than 250 of today's most valuable brands including Universal Music Group, the NBA, CinemaNow, CBS SportsLine and EMI Music. Privately held, Nine Systems is headquartered in San Diego, California, with a Network Operations Center in Denver, Colorado and sales offices around the US. For more information, visit www.ninesystems.com.

Media contacts for IMG/IMG Media: Linda Dozoretz/ (323) 656-4499/ pr@ldcomm.com Or Madeleine Pallas/ +44 (0) 208 233 7425/ cell +44 (0) 7973 326 422/ mpallas@imgworld.com

For Nine Systems PR contact: Helen Tse/ 858.332.3973/ helent@ninesystems.com

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Troy Snyder http://profnet.prnewswire.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=10015152 Kit Knox http://profnet.prnewswire.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=10015208

Source: Nine Systems

CONTACT: Linda Dozoretz, +1-323-656-4499, pr@ldcomm.com, or Madeleine
Pallas, +44 (0) 208 233 7425, or cell, +44 (0) 7973 326 422,
mpallas@imgworld.com, both of IMG/IMG Media; or Helen Tse of Nine Systems,
+1-858-332-3973, helent@ninesystems.com

Web site: http://www.ninesystems.com/
http://www.darlowsmithson.com/
http://www.imgworld.com/

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