RR Media was a NASDAQ listed provider of global

digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, viewed, distributed, modified, listened to, an ...

services to the

broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

industry and content owners. Its services can be divided into four main groups: global content distribution network (

satellite A satellite or an artificial satellite is an object, typically a spacecraft, placed into orbit around a celestial body. They have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation ( GPS), broadcasting, scient ...

fiber Fiber (spelled fibre in British English; from ) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often inco ...

and the

internet The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...

); content management &

playout In broadcasting, channel playout is the generation of the source signal of a radio or television channel produced by a broadcaster, coupled with the transmission of this signal for primary distribution or direct-to-audience distribution via any ...

; sports, news & live events; and online video services. The company was rebranded to RR Media from RRsat in September 2014. In February 2016, it was announced that, subject to regulatory approvals, RR Media was to be acquired by SES, based in

Betzdorf, Luxembourg Betzdorf (; ) is a commune and town in the canton of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. , the town of Betzdorf, which lies in the north-east of the commune, has a population of 288 inhabitants. Other settlements within the commune include the ...

, and merged with SES subsidiary company,

SES Platform Services SES Platform Services GmbH (previously ASTRA Platform Services GmbH, later MX1, now part of SES Video) was a subsidiary company of SES (owner and operator of the Astra satellites) based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg. From its headquarters in Unterf ...

a media services provider for television broadcasters, production companies and platform operators, based in

Unterföhring Unterföhring is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in Upper Bavaria. It lies adjacent to the northeast side of Munich, and is one of the nearest suburbs to Munich's Marienplatz, central district. History Before the establishment of Munich ...

near

Munich, Germany Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. In July 2016, the merged company was named MX1.

Digital media services

# Global content distribution services
RR Media's global distribution network uses a combination of

, fiber and the

. The network includes

downlink In a telecommunications network, a link is a communication channel that connects two or more devices for the purpose of data transmission. The link may be a dedicated physical link or a virtual circuit that uses one or more physical links or shar ...

and

uplink In a telecommunications network, a link is a communication channel that connects two or more devices for the purpose of data transmission. The link may be a dedicated physical link or a virtual circuit that uses one or more physical links or shar ...

; fiber connectivity to digital media hubs; connectivity to TV

service providers A service provider (SP) is an organization that provides services, such as consulting, legal, real estate, communications, storage, and processing services, to other organizations. Although a service provider can be a sub-unit of the organization t ...

; and internet-based

content delivery Digital distribution, also referred to as content delivery, online distribution, or electronic software distribution, among others, is the delivery or distribution of information or materials through digital platforms. The distribution of digital ...

. RR Media's network delivers live television channels,

streaming media Streaming media refers to multimedia delivered through a Computer network, network for playback using a Media player (disambiguation), media player. Media is transferred in a ''stream'' of Network packet, packets from a Server (computing), ...

and

Video on demand Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos, television shows and films Digital distribution, digitally on request. These multimedia are accessed without a traditional video playback device and a typica ...

(VOD) content in all formats including

Standard-definition television Standard-definition television (SDTV; also standard definition or SD) is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either high or enhanced definition. ''Standard'' refers to offering a similar resolution to the ...

(SD),

High-definition television High-definition television (HDTV) describes a television or video system which provides a substantially higher image resolution than the previous generation of technologies. The term has been used since at least 1933; in more recent times, it ref ...

(HD),

4K resolution 4K resolution refers to a horizontal display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. Digital television and digital cinematography commonly use several different 4K resolutions. In television and consumer media, 38402160 (4K UHD) with a 16:9 asp ...

(4K) &

3D television 3D television (3DTV) is television that conveys depth perception to the viewer by employing techniques such as stereoscopy, stereoscopic display, free viewpoint television, multi-view display, or any other form of 3D display. Most modern 3D te ...

(3D). # End-to-end content management & playout services
RR Media manages, prepares and plays out content from its media centers. Services include: content preparation (

digitization Digitization is the process of converting information into a digital (i.e. computer-readable) format.Collins Dictionary. (n.d.). Definition of 'digitize'. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ ...

, localization,

conversion Conversion or convert may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''The Convert'', a 2023 film produced by Jump Film & Television and Brouhaha Entertainment * "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman'' * ...

, ingest, multiple formatting, editing, restoration); content management (

digital asset management Digital asset management (DAM) and the implementation of its use as a computer application is required in the collection of digital assets to ensure that the owner, and possibly their delegates, can perform operations on the data files. Termino ...

, media ingest and library, streamlined

workflows Workflow is a generic term for orchestrated and repeatable patterns of activity, enabled by the systematic organization of resources into processes that transform materials, provide services, or process information. It can be depicted as a sequen ...

metadata Metadata (or metainformation) is "data that provides information about other data", but not the content of the data itself, such as the text of a message or the image itself. There are many distinct types of metadata, including: * Descriptive ...

curation,

(VOD) delivery) and

, channel creation, playlist management,

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a Product (business), product or Service (economics), service. Advertising aims to present a product or service in terms of utility, advantages, and qualities of int ...

insertion/management,

graphics Graphics () are visual images or designs on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, screen, paper, or stone, to inform, illustrate, or entertain. In contemporary usage, it includes a pictorial representation of the data, as in design and manufa ...

, titles & overlay, live events operations). RR Media also creates branded or

white label product White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wavele ...

television channels using live and archived materials. # Sports, news & live events
RR Media delivers live sports and event content for sports rights holders, broadcasters and news channels. Services include: live production (

Outside broadcasting Outside broadcasting (OB) is the electronic field production (EFP) of television or radio programmes (typically to cover television news and sports television events) from a mobile remote broadcast television studio. Professional video came ...

vans,

Satellite news gathering Electronic news gathering (ENG) or electronic journalism (EJ) is usage of electronic video and audio technologies by reporters to gather and present news instead of using film cameras. The term was coined during the rise of videotape techno ...

(SNG), studios), global live distribution, sports content preparation and content management,

and origination.
RR Media provides

, simultaneous translation, turnaround and live production services for sports events like football, basketball, tennis and golf, news and entertainment channels. # Online video services
RR Media converts existing and

archive An archive is an accumulation of historical records or materials, in any medium, or the physical facility in which they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organ ...

content into programs, channels and other

digital assets A digital asset is anything that exists only in digital form and comes with a distinct usage right or distinct permission for use. Data that do not possess those rights are not considered assets. ''Digital assets'' include, but are not limited t ...

, and converges broadcast and internet delivery.
Services include converged media (preparing content for broadcast or online use)

Content Management Systems A content management system (CMS) is computer software used to manage the creation and modification of digital content (content management).''Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy''. Ann Rockley, Pamela Kostur, Steve Manning. New ...

(CMS), VOD services, branded platforms, multi-screen delivery, web video portals and viewer measurement tools (using digital

analytics Analytics is the systematic computational analysis of data or statistics. It is used for the discovery, interpretation, and communication of meaningful patterns in data, which also falls under and directly relates to the umbrella term, data sc ...

Media centers

RR Media's media centers are based in Hawley, PA (

USA The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

), Emeq Ha’Ela (Israel)

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

(

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

), with another facility opened in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, (UK) in June 2015. An additional facility in Miami, FL United States was announced in April 2016. The centers provide RR Media's services, including content preparation, management, online video, live content and distribution, and 24/7 service and support.

Awards

In November 2014, RR Media won the award for Achievement in Legacy Content at the 2014 TVB Europe awards in London, in recognition for its work with

British Pathe British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and cultur ...

and the restoration for

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

. In February 2014, the World Teleport Association named Avi Cohen, CEO of RR Media (formerly RRsat), as its 2014 Teleport Executive of the Year. In 2009, the World Teleport Association awarded RR Media (then RRsat) the Independent Teleport Operator of the Year award for excellence.

History

RR Media (as RRsat) was established in 1981 as a communications provider. The company was founded by David Rivel, an electronics, computers and communications engineer. Rivel is CEO of the company for 31 years and from 2012 a Member of RR Media's board of directors. Under management of Rivel RRsat Communications Network Ltd. went public on 2006-11-01 - NASDAQ:RRST In 2014, the Company rebranded from RRsat Global Communications Network to RR Media. The rebrand was launched at the

International Broadcasting Convention International Broadcasting Convention, more commonly known by its initials IBC, is an annual trade show, held in September at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. IBC's tagline is "By the industry. For the ...

(IBC) Show in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

. In 2015, RR Media announced its NASDAQ stock ticker symbol change to RRM.

Acquisitions

In April 2015, RR Media acquired Eastern Space Systems (ESS) in Romania, a privately held provider of

content management Content management (CM) are a set of processes and technologies that support the collection, managing, and publishing of information in any form or medium. When stored and accessed via computers, this information may be more specifically referre ...

and

content distribution Digital distribution, also referred to as content delivery, online distribution, or electronic software distribution, among others, is the delivery or distribution of information or materials through digital platforms. The distribution of digital ...

services and related consulting services.
In June 2015, RR Media acquired Satlink Communications as part of strategy to increase scale and expand its global content distribution network and content management footprint, strengthening its customer mix and leverage media industry expertise.

References

External links

*{{official website, http://www.rrmedia.com, RR Media website SES (company) Israeli companies established in 1981 Mass media companies established in 1981 Mass media companies disestablished in 2016 2016 mergers and acquisitions Satellite television Video on demand Defunct video on demand services Digital media Digital broadcasting Digital Video Broadcasting Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq