SMT Acquires Broadcast Division of Germany’s Signum Bildtechnik

SMT has acquired the broadcast division of Munich, Germany-based Signum Bildtechnik. Signum Bildtechnik is a leading manufacturer of digital image processing systems, archiving systems, and media asset management systems.

Effective Aug. 1, 2019, SMT acquired all rights, contracts, products, services and staff of Signum Bildtechnik’s broadcast division.  Signum will be rebranded as SMT-Munich.

“SMT has enjoyed a significant business presence in Europe for many years supporting premier events such as Wimbledon, Roland-Garros, the Open Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the Tour De France,” said SMT founder and CEO Gerard J. Hall. “SMT’s growing business with European football leagues, governing bodies and broadcasters necessitated SMT having a physical presence in Europe.  SMT-Munich provides an ideal centralized location to support SMT’s growing European sports business.”

SMT’s state-of-the-art virtual offside line system (SMT-VOL), the most accurate VOL system in the world, built on the foundation of 20 years of SMT’s award-winning and patented American football virtual line technology, has been chosen by the Primeira Liga of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) for use during the 2019/2020 season. SMT-VOL is currently being evaluated by several other European-based football governing bodies, leagues and clients, including Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, and football broadcaster MediaPRO.

As the leader in the sports technology industry, SMT is the perfect fit to lead SMT-Munich in creating innovative solutions that serve the needs of premier sports broadcasters, sports fans, and sports leagues throughout Europe.

“Our longstanding relationship with SMT made the decision to fold Signum’s broadcast division into SMT an easy choice,” said Martin Hainfellner, President & CEO, Signum Bildtechnik. “Signum products, services, staff, and clients have found a great home in SMT.”

The technology and cultural synergies are apparent and will enable the legacy of the Signum broadcast division to flourish and grow.

“We are excited to join the SMT family and to continue to push the boundaries of sports broadcasting,” said Harald Renz, Manager, Product Planning, SMT-Munich.

In addition to fulfilling SMT’s need for a physical presence in Europe, the acquisition also provides SMT with award-winning Signum technology and products, most notably a Signum-patented Camera Tracking System for use in VR broadcast studios, which is a recent German Innovation Award winner.

“SMT-Munich provides SMT with an immediate European base of operations which will allow SMT to more efficiently and effectively serve our European partners,” said Kirk Brown, SMT Chief Operations Officer. “This acquisition of SMT-Munich gives SMT an immediate presence in the heart of Europe.”

SMT-Munich, SMT’s third strategic acquisition in seven years, will accelerate SMT’s growth in Europe, will enhance SMT client services in Europe, and will expand SMT’s product portfolio globally.