Accenture Ltd. and Sony Electronics are joining to parent a
management-consulting joint venture for media companies that guides
television broadcasters and film studios into developing and using digital
technologies.
In the joint venture, termed Concadia Solutions LLC, Sony will be charged
with supplying video equipment and know-how to clients — while Accenture
will offer management and technology consulting services.
The San Jose, Calif.-based firm will be bolstered by staff from each
company.
In a prepared statement, the companies’ said Concadia Solutions would enable
companies with rich media — including video, music, photos and images — to
create, manage, archive and re-purpose assets through multiple channels.
“Broadcasters, post-production houses and entertainment studios increasingly
are looking to manage their substantial digital assets throughout their
network and re-purpose them for a variety of media properties, from
television to the Web,” said Edward Grebow, deputy president of Sony
Electronics and president of its broadcast and professional company.
Accenture said its own research revealed revenues from digital television
and rich media, including basic service, premium channels, video on demand
and other interactive services would reach approximately $30.1
billion by 2005 (of which video on demand accounts for $3.2 billion).
Ironically, Concadia formed after Sony hired Accenture to measure the market
for digital-asset management.
Norm Rickeman, currently a partner in Accenture’s Media & Entertainment
industry group, has been named acting president of the joint venture.
Rickerman will be responsible for providing clients with workflow re-design,
enterprise software and technological support for multiple video and audio
formats.
“[Clients will learn] to re-use digital assets for future use, facilitate
centralized access to content, improve workflow, minimize time to market,
enhance business decisions, and identify and leverage new business models,”
Accenture and Sony said.