EBS Secures BT Sport Contract

EBS has been selected by BT Sport to facilitate the supply of EPG data listings for all its channels, BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2, ESPN on BT Sport and BT Sport Europe, as well as its red-button service BT Sport Extra across multiple platforms.

Using EBS' Pawa software solution, BT Sport has a fully integrated data workflow that enables it to work in conjunction with broadcasters to develop new functionality such as support for Red Button channels.

BT Sport broadcasts a range of top-tier programming including the Barclays Premier League and, from the 2015/16 season, live coverage of the UEFA Champions League. It also broadcasts rugby in the form of the Aviva Premiership and European Champions Cup, plus other sports including tennis, motorsport and American sports such as NBA and MLB.

BT Sport channels are available on the BT TV, Sky and Virgin Media platforms in the UK.

Using Pawa in-house, BT Sport operators are able to control the entire EPG workflow for all BT Sport channels. This enables the team to be flexible and accurate in a fast-paced environment that is often subject to change. In addition, Pawa provides BT Sport with greater creative control, and operators can now write their own synopses, better aligning them with other marketing activities.

Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer, BT Sport and BT TV, said: "Controlling our EPG in-house in the fast-paced environment of live sports broadcasting is a great development for BT Sport. In the crowded sports TV market, we know how much of an important part an accurate and informative EPG plays for viewers."

Keith Bedford, EBS Managing Director, added: "We are very proud to be working with such an innovative broadcaster like BT Sport, not just to deliver EPG data but also to develop new Red Button functionality and helping to grow channel visibility. Our Pawa solution provides a full portfolio of EPG data services that meets the needs of today's modern broadcast world. We remove the complexity that the growing number of channels and distribution platforms present, providing broadcasters with a single point for data entry regardless of the way they deliver their content to consumers."

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(JP)