OT: IBM and NeTune Communications Bring New Digital Technologies to Film Production
Companies to Display Technologies at NAB 2001
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2001--IBM and NeTune Communications today announced an alliance that includes an equity investment by IBM in NeTune, a strategic $112 million, five-year outsourcing agreement, and a commitment to jointly develop digital solutions for the entertainment industry. NeTune Communications is a new provider of a wide range of turnkey integrated broadband services utilizing digital satellite, terrestrial wireless and fiber networking for the motion picture and television production industries.
The agreement establishes IBM as NeTune's information technology and services partner. A key focus of the relationship will be on the acceleration of the rollout of NeTune's revolutionary proprietary ShowRunner(TM) package of services, allowing for the first time, practical use of high-resolution digital content to and from any location in the world throughout the film and television production process. The offering includes a suite of easy-to-use, Web-based, point-and-click applications for comprehensive data management. This ``go anywhere, anytime'' solution meets both the creative and production information needs of the industry -- whether users are at a remote film location, a studio, a special visual effects house, or even at home. This is accomplished through secure end-to-end support for the digitization, storage and distribution of digital data of all kinds (high-resolution video, production management information, and general communications) as well as the interactive display of creative content using audio and video conferencing.
The NeTune advanced digital network will leverage multiple IBM technologies. Core hardware technology incorporated into the network will include IBM eServers -- pSeries(RS/6000) running the AIX operating system, xSeries servers running the Linux operating system, IBM Enterprise Storage Servers (Shark), Intellistation workstations, and ThinkPad laptop computers. In addition, IBM will manage the supporting IBM systems software and the developed IBM DB2 Universal Databases. IBM will also provide 24x7 technical help desk support and managed operations for the call center, and will oversee the implementation of an asset management system, which will facilitate the accurate tracking of NeTune's global physical asset inventory.
Other terms of the IBM Global Services agreement state that over the next five years, IBM will provide day-to-day operational support, onsite project executive management team support, global systems operation and advanced remote systems management from an IBM Delivery Center.
``Digital convergence has become a main ingredient in the future of entertainment, and now, NeTune's ShowRunner(TM) package is providing the motion picture and television industry with new, imaginative, cutting-edge applications,'' said Dick Anderson, general manager of Media and Entertainment at IBM. ``We believe NeTune's technology, with IBM inside, will transform the current filmmaking and distribution processes, allowing filmmakers to embrace digital technologies such as high-quality digital film dailies, real-time videoconferences, and ubiquitous networks linking all aspects of the creative process.''
``As the first-ever broadband satellite, fiber and wireless communications service, our goal has been to assemble an array of leading high-tech and entertainment industry partners,'' added Curtis Clark, CEO of NeTune Communications. ``The technical support from IBM delivers on that objective, and will help ensure rapid adoption of our service by the industry.''
IBM and NeTune will showcase NeTune services as part of IBM's overall presentation at the annual NAB convention in Las Vegas, starting April 23, in Booth No. L117 - North Hall, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is the first in a series of joint marketing activities that will feature technology integration between the two companies.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is helping media and entertainment companies worldwide take advantage of the business opportunities made possible by digital technology. IBM offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, networking and service offerings that is transforming the traditional creative and business processes of media and entertainment companies and positioning them to leverage their intellectual assets into new commercial opportunities. Additional information on IBM's strategy for the media and entertainment industry can be found at www.ibm.com/solutions/media.
About NeTune Communications
NeTune Communications provides a full range of advanced communications services designed especially for motion picture and television productions including ShowRunner(TM), a proprietary first-ever fully integrated, secure, broadband private network with worldwide capabilities utilizing satellite, wireless and fiber technology. Founded by Curtis Clark in 1999, and based in Culver City, California, NeTune has developed strategic relationships with an array of leading high-tech and entertainment industry partners and team members including Hughes Electronics, PanAmSat, Hughes' DirecTV, Hughes Network Systems, Creative Artists Agency, IBM, Lucent Technologies, the BBC, ORUS Information Services and Eastman Kodak. Additional information can be found at www.netune.com.
The following are either trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States or other countries or both: IBM, IBM Global Services, IBM DB2 Universal Database, the IBM e-business logo, pSeries, xSeries, IBM Enterprise Storage Server, IntelliStation, ThinkPad, and AIX.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective companies.
