NAB 2018: Prime Focus Signs Deal With Discovery India, ReFocus On U.S Market

Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) is the creator of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, CLEAR, offers broadcasters, studios, brands and service providers transformational solutions that help them lower their TCOP by automating business processes around content and managing the business of content better. At NAB 2018, PFT has announced a new international deal while reaffirming their focus in the American market.

Prime Focus Technologies CEO Re-Focuses On U.S. Market, Relocates To California HQ

Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the technology arm of Prime Focus, has announced that the company founder and CEO, Ramki Sankaranarayanan, will operate from the U.S. headquarters in Culver City, CA.

The U.S. is a key market for PFT’s flagship Media ERP Suite, CLEARTM, as well as its diverse range of cloud media services. PFT strengthened its U.S. market focus with the acquisition of DAX, a leading provider of cloud-based production workflow and media asset management (MAM) applications. PFT has also been investing substantially in building its local sales and marketing efforts, while continuing to enrich its product and services portfolio with industry-relevant offerings. PFT Americas has since secured clients such as Turner Latin America, Complex Networks, Hearst, PBS, and FX Networks.

“The U.S. media and entertainment market represents the greatest source of new business opportunities for PFT’s innovative cloud-enabled solutions and services,” says Sankaranarayanan. “I believe I can best contribute to our continued growth by focusing more of my efforts here in the U.S., where the majority of premium content originates for global consumption. This decision will help to reinforce our strategic focus on the U.S. market – corporate growth, human capital investment, and market development.”

PFT has operations in all major content markets around the world with offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Johannesburg, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Sydney that sustain a global digital pipeline of media content on a daily basis for its growing customer base.

“PFT has witnessed amazing growth and achievements over the last ten years. As its founder, Ramki has been at the forefront of shaping the company into an innovation powerhouse that serves some of the world’s biggest broadcasters, studios, brands, and service providers”, says Namit Malhotra, founder, executive chairman and global CEO of Prime Focus Limited. “Ramki’s move to the US marks the beginning of a new era for Prime Focus as a group. With his valuable insights and experience, the company can embark on its journey towards PFT 2.0, scaling new heights of success.”

Another notable addition to PFT’s growing talent roster here in the U.S. is Caesar Sedek, who recently joined the organization as Chief Security Officer. Sedek previously held IT security positions at Warner Bros. Entertainment and The Walt Disney Company, and comes to PFT from PricewaterhouseCoopers where he led risk assessments, developed security strategies, and implemented cybersecurity response programs for a wide range of M&E clients.

PFT has also announced the planned departure of Patrick Macdonald-King, President, PFT Americas who, as Founder of DAX, had joined the team post acquisition and led PFT’s efforts aimed at building a market for its CLEAR Media ERP.

Prime Focus Technologies Signs Deal With Discovery Communications India

Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), the technology arm of Prime Focus, has signed a strategic deal with Discovery Communications India for managing long form content operations using the company’s flagship product CLEAR Cloud MAM.

CLEAR’s Media Asset Management module will connect all production houses to the broadcaster and ultimately to their play-out location. CLEAR will enable Discovery Communications India to use a single system for file-based content operations including content acquisition, technical/S&P checks, mastering and playout delivery.

PFT will also be providing post-production services for all of Discovery’s on-air promos for India. Additionally, as a Netflix Preferred Vendor (NPV) for Media Processing, Original Master Fulfillment, Timed Text and Originals Localization; PFT will be responsible for delivering Discovery India’s content to Netflix.

“We are excited to collaborate with a revered broadcaster like Discovery, and the engagement is a major landmark in our incredible journey of growth in APAC.” says Ankur Jain, VP & Head, Sales – APAC, PFT.