iPoint-media unveils UGC management solution for broadcasters

UK, Newbury – September 11, 2008 – iPoint-media (AIM:IPNT), a leading video calling specialist and provider of interactive video application delivery platforms for web, 3G mobile and media will be demonstrating GOliveTV, an integrated component in IBM's MediaHub solution at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2008, which is being held in Amsterdam from 12 to 16 September 2008. As part of IBM's System x-based MediaHub solution, GOliveTV offers broadcasters a comprehensive solution for utilizing User Generated Content (UGC) in their broadcasts. GOliveTV supports the complete lifecycle of UGC, from acquirement and ingestion through to moderation, playout and distribution to MediaHub.

The growing popularity of web-based social networking and video sharing sites has become an increasing threat to broadcasters, affecting their ratings and in turn their revenues. Today's viewers want the ability to be more interactive with the shows they watch and be able to contribute their own content. Broadcasters have been ineffective at meeting these needs as they lacked the tools for ingesting, moderating and publishing UGC into their TV formats.

iPoint-media and IBM are addressing the needs of broadcasters for interactive, UGC-based content with GOliveTV and MediaHub. Visitors to the IBM stand will see GOliveTV in action, ingesting multiple simultaneous live video callers and recorded content, moderating the content, then publishing it to a live TV show or distributing it via MediaHub. Visitors will also see how GOliveTV's content management interface offers broadcasters a simple, unified view of all forms of ingested UGC including SMS, MMS, e-mails, live and recorded 3G video calls and live/recorded webcam calls.

Steve Canepa, Vice President, Global Media and Entertainment Industry at IBM, commented:

"Broadcasters are seeking solutions that help them respond quickly to a more complex, fast-paced and fragmented market. MediaHub offers a foundation to enable business transformation by linking interactive, business and content systems together for effective content management. Integrating iPoint-media's high-performance video application delivery platform with MediaHub further enhances our ability to provide the speed and flexibility that our media clients demand."

Muki Geller, iPoint-media's CEO, commented:

“We're proud to have been selected as the acquisition, ingestion, moderation and live UGC playout mechanism in IBM's MediaHub broadcast solution. Our global partnership with IBM is a major opportunity for iPoint-media and we look forward to working closely with IBM to deliver GOliveTV and MediaHub to the broadcast and publishing industries.

iPoint-media's GOliveTV solution is currently in use with leading broadcasters including the BBC and MediaCorp in Singapore.