Toronto, Ontario – November 17, 2008 – Astral Media TVPlus, headquartered in Montreal, is increasing its efficiency and maximizing profits by expanding its use of Toronto-based Specialty Data Systems’ (SDS) innovative broadcast management technology.
SDS, a leading Canadian provider of broadcast management software, has announced that it has secured contracts with Astral Media TVPlus Teletoon French and Teletoon French Retro television stations. Launched in May and September 2008 respectively, Teletoon French and Teletoon French Retro bring the number of Astral Media TVPlus’ stations using the SDS system to 10. The broadcasters’ other stations using the technology include Canal Vie, Canal D, Series+, Historia, Ztélé, VRAK.TV, MusiMax and MusiquePlus.
Both Teletoon French and Teletoon French Retro have installed SDS’s powerful SDS Sales system. SDS Sales is part of SDS’s flagship broadcast management system, SDS Symphony – used by television stations, radio stations and cable networks across Canada and in the U.S. SDS Symphony unifies sales, traffic, programming, finance and operations, enabling a two-way, real-time flow of data to be shared across departments and eliminating the need to re-key information or use paper.
SDS Sales – which can be used as a stand-alone application or a unified component of SDS Symphony – is an easy-to-use sales presentation tool, designed to help sales representatives quickly prepare, and electronically send, custom-tailored proposals. Among the system’s features are the ability to: automatically build proposals in seconds, based on accurate, consolidated network data available in real time; send and receive orders electronically to and from traffic operations; speed up sales approvals via electronic routing; and combine or separate data as desired from an unlimited number of television and radio stations, or networks, for presentations or buys.
“The technology meets our specific needs in that it is very user-friendly, can easily incorporate new stations, and has a relational database that grows as our network grows,” said Diane Morel,
Marketing General Manager of Astral Media TVPlus, explaining that the two new stations were seamlessly integrated into the system with no down-time to users, while providing the broadcaster with expanded, proven tools to expand its sales base.
“The full suite of SDS’s technology focuses on results, and by centralizing information in real time, it effectively reduces redundancies and costs, and increases profits,” said Jim Anderson, Vice President, SDS. “The system can also easily adapt to changes in the marketplace and stations’ evolving requirements, giving broadcasters better clarity and control of their information, and greater opportunity for success in today’s competitive market.”
About SDS
Established in 1993, SDS is a leading provider of broadcast management software, offering a unique unified, on-line approach to sales, traffic, programming, operations and accounting. SDS clients include such major broadcasters as Bell ExpressVu, CanWest Global, Alliance Atlantis, Impulse Media Sales (IMS), World Wrestling Federation Entertainment (WWE), Newfoundland Broadcasting System, Stornoway Communications, Fairchild Communications, and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
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