IMG Inks Three-Year Deal For Global Premier League Football Distribution

IMG Media "has contracted Arqiva" to distribute the Premier League globally in high definition, according to RAPID TV NEWS. Under the terms of the three-year deal, the communications infrastructure and media services company "will provide the encoding, encryption and satellite capacity to support the football’s global delivery." Arqiva is to implement new distribution technology using “roll-off filtering” technology. This is "said to facilitate the transmission of a higher bit-rate, without the need to increase satellite bandwidth, equivalent to a 15% improvement in efficiency." Arqiva "will be the sole distributor of approximately 190 of the key live fixtures globally per season." This distribution includes "the delivery of three channel multiplexes comprising of the match feed, a fixed wide shot (for studio backdrops) and an interview/ISO." Additionally, Arqiva "will distribute the 24/7 HD Content Service into Asia and the Americas" (RAPID TV NEWS, 11/13).