TeliaSonera sells MediaConnect business to Hibernia Media

Hibernia Media, the video transport division of Hibernia Atlantic, has acquired the MediaConnect business in Europe and the United States of Scandinavian carrier TeliaSonera International Carrier (TSIC). The business will continue to operate over TSIC’s fiber backbone.

The transaction, which covers 13 countries, will expand Hibernia Media’s footprint in Europe to a total of 17 markets. In addition to London, Dublin, and Brussels, Hibernia Media will now be able to offer services in Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Madrid, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Riga, Stockholm, Tallinn, Vienna, and Vilnius. The partnership in essence makes Hibernia Media the customer-facing entity that will manage customer relationships while TSIC will provide backbone connectivity and related services between PoPs in the combined network. Both TSIC and Hibernia Media have based their media networks on the same NetInsight NIMBRA MSR platform.

Hibernia Media’s offerings also will continue to leverage the Hibernia Atlantic network, which connects to cities throughout North America, UK, Europe, and Asia.

The integrated network is available immediately for full-time connections and pre-scheduled live video events. Hibernia Media’s Occasional Use live feed services will be available across the former TeliaSonera media network in Europe starting fourth quarter 2012. Frame Rate and Standards conversion can be accommodated for transatlantic NTSC, PAL and HD video signals.

The new network will be managed from Hibernia Media’s Television Operations Center in Baltimore, MD.

“Combining our assets with the Hibernia Media platform creates enhanced opportunities for both companies,” explains Erik Hallberg, President of TeliaSonera International Carrier. “With more than five years of investments into the TeliaSonera International Carrier media business combined with Hibernia Media’s extensive fiber system the new entity will provide greater reach and a broader set of highly managed network services uniquely capable of leveraging transport infrastructure to create global media solutions.”

“Hibernia Atlantic and TeliaSonera recognize the synergies and competitive advantages of a combined media network company,” states Ken Peterson, chairman of the board for Hibernia Atlantic and CEO of Columbia Ventures Corporation (CVC). “This acquisition consolidates significant media assets for the benefit of our combined media and broadcast partners.”