KIT digital and The Associated Press have signed a new deal to manage and deliver video content globally. The agreement inaugurates a new contractual phase in a highly successful ten-year alliance between AP and KIT digital, deepening technology integration and enhancing service provision for AP's clients around the world.
The new agreement, which builds upon and extends existing license and service agreements between AP and KIT digital, was executed in the context of ongoing discussions between the companies regarding potential collaboration in emerging IP video areas, including IPTV enabled television and high-bandwidth mobile networks.
"This important next stage in our collaboration with KIT digital will allow us to improve the management and delivery of AP's video news content to clients and newsrooms across the globe," said Daisy Veerasingham, VP of Sales, EMEA and Asia, for the Associated Press.
AP will continue to use KIT's scalable, enterprise level VX Video Management Platform to manage, modify, syndicate and deliver digital video news content. Under the agreement, APTNvideo.net (AP's content distribution exchange, built by KIT digital) will continue to be operated by KIT digital and further developed jointly. The APTNvideo.net platform is designed to allow website and mobile operators, along with commercial news broadcasters, to browse and download AP news, entertainment, and sports video content in the appropriate format for their individual needs.
KIT digital will also continue to edit, localize and syndicate exclusive, unedited AP content for KIT digital customers, including the highly popular Wow!TV service. This localization service involves the dubbing of news, sport and entertainment content in more than 15 different languages, including the 'Latin American package,' a series of news and entertainment clips produced daily and specifically tailored for the Latin American market.
Gavin Campion, president of KIT digital, commented: "This renewed alliance clearly demonstrates our industry leadership in delivering IP video management systems for the world's leading news producers, whether for online, mobile or traditional news broadcast. We expect the agreement to take our joint offering to a new level of technology enhancement integration, and advance AP's position as the world's most relied-upon news source."