E-Business Finally Reaches a Tipping Point in the Media Industry

CHICAGO, IL – February 25, 2009 – The media industry has made a shift towards doing business electronically as a cost and time savings measure. This is evidenced by recent data where e-Business pioneer Strata reached an all-time high in electronic media transactions with $38 Billion worth of media buys going through their systems nationwide.

Electronic avenues such as Strata's Eleven and AEInbox help agencies and stations get far more business done while easing their workload. They shorten lead times for agencies and allow their clients more time to make their ad buying decisions. Plus, all invoices can be matched electronically, greatly cutting down the time between ad placements and receiving their invoices.

"The media buying industry is quickly gravitating towards doing business this way," said John Shelton, Strata President & CEO.  "As a matter of fact in the month of January, agencies had $1Billion going through Strata systems. We have definitely reached a tipping point with e-Business for media transactions."

Horizon Media, as the agency leader in e-Business solutions, has partnered with stations, reps, and their system vendor Strata, to develop a total e-Business solution. "With our e-Business solution, we continue to provide excellent service to our clients, work more efficiently and respond immediately to our station partners," said Nancy Larkin, Horizon Media Senior Vice President and Director of local TV.

"E-Business has multiple benefits for all who use it. It not only streamlines the workflow between all partners, it creates a seamless communication from pre-buy to reconciliation," added Larkin.  "Our e-Business tool used daily helps us to improve our environment and increase our green efforts by eliminating paper. Simply stated, this tool is extremely user friendly and more importantly, works effortlessly. We've all been waiting for this solution for a long time."

In the past, agencies needed plenty of lead time for media buys. There was a lot of running back and forth to the fax machine or waiting on emails and constantly being on the phone with the stations. With advances in technology spearheaded by Strata, lead time has been shortened considerably, allowing more time for all parties involved to grow their business.

The move to more efficient avenues in the media business extends through to invoicing as evidenced by Strata having over $5 Billion in electronic invoices going through their systems. Strata currently casts the widest net possible sending out to more stations (radio, TV and cable) than any other provider with over 12,000 media vendors using their electronic services.

Strata e-Business systems connect to the industry's most popular in-house systems including NCC's eOrders, Katz Communications, TVB's ePort, Donovan's DARE and others making a strong network of e-Business solutions.

Strata has become a dominant name in customized media management with steady growth, proven products and increasing market share among agencies of all sizes, and now works with nearly half of all media buying firms. Learn more about Strata and how they are the industry leader with their full suite of software for an end-to-end connection between media buyers and sellers at the annual AAAA Media Conference and Tradeshow, March 4-6 in New Orleans.

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About Strata Marketing, Inc.

The whole-scale changes that are occurring in this fragmented media landscape require a customizable and convergent solution with the technology to enable organizations to lead rather than react. Strata transforms businesses in a way that adds efficiency and precision across traditional and emerging platforms at the scale media clients demand. The company has earned its esteemed reputation by consistently leading new innovations in the field and diligently serving its clients for over 25 years. Strata is owned by Comcast Cable.

Press Contact
J.D. Miller
Marketing Manager, Strata Marketing Inc.
312-222-1555
jmiller@stratag.com