LONDON and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Feb 15, 2012) -
GRANITE BROADCASTING CORPORATION AND MOTIVE TELEVISION PLC ANNOUNCE"BROADCAST CLOUD JOINT VENTURE" TO DEVELOP "TELEVISION EVERYWHERE BROADCASTING" - To Provide Live Broadcast Television and Datacasting Services Directly to Portable Devices - - Utilizes Existing Broadcast Spectrum to Reach Everyone Everywhere - New York and London: February 15, 2012 - Granite Broadcasting Corporation (Granite) and Motive Television plc (Motive) today announced they are forming a joint venture, Broadcast Cloud JV (BCJV), that will pursue the development, implementation, and use of existing broadcast spectrum to provide live television, customized linear TV channels, video-on-demand, and catch-up television directly to portable devices such as iPads, Android tablets and smart phones. In addition, Granite and Motive will soon begin a separate test of Motive's internet-based Television Anywhere technology at KOFY-TV, Granite's television station serving the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA market. The BCJV will utilize Motive's patented and proprietary technology that has been in commercial use in Europe since 2009, and extend its reach to portable devices in the United States. Once completed, this will enable Granite and other broadcasters to use their existing ATSC spectrum assets to make their current broadcast signal directly available to devices beyond the television. This will provide consumers with free access to broadcasting content everywhere they are and on the device of their choice, while allowing broadcasters to broaden their audience and deepen their relationship with viewers. Peter Markham, Chairman of Granite Broadcasting Corporation, commented,"The US television broadcasting industry has invested hundreds of millions of dollars over the past several years to convert to a digital format. BCJV will provide all broadcasters with the ability to leverage that investment to communicate directly with a broad array of mobile devices and continue providing innovative new services in each local market we serve. This is an excellent opportunity for broadcasters to expand their lead in providing locally and nationally relevant video content and create a number of new revenue streams for all of our partners. We are especially pleased to expand on our successful partnership with Motive, who has proven to be a global market leader in developing innovative television technology and services." Leonard M Fertig, CEO of Motive Television plc, added, "Before there was an Internet-based Cloud, there was a Broadcast Cloud, a one-to-many, pervasive, scalable, and extremely efficient method of distributing video content. The Broadcast Cloud has no need for hotspots, internet connectivity or the added distribution and access costs associated with today's internet services; it provides content free over the air to a mass audience. With the creation of BCJV, we will use Motive's patented and commercially proven technology to update the American broadcast distribution system and enable it to serve the needs of today's and tomorrow's viewers." BCJV will leverage Granite's broadcast stations and digital assets to provide both facilities and local staff support for testing, pilot projects, and other trials for the BCJV technology. Granite will also contribute its management expertise, sales and marketing input and assistance in promoting the BCJV technology to the broadcasting industry and will cooperate on the development of the BCJV business and strategic plan. Motive will provide BCJV with an exclusive license to use the underlying Motive technology and Motive's know-how in the development of the BCJV technology. Motive will provide engineering expertise and also oversee the day-to-day management of BCJV, including sales and marketing of the BCJV Technology and licensing to third party broadcasters, content owners and other potential partners. *End* Motive Television plc Contacts: Motive Television plc T: +44 20 7025 8425 Michael Pilsworth, Chairman Leonard M. Fertig, CEO Merchant Securities (Nominated Adviser) T: +44 20 7628 2200 Simon Clements / Virginia Bull XCAP Securities (Broker) T: +44 20 7101 7070 Jon Belliss / John Grant Financial PR T: +44 20 7367 5100 Cubitt Consulting Chris Lane Brainerd Communicators T: +1 212 986 6667 Chris Plunkett / Mike Smargiassi Media PR T: +44 7774 860011 Gerry Buckland Granite Broadcasting Corporation Contacts: Peter Markham Chairman / CEO T: +1 212 826 2530 Notes to Editors Granite Broadcasting Corporation is a market-leading owner of local media properties in the U.S. The company's operations include broadcast TV stations, local cable TV channels, and local online and mobile media properties. Television network partners include Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, The CW and My Network TV. Granite's local media operations are characterized by innovative, best of breed management and market leading franchises. Motive Television provides software and services to the global television industry, enabling Television Anytime Anywhere. Motive's patented and proprietary technology platform responds to the heightened viewer demand for watching what they want, when they want, on whatever device they want; and is driven by the mandatory switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting as mandated by the International Telecommunication Union. Motive Television provides broadcasters and pay television operators with enabling technology that provides opportunities to deliver highly-valued services to viewers that generate additional income and retain existing subscribers, comprising: Television Anytime. A technology platform that enables digital broadcasters and pay television operators to offer enhanced broadcasting services with or without the need for an Internet connection. These services, include, among others, Video-on-Demand, Catch-Up TV, Virtual Channels, Sneak Preview TV, and Targeted Advertising. Television Anytime is currently in commercial operation in Europe both in digital terrestrial (DTT) and soon in satellite (DTH) environments. Patented in Spain and patent pending in the EU. Television Anywhere. An advanced multi-screen multi-channel technology that allows a viewer to control and watch all the content received by or recorded in their main home television equipment on any computer, mobile phone, iPad or any other Internet connected device. Television Anywhere is software-based and can be updated via software upgrades on existing STB. US patent pending. Motive's content division is: Motive Television Limited, a Dublin-based award-winning independent production company that produces factual programmes for Irish broadcasters. It specializes in live sports production and sports documentaries and also produces factual and entertainment series. Motive Television was founded in London in 2005 and its shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange (AIM). http://www.motivetelevision.co.uk/ir/mtv/ir.jsp?page=home This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END
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